boat versus lorry

overshadowed by the railway for a short time...

before lovely view from the Sow aqueduct 

Tixall Lock

It was a bright sunny morning with lots of boats cruising towards us. I did most of the locking as the Captain’s shoulder was still troubling him but they were not heavy and often a boat was just coming out as we arrived.

For a couple of miles the M6 motorway runs alongside the canal disturbing the peace as traffic thunders by. Today the traffic heading our way was moving at walking pace. Our little boat managed to overtake several lorries though they crept past her as she descended the lock. On the long straight our boat caught and passed a bread lorry and stayed ahead of it until we reached the next lock.

We passed our hire boat friends moored in Penkridge. When we saw the motorway on the far side of the town the traffic was moving normally. I guess there had been an accident to cause such a jam.

The day grew warmer. Lottie lay at our feet on a deck sunbathing but grew so hot that she searched for a place to paddle. She eventually found a by wash to cool down in. I am always worried that she will slip on the steep slopes but she stays away from them.

Our hire boat friends passed us as we had lunch. The afternoon was hot but a breeze kept us from baking.

Tixall Wide

When I rejoined the boat at Tixall lock Lottie refused to follow me so the Captain jumped off to walk with her. Well it was time for her constitutional. After she had relieved herself he tried to re-board the boat and was not amused when the wind blew the boat off as he tried to get on. The wind always whips across Tixall wide so he had to walk all the way in the heat. He was grumpy when he finally got back on board.

The mooring were all full above Great Haywood lock so we had to go through it. We moored up for the night with a splendid view across Shrugborough Park. The towpath was bustling near the lock but down below it was peaceful, just the way the Captain likes it.

Mooring by Shugborough House

Water points and lightening

Our boat on one of the water points at Wheaton Aston

It was a sunny wake up call and promised to grow hot so I walked Lottie to the nearby lock to prepare it as the Captain started the engine. I was perplexed by a luxury narrow boat moored by a sign proclaiming work boats only. CART normally supply tugs and barges not shiny affairs with wide screen TVs.

As there was a boat about to descend the lock the Captain filled with water at one of the five well spaced water points. It was just as well as the boat was steered by first time hirers so it took them ages to

restored working boats

1: get the boat pointed the right way so it could enter the lock.

2: work out how to empty it.

After a while I politely suggested they would descend quicker if they opened the second paddle as the lock was leaky and filling as fast as they were emptying it. By the time they were clear the Captain had finished filling and moved into the lock as another boat came through the bridge the water.

Stretton Aqueduct

The hire boat stopped for water at the far point and started filling. From our view point on the lock above I was puzzled by the second boat which swerved sharply and squeezed into the gap between the posh working boat and the hire boat filling. They would then have to wait until the boat had finished with the water point which can take 20 minutes or more.

We  made the most of the dry warm  weather and the peaceful surroundings as we cruised up the junction.

At the stop lock two boats nosed the top gate at the junction with the Staffs and Worcester Canal.  The narrow boat soon descended but waited just below the lock while a tatty cruiser was pushed in.

Giffords Cross Bridge...

By the time the guy leaving the lock handed his rope to the narrow boat I had worked out that his engine didn’t work and that he was being towed.

While they sorted themselves out I turned the lock round and the Captain took our boat down.

The two boats took ages to turn onto the main line as the cruiser wouldn’t turn. As we left they had just negotiated the corner and a hire boat arrived to follow us down the lock. We turned onto the Staffs and Worcester Canal and immediately moored for lunch near the outskirts of Wolverhampton, knowing there was nowhere to stop for a while.

with iron protectors scarred by ropes from horse towed boats

The towed boat had just inched out of sight when the hire boat swung out of the junction and passed us.

“They’ll go a lot slower following those two down that narrow cutting,” the Captain murmured. 

After a leisurely lunch we moved off. It was pleasant cruising on the Staffs and Worcester Canal. The narrow section was completed easily as we didn’t meet anyone. 

Avenue Bridge

However we saw lots of walkers following walking challenge signs. It was an out and back route along the canal.

Just as we reached the hair pin bend where the walkers turned back towards Wolverhampton I heard a teenage girl complain to her friends, “ never again.”

Her friend replied, “I thought it was a four mile walk not a twelve mile one, Dad conned me.”

I gave Lottie a long walk before we reached the chemical factory. We passed the hire boat we have been locking with in a remote stretch.

Old crane at Wolverhampton Boat Club

We descended Gailey Top Lock and found the pound below full of moored boats so had to go down an extra lock. We moored up there as the M6 gets close and runs alongside the canal from this point until Penkridge. There was a distant sound of traffic in the distance it would had been thunderous if we had gone down the next lock.

 Speaking of thunder, we had only been moored up a few minutes when it started to rain. The hire boat following us carried on down the lock. Soon the rain grew heavier; thunder rumbled and lightening flashed. Our hound slid off the sofa and trembled on the floor. As the storm grew nearer she retreated to the bathroom where she only goes in a storm.

Gailey Top Lock

A boat came up the lock in the down pour and moored up as lightening flashed. I’m glad to have got inside before that struck and surely the hound is too. It took her ages to stop shaking.

Hopeless Heron

Rural church

Anchor Bridge

It was a warm morning. Several boats sped past as we breakfasted. Shortly after we set off the stern of a long term moorer’s boat drifted out across the cut as the Captain passed it. The speeding boats must have dragged it from its mooring. The boat then drifted right across the canal.

High Bridge, High Offley

The hire boaters we had been with yesterday climbed onto the boat to re-secure it. Why do people complain about hirers? These two were super. 

There was a steady flow other boats moving as we cruised through bluebell clad cuttings around Gnosall. 

When we reached Norbury junction we stopped at the start of the mooring.

One boat sped past. A moorer yelled “Slow down!”

“Sorry!” speedy Skipper replied. “I’ve been held up for over an hour by that slow boat back there. I’ve only just managed to overtake them.”

I guess he would be the first to complain if somebody rocked his boat by speeding.

Norbury Junction

It was still bright when we cast off. This part of the Shroppie was clad with primroses. “Do you think we can moor here?” I asked.

I cruised close to the bank but the Shroppie shelf made the boat run aground. As I reversed into deeper water Lottie jumped off, so the Captain had to quickly leap after her over the widening gap. He ended up walking to our final mooring as I couldn’t get close to the bank.

Moorings on the old Newport Branch

The canal had herons all along its length proof of the fish swimming in the often muddy water. How do the herons see the fish through the murk to catch them?

A heron was fishing by the bank so Lottie ran at it, the heron flew out of her way ... and landed a few yards ahead of her. She chased it again and again and again. Why didn’t the silly bird fly past her back to his first fishing place?

Shelmore Embankment

We finally moored up below  Wheaton Aston lock.It was very peaceful until two dog walkers with a bunch of children stopped outside our boat. Their dogs yapped and yapped and yapped so they shouted louder to hear each other. Lottie growled her disapproval then barked but our noisy walkers didn’t take any notice.

Eventually they parted company and we were left in peace.

Heron taking off

cow cake

Most Shroppie locks are done now

The morning was chilly with bright blue sky. We cast off as a boat exited the lock putting the last two locks of the flight in our favour.

 While the Captain was in the first lock I walked on and opened the gates of Audlem top lock. By the time I had walked back to close the gates for the Captain a boat appeared round the corner and a man ran forward and closed one of the gates just as our boat entered the lock. 

The Captain tooted his horn and the gate reopened just in time for him to glide through.

peaceful waters

By the time we cruised round to the Adderley flight two boats had pulled out in front of us and one behind. I was thankful there was a boat behind as we had been warned that the middle lock leaked so badly it was very difficult to open the gate. At least there would be somebody to help if we got stuck. A lady (from the hire boat behind) opened one of the gates for me at each lock, saving me from walking round the chamber and back again.

near Market Drayton

As we climbed the five lock flight the lead boat had no trouble with lock three as it had help from a crew coming down. However the boat ahead of us stayed in the lock for ages so the Captain went forward to help. It took four of them to open the gate.

When we reached the upper level in lock three the Captain let our boat nudge the upper gate while the three of us pushed. It worked.

Covered  loading wharf

 At the top lock the farmer came to check his meat and cake stall and pushed open one gate for me. While I twiddled the paddles he chatted with the Captain. Lottie tried jumping up to him while the boat was still six feet down. She failed and fell backwards. Her body landed on the gunwale and her hind quarters fell overboard. The Captain pulled her back on board where she seemed unhurt apart from her dented dignity from having green slime on her thigh. Lottie eventually disembarked and wandered over to the farmer’s stall.

“Don’t eat my cakes,” he said to her then added. “A few weeks ago I came to check the stall and found a cow scoffing the cakes. My wife was not amused after all her hard work. Yes it was one of my cows.”

We dithered at the shop after the farmer left and eventually chose a cherry pie with a tub of clotted cream and put the money in the honesty box.

at Betton bridge

After I closed up (seeing that there was nobody coming towards us) I opened one paddle to drain the chamber for the lady on the boat behind to say thank you to my friendly helper. It was a pleasant cruise into Market Drayton where we moored for lunch.

After filling with water we set off again, the Captain more relaxed. We met a boat in the narrow cutting leading to our last flight of locks on the Shroppie, so the first two locks were set for us. It was lovely to just push open the gate. As our boat rose in the first Tyreley lock a hire boater coming down opened the next lock for us rather than turn it around so that we moved up the flight swiftly.

young Geese

Sadly Lottie squeezed into the field beside the middle lock of the five. She found large chunks of cow poo there which she devoured much to the Captain’s dismay. What goes in must come out so we have a smelly evening ahead of us. The Captain insisted she was kept on the lead for the remaining locks but the damage was done. The windows will be needed for ventilation.

We saw the first young goslings today. they were so low in the grass it was hard to see them at first.

I steered through the narrow Woodseaves cutting and was fortunate not to meet any boats. We moored up half an hour later for the night. The moon shone through clear skies making this a beautiful evening.

Gunshots at the Nuclear Bunker

Lock  below Audlem filling

Having decided to turn for home the weather was lovely. Though cold, the sky was cloudless and there was no wind. The fire soon fixed the cold problem and it had warmed up considerably by the time we set off.

The restored mill

It didn’t take long to reach Nantwich where we passed loads of moored boats on the embankment. There were more boats moving due to the cloudless sky but we still didn’t queue for the two Hack Green locks.

The Captain  wanted to moor above the locks to visit Hack Green Secret Nuclear Bunker but the sound of  guns blew towards us. Lottie trembled. She hates bangs so we cruised on into a chilly head wind. The gunfire grew louder then faded away without us seeing anything so we thought they were coming from a firing range hidden behind the trees. By the time we had reached the last of the Coole Pilate moorings we  were out of earshot so we moored up for an early lunch rather than head into a 15 lock flight.

The Captain  seemed happier now that we were headed for home in pleasant weather.

the Shroppie Fly...

We set off again in full sunshine just after 1.00 intending to stop in  Audlem to buy a few essentials. The last time we passed through there was nowhere to stop as all Audlem’s moorings were reserved for working boats, many of which had arrived for a festival. This time we moored just beyond the picturesque Shroppie Fly for an easy amble into town.

As we were about to move off a hire boat passed us so we had to wait for it to lock up. This took longer than usual as the skipper edged into it too slowly allowing the vicious side-wash to pin the boat  against the piling opposite. Once clear of the lock the crew moored up and wandered down to the pub.

...from our  moored boat

peaceful town today

The Captain  had no trouble entering that lock but several others on the flight were difficult to enter due to the strong flow pouring into the canal from the side-washes due to the week’s heavy rainfall. When I took my turn steering  I aimed the boat for the side-wash which threw the boat sideways then wriggled the tiller to slide into the lock without crashing into the far wall.

 Lottie enjoyed free ranging in the sun while I worked. When she got hot she went paddling in a side wash half way up the flight.

When I took over driving I made Lottie’s dinner. She was hungry and barked at me to feed her while I was in the bottom of the lock. I stretched up and pushed her bowl onto the lock side so that she could eat it immediately. Well it was better than having a soggy dog jump onto the boat.

half way up the 15 locks

After working a few locks to help me, the Captain retired to drive the boat nursing his shoulder, but I preferred working the locks as they were well maintained and easy to work.

 We met no boats on the entire flight – strange for such a nice day on a busy canal. As we were following a distant boater that meant I had to empty each lock  before our boat could enter. Behind me a hire boat began the flight about four locks behind me. By the time I reached the top they had closed to only one behind.

We eventually moored on a peaceful pound between locks 2 and 3 near the top of the flight. As the last boat on the mooring we had an unencumbered view of the lock. 

Starting trouble

We woke to a lovely sunny morning - spring had returned. Sadly grey cloud covered the sun before we had been cruising long.

bright skies before the cloud came

At the first lock I found not only the far gate open, but both paddles had been left up. Thank goodness we are not following that boater up a big flight. The wind got up and it was so cold I was longing for the sun to burst through the clouds and warm me up. It was so chilly that after two hours the Captain moored up to warm up.

There were lots of lovely moorings all along the branch making it an even more attractive place to cruise. All we needed was warm dry weather!

When the Captain tried to start the engine again it was very reluctant and made a horrid noise.

“It is either the battery or the starter motor,” the Captain muttered.

A Cowslip - a rare sight these days

We pulled into Aqueduct marina and their engineer kindly checked the starter battery for us and pronounced it to be healthy. The Captain checked the oil filter and tightened it up. As we cruised on (enjoying slightly warmer weather and banks of lovely cowslips) he decided he should have bought oil while he was there.

All was peaceful until we reached the junction with the Shroppie. The Captain sounded his horn and edged out cautiously with me standing up front looking out for moving boats.

We slotted nicely after a hire boater passed even though he slowed, then moored up to take on water. Seconds later a short boat came around the corner. I looked back at a narrow boat that had been closing up on us rapidly and realised he wasn’t slowing down for the junction.

What else can I eat?

I watched as the boat behind us shot out of the junction. The short boat swung round to the left to avoid hitting it. Crash! The fast boat rammed straight into the metal piling opposite the junction. The Captain pulled up to use the chandlery leaving me watching the boats. Somehow the short boat wriggled round the rear of the fast one and chugged by us. He waved merrily as the Captain congratulated him on his nifty steering.

“He was never going to make the corner at that speed," the skipper of the short boat replied.

While the Captain went to get his oil Lottie ran to the overflowing bins and grabbed a plastic wrapper that had once contained beef to lick for the juices that remained. I tried to take it off her as she could swallow the plastic as she rips the thing to shreds. A merry dance followed. Every time I got close she grabbed her packet and ran to a new spot to rip it again.

Eventually she tired of the game and I took it back to the bin.

About to climb the first Hurston lock

A privateer tooted the hire boat as they pushed off, then cut in front of them to stop. Yes they collided. If he wanted to use the water why didn’t he come in behind them?

Eventually the Captain returned, having carefully chosen his oil. He was distressed that the boat was reluctant to start.

“It must be the solenoid,” he muttered as we headed for Hurston junction and the Llangollen canal.

At Hurlston Junction I set off to tackle the locks. After the Captain eased the boat into the lock he slumped against the tiller, clearly in pain. Naturally I wanted to carry on but he was far from happy.

“How bad do you feel?” I asked.

“I’m getting stiffer each day,” he admitted. “And I’m finding locking tough with this shoulder. Today I’ve had pins and needles in my hands.”

our lounge diner

In spite of that he was willing to head into Wales to please me.

“We’re a team,” I replied. “It’s no good carrying on if you feel ill.”

The Captain reversed out of the lock and spun the boat around to the surprise of a skipper waiting to follow us up. He turned back onto the Shroppie and moored just beyond the junction.

Once moored for the evening (and fortified with a cup of tea) the Captain had a much closer look at all the leads and connectors on the solenoid. One came loose in his hand. As the solenoid was partly hidden beneath the engine he had to feel for the place it had come loose from. Once he had reconnected it he tried the engine and it started perfectly first time.

“I’ve fixed the starting problem that’s been bugging me all week,” he called triumphantly. That’s the joy of boating!

Double Hail

Cheshire locks

It looked so pleasant the Captain  declared, “we might get a full day’s cruising in!” I wasn’t so sure but was glad his optimism had returned after a good night’s sleep.

We locked steadily down into Wheelock enjoying the dry but windy weather. We filled with water and set off again as it started to rain. Dark clouds amassed quickly. The Captain moored just before the railway knowing beyond that a busy road thunders alongside the canal for miles. He was determined to stay dry this time. It rained heavily for two hours during which time other boats moored up by us.

from peace..

 It brightened up by 2.00 and blue sky appeared so we got moving and ambled through pleasant surroundings until after the first lock where the road closed in and roared close alongside.

Locking is harder and slower with the road so close as Lottie has to be kept on a lead. At last we reached Kings lock and moored up as we needed to go shopping before continuing onto the Middlewich branch.

One boat left the lock and sped past inconsiderately as we struggled to tighten the mooring ropes. Within minutes a hire boat (that had moored on the lock pins) swung

...to a noisy road running alongside

across the canal its front mooring rope dangling.  Both boats were at fault one shouldn’t have been moored there while the other boat was moving too fast. The crew of the hire boat shot out of the pub and ran to rescue their floating home.

“Who tied that up,” said a boater wearing a captain's hat. As he was clutching the keys it might have been him, but any disaster is the captain’s fault. 

The weather was fine as we trekked to the distant supermarket but while the Captain  chose our dinners it began to hail. Lottie and I took shelter in the narrow doorway. A father emerged with his young son.

waterside garden

“Put your hood up,” he said.

The boy ignored him but soon ran back to our little shelter when he felt the stinging stones. by the time the Captain  joined us there were six assorted people (and one hound) sheltering from the storm.

When the squall blew over we trudged back to the boat. The hire boat was moored on the lock pins again. The absence of crew suggested they were back in the pub.

The rain stopped so we set off again to try and find a mooring away from the main road as we didn’t want to spend the evening with traffic thundering by only a metre from our window.

We went through Kings lock in the dry but black clouds billowed up from nowhere.

There was a slight delay as a hire boat had just entered the first lock on the Middlewich arm. As I closed up after them the sky opened once again. My hound deserted me and fled through the bridge back to the Captain . By the time our boat had risen through the lock the hire boat had moored up (very sensible) and the hail storm had blown away.

red clouds at night

However it had been worth moving as the mooring on this piece of canal was idyllic. We had a steep bank on our side of the cut and beautiful long gardens  lined the other side.

Lottie was keen to explore, so while the Captain  played in his engine pit we walked along the towpath. The area was silent apart from animated bird song. It was a beautiful place to moor.

Yellow duckling

yellow duckling - a rare sight

paired locks

Lottie woke us at 6.30 to go out and use the dog toilet. When we cast off there was high grey cloud cover but no rain in sight. Lottie loved the rural aspect and explored each lock reveling in her freedom. 

only one working lock here

We moored for an hour at Rode Heath to buy milk. Lottie seemed disappointed when we moved off as she likes the rabbit trails but soon made the most of us queuing at the next lock by exploring a open field there.I enjoyed counting ducklings as we cruised on, one mother had twelve! Another had one bright yellow ball of fluff among her offspring.

We had spots of rain as we headed to the next group of locks then it brightened up. The Cheshire locks were built as pairs but some of the locks have become dilapidated and can no longer be used and a couple have been filled in. It is pleasant to walk up to a pair of locks and find one ready to use though once both were against us.

As we left the last lock at Hassall Green it began to rain so we moored up quickly. We had lunch as the rain pelted down glad to be inside and had a lazy afternoon after doing a bit of cleaning.

The Captain was clearly in some discomfort. When the rain finally stopped at 3.30 he declared he liked the mooring and was happy to stay put. 

Canal crossing cow

Waiting at Harecastle

nice weather at Red bull - for now

After the engine started reluctantly we cast off at 8.50 and followed a boat to the Harecastle tunnel. Half way there it began to rain but it was not heavy. We were fortunate to arrive as traffic emerged from the tunnel as it is so narrow it can only take one way traffic.

After the safety talk we were on our way - the third boat in a three boat convoy. The operator shut the tunnel door behind us and switched the fans on. 

old crane at Red Bull 

I steered through the tunnel for the first time and found myself ducking even before the roof dropped down. While in charge of the boat it seemed to take longer to reach the far end and emerge into gloomy daylight. 

Within minutes hailstones were pelting down at me. Lottie wisely retreated into the cabin and insisted that the Captain accompany her. She hates storms but seemed unconcerned leaving me to my fate. the Captain passed me a large umbrella which shielded me from the falling rocks then made us a hot brew. 

Ore coloured water

The trouble with a cruiser stern narrow boat is that you are totally exposed to the elements. It is lovely in sunshine but hail hurts!

Fortunately the intense storm soon abated but we still got wet going down the first lock. The Captain pulled over and moored up until the weather improved.

Inside a deep Cheshire lock

Fifty minutes later we were on our way again. We locked down a further two locks in sunshine and stopped at the Red Bull services dump our rubbish and take on water. I was delighted to find recycling was now provided for as our boat is usually bulging with recycling by the time we return after a long cruise. By the time we had eaten the rain was back so we had a prolonged break.

Eventually we moved off in what we hoped was a better slice of weather. We passed a field of young cattle but one of the black bullocks had escaped. Somehow he had crossed the canal and was lying across the towpath chewing the cud contentedly. The farmer is going to have a problem getting that one back!

bridge with double arches

It stayed dry until Church Lawton where black clouds blew over. While we debated going on it started to rain.We moored up abruptly at the end of the mooring away from the road.

As we sheltered from the pounding hail storm the Captain  declared, “That’s it for the night.”

Within the hour the sun returned but he wasn’t tempted to move. It stayed fine until nightfall but we had a lovely spot.

the herd

...and me