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

rain sleet and black snow

first lock of the day

Heading towards Stoke

We woke to  rain but it soon gave way to clear skies and sunshine. Thankfully it was warmer than yesterday. We shared the locking out of Stone though the Captain still felt off colour. Lottie had a good morning running free in the sunshine.

At Barlaston the Captain decided to carry straight on for Stone as he wanted to make the most of the mornings good weather.

locking beneath the railway bridges

At Trentham lock there were eight volunteers working busily, but they put the paddles up for us. Some were clearing rubbish others scraping the old paint off the lock ready to paint it.

I had to ask a couple of volunteers to move so I could open the gate, but one helper opened the far side for me. The volunteers carried on scraping as the boat rose in the lock showering the Captain with black flakes of dried paint which fluttered down on him like snowflakes.

two locks to go

As we approached The Brittania Stadium the sky darkened and the wind increased but we had passed the last mooring before the flight. We had to go on rain or shine!

After lunch we cruised under the maze of deep road and rail bridges. We had the first spots of rain but we negotiated the deep Stoke locks without getting soaked. Unfortunately the Captain’s shoulder was playing up so I did all the winding and pushing at Trentham lock and four of the Stoke locks.

At the top the weather was fair so we carried on towards Westport Lake as we like the mooring there. Of course as soon as we passed the last mooring spot the rain increased and the wind drove it into our faces.

Soon sleet was lashing down, not the normal spring weather, but it relented and we moored at Westport Lake in the dry. After more showers Lottie took me for a walk round the lake. It was bereft of people but full of ducks, geese and swans nesting. Lottie kept me on the lead due to the nesting birds.

Afterwards she had dinner then settled down on the sofa for her after dinner nap. As always it was a peaceful evening at Westport lake.

Give me bread

salt bridge

in Star lock

It was a bright but chilly start to the day. We passed dozens of young swans swimming, feeding walking in the fields and resting on the canal bank. Most of them still had some brown cygnet fluff clinging to their snowy feathers. The canal must be a healthy environment for there to be so many.

 It clouded over ominously as we moored at Stone but it was a pleasant walk to the shops. Lottie and I lurked outside while the Captain got provisions. By the time he got out it was raining heavily –and he wasn’t wearing his coat. We sheltered from the worst of the rain under a bridge then sprinted back to the boat when it seemed set for the day

view from the top of Stone's second lock 

old warehouses

We had a very long lunch break to miss the torrential rain and finally set off mid afternoon when the rain stopped and the sky brightened.

leaving Stone

By the time the boat was rising in Star lock it was raining again. The Captain decided to carry on instead of squeeze into the only available mooring in the short pound. The rain got heavier. While waiting for the boat ahead of us to rise and another to come down the third lock the Captain filled Fine Chance with water. 
As we reached the fourth lock it stopped raining. the Captain wondered whether to carry on up the next four locks but moored up

Swans 

A pair of swans came knocking at the window for food. Instead of bread, which they get far too much of, I threw them some dried mealworms. I normally give them wild bird seed but that sinks. The male swan looked at me and hissed as if saying where’s the bread? But his lady started feeding on the floating treats. As I threw more he cottoned on and joined in feeding though I think he would have preferred bread.

It was the right decision to stay put as within thirty minutes of mooring the sky darkened and the rain hammered down again. 

frost sun and rain

our mooring overnight

turning onto the aqueduct

There was frost over night but the fire was still going in the morning. 

When he prepared to leave our mooring the Captain had trouble with the gear control lever- it had seized up and he could barely move it. Instead of moving off  he stripped down the controller and found the old grease had gone hard and sticky. He removed the gunk and re-greased with stern grease and reassembled the unit after a false start and much grunting. This is not going to help his shoulder!

getting brighter

Once we got moving it was sunny, and we crossed the aqueduct and cruised past fields filled with happy lambs. We were the only boat at Colwich lock which was strange as normally there is a long queue..

 The clouds didn’t build up until we reached Great Hayward.  The sky darkened as the boat rose in the lock. We moored up just after the lock and dived inside as  the rain hammered down. Within thirty minutes it was bright and dry.

canalside cottages at Colwich

After lunch we cruised on enjoying the sunshine. We had a long wait at Hoo Mill lock waiting for a boat to come down. The crew only had one paddle half open but seemed happy to inch down. 

Great Hayward lock ready to enter

We passed several swans nesting spaced at even intervals along the canal and passed several flotillas of ducklings. 
One duckling got separated from the rest as our boat passed. It swam frantically in the same direction we were going but couldn’t cross the bow to rejoin his family. They meanwhile had stopped swimming and were waiting behind us. The duckling stopped trying to outrun us and turned around. 
On seeing mother duck and the other nine ducklings he swam back quacking loudly. Was he saying mum I nearly got run over by a monster?

Spots of rain teased us at Weston lock but we moored up still dry.

ducklings scattering

Weston lock -  last of the day - and still dry

Spring hail

a good start

sunshine after the hail stones

The weather forecast was rotten with chances of heavy rain and hail but we headed to the boat. We unpacked at the Marina in sunshine (as inky cloud blew away) with an excited dog. I unloaded our supplies while the Captain, who was nursing a sore shoulder and other aches, walked Lottie, to avoid her attacking the trolley.

will the hail return?

After pumping out (it is lovely to have a sweet smelling toilet) we set out late afternoon even though dark clouds smudged the horizon expecting to cruise for up to an hour before they struck. 

Immediately on reaching the canal I walked the loopy Lurcher who jumped and wove round the puddles. While I slithered through thick mud along she herded several ducks back into the water but did not follow them in. Within minutes the wind strengthened and I was attacked by horizontal sleet and snow. This was supposed to be a spring cruise! Lottie hated the hail but there was no way of bringing the boat close to the bank so we walked to the next bridge.

Armitage Tunnel

By the time we got  back on board the storm had blown over and the sun returned to melt the hailstones that had heaped up on the back deck. Although our control lever was very stiff we meandered towards to Rugeley with Lottie leaning far over the water to see what lay ahead. Spring flowers where abundant and the fields were verdant.

As Lottie and I walked ahead to check the roofless Armitage tunnel was empty the winds rose again. Fortunately by the time we were clear of the tunnel the storm had gone as swiftly as it arrived. The Captain moored in a quiet spot on the far side of Rugeley, not far from the bloody steps where a gruesome murder of a young woman called Christine took place back in the days of horse drawn barges.

peace after the tunnel

The night was peaceful apart from Lottie demanding her quilt was put back over her, even though the fire burnt slowly.