Damp dog day

 Locking up in Stone

We cruised to the bottom lock in Stone and filled with water while in the queue. The boat behind was due back in Stone as they entered the lock behind us. There was only 10 feet of mooring left above the lock but I tied to the mooring ring and the first locking bollard while waiting for the boat ahead to use the lock. The Captain scurried into town to pick up supplies so I sent the hire boat ahead of us. It had just entered the lock when the Captain returned with all the essentials so we moved onto the lock pins to wait our turn.

Traditional working boats

Lottie had a short run with a little dog in a life jacket but otherwise seemed rather tired.

The weather remained cloudy threatening rain all the way to Barlaston.

After lunch we decided to carry on as the weather seemed brighter.

“Once past Trentham Lock there will be nowhere to stop until Westport Lake,” the Captain muttered.

half way up the Stoke flight

As we left Trentham Lock it started to rain and grew heavy. The captain thought about returning to Barlaston to moor but the rain eased so he carried on. For the rest of our cruise the rain wavered between light, heavy and torrential. Lottie wanted to stay in the dry but she wanted one of us with her – impossible when locking! I lost count of the times I wiped her paws so she could go back into the boat. Even so the seating would have been soaked if we hadn’t covered them in old towels.

disused industry under restoration

The locking went smoothly apart from a disgruntled lurcher looking down her nose at me. After the top lock I took the soggy lurcher  inside, dried her off with her towel and stayed inside with her.  Lottie scraped the dog towel off the sofa but I pushed her off before she could settle down. I replaced the towel to stop the sofa smelling of damp dog and sat with Lottie while the Captain guided the boat past old kilns and factories.  We took the first space at Westport lake and moored up. Shortly after we had stripped off out wet gear the rain ceased. We were not amused especially as the lurcher demanded a walk round the lake as soon as the Captain sat down with his cup of tea.

Cruising again

The giant Armitage Shanks factory

After a later than expected departure (due to Lottie our lurcher oversleeping) we had a good drive up to the marina with no holdups. I took Lottie round the marina so the Captain could transfer our baggage to the boat using a trolley without Lottie attacking its wheels. The marina was a tranquil haven after the motorway journey. A visiting heron took off clumsily as Lottie approached and flapped out of the marina. Geese lay around on the island soaking up the sun. Beyond the bridge moorhen chicks tottered on their stilts cheeping to their mother when they saw the oversized hound.

The roofless Armitage tunnel

We left the marina at 16.20. as soon as we entered the canal Lottie demanded a walk along the towpath. Satisfied by a mile’s walk she jumped back on the boat at a handy bridge hole and demanded her dinner. Although the weather was warm we only met one boat on the way out. Where was everybody? The first time we cruised this stretch we met a boat on every corner.
We moored up in solitude and enjoyed the silence.

Idyllic mooring

The dawn chorus (headed by an enthusiastic Blackbird) woke me at 4.15. Lottie must have been woken too as she asked for her quilt to be spread over her. After the disturbed night we were slow to set off after breakfast. As we walked the towpath Lottie thought our boat was coming and waited for it to come through the bridge hole. Thankfully she realised the approaching boat was not ours before she leapt aboard. When our boat glided round the corner Lottie barked as if annoyed that her boat had not arrived first.

beautiful tree art

Sadly six boats were waiting to pass through Colwich Lock when we reached it even though we had slowed to tick-over when a passing boat warned us. The Captain had to drop me off in the rough so I could hold the boat on the bank. The boat ahead of us went aground as it reached the locking bollards. and its Skipper had trouble moving forwards. We managed to avoid the shallow area but the boat behind (with a 2ft9 draught) also ran aground.
“Why don’t they dredge here?” the good lady of the boat complained. By the time we cleared the lock over an hour later temperatures were soaring – though the people in the lock queue remained good humoured.

Shrugborough House

I thought the queue would be shorted at the next lock but I was wrong - seven boats stood in line ahead of us at Great Haywood Lock. Knowing we had an hour’s wait I took Lottie for a walk over the narrow stone footbridge in Shrugborough Park and let her immerse herself in the river. Lottie doesn’t swim but when she gets hot she wades out until the water reaches her chin. After a refreshing dip she had a walk through the woods. When we returned the queue had hardly moved.

Shrugborough footbridge

As it was lunch time I made lunch and we took it in turn to eat. Lottie didn’t seem to understand we were queuing for the lock and barked to tell us it was time to cruise. We had spent all morning and travelled only 4 miles.
After the lock we stopped to visit the super farm shop and the Captain rested after his demanding morning with a cup of tea.

Cooling down

Thankfully all afternoon we arrived at each lock as the boat ahead was entering it so there was not much waiting around. Lottie appreciated the cruising and lay on the back deck in the sun. As we neared Stone black clouds built up
threatening to soak us. At our final lock one of the crew from the boat ahead opened the paddles to drain the lock for me. By the time I arrived the lock was nearly empty. Now that’s what I call a friendly boater.

Boat cleaning again

After Paul had applied a second pre-coat to his repair work on the yellow paint we set off towards the marina. The morning started fine and sunny but as we cruised towards Rugely it deteriorated. The fluffy clouds blocking the sun built and mingled with the white water vapour rising from the cooling towers at Rugely’s power station. Paul hurried to paint the yellow before the weather worsened as it looked as if rain was on the way. Job done he came inside for lunch.
The rain did not materialise so we cruised back to Handacre less than an hour from base. I noticed a disturbing trend here amongst the invisible dog owners. Who else could have carefully put their dog waste in a bag then twirled it through the air so that the bags caught on branches of overhanging trees or flew over the fence into the land next to the towpath. What a filthy habit, hardly friendly to the environment. Perhaps it is the act of one local dog owner, but over weeks the bags add up.
Once safely moored at Handacre Paul drank a cup of tea to fortify him for the task ahead. Here the towpath was on the other side so he dug out his shampoo and washed the other side of the boat, so that it is clean from front to back.

Nest Building Swans

lovely mooring

After walking Lottie I concentrated on cleaning the inside of the boat while Paul sorted our wood supply out and checked the engine. He then touched up the blacking where the boat had scraped on dodgy pilings through the Caldon’s narrow bridges and then tackled the rust spots, rubbing down and applying red oxide. Lottie snoozed in the sun.

Bridge at Great Hayward canal junction

We set off for Great Haywood at 11.15 with a steady stream of traffic heading our way. As Paul cast off a narrow boat roared round the corner so he had to hold it on the middle rope. We followed the racing boat gradually falling behind but glimpsing it in the distance.



Swans building nest

“No point rushing,” Paul said. “There will be a queue at the Sandon lock. There were 3 boats waiting, so our measured pace saved us standing on the bank holding the boat for maybe 10 minutes. We reached the head of the queue half an hour later. Fast narrow boat stopped for lunch while we cruised past taking it in turns to eat our sandwiches.

Team work

Unsurprisingly it caught up with us as we queued for the next lock. It flew around the corner and bounced nose first straight into the bank – not the usual method of coming to a halt. They turned the lock round swiftly and pursued us to Hoo Mill lock. At Great Hayward junction Paul filled with water sending me to the farm shop for their home made ice creams – a welcome treat in the sunshine.

Breaking reeds

Having to go further to find reeds

We moored after the junction, opposite a pair of nesting swans. Where else can you get so close to nature and watch in comfort? They worked as a team building a nest in the reeds She broke off reeds where she was building her nest and wove them into the structure. The male broke off reeds further from the nest and ferried them over to his beloved, waiting until she took each proffered reed. It was a rare treat for us to watch especially as Lottie ignored them. She has also ignored the sheep who have filled the fields with their lambs but we won’t trust her off the lead. Because of the sheep there was only one place where Lottie could run free today but she made the most of it, running for pleasure. Naturally afterwards she took a dip in the canal to cool down after all her exertion. At the junction she put her front feet on the parapet of the bridge and admired the view.

Moored opposite the swan's reed bed

Boat cleaning

Lottie relaxing on the rear deck

As the weather is fine we decided to take our time returning to base and work on the boat. First we cruised to charge the batteries. Most of the locks were in our favour so we made good time. At one idyllic lock an old man sat in his disabled buggy reading his newspaper. As we left he followed, his buggy coping well with the uneven ground. He overtook us as we worked the next lock and disappeared into Stone at a gentle walking pace. The boat crew behind us seemed in a great hurry but they fell behind as they had to refill the locks to follow us. I was sad to see that the beautiful canal-side art at the locks had been vandalised. In spite of the attacks the stone structures were still beautiful.

Mooring in Stone

We moored in the centre of Stone, shopped had lunch then moved on to start work on the boat. In spite of stopping to work we cruised for 4 hours today.

We found a quiet spot apart from the sheep baaing in a nearby field. I took her for a walk and she found a lambs leg. Further on were less gruesome remains –the poor creatures tail. Was this the remains of a fox’s lunch? Farmers have so much to content with it’s surprising that they ever make a profit.

sheep everywhere

Afterwards we cleaned the paintwork. I concentrated on the bow and stern, Paul tackled the roof and side and Lottie roamed around keeping an eye on us as if she were in charge. As we finished cleaning a tractor started ploughing the field opposite. It was interesting to watch but we moved the boat round the corner where it was more peaceful.

 

Homeward bound

Lottie exploring by the locks

I walked Lottie along to the lock past the towpath closed sign hoping to beat the workmen’s arrival. I didn’t but I called to them and asked if I could come past and they waved me through. After checking nobody was coming up I opened the top lock and waited.

Paul had trouble getting past the towpath works as the working barge had swung across the canal. By the time they had straightened it out another boat had caught him up. We flew down the five Stockton Brook locks as the first two were in our favour and an up-coming boat set the next. Lottie enjoyed exploring the locks as if she remembered Stoke lay ahead.

Pheasant strutting

At the first lift bridge a boater coming towards up held it open for us but I had to work the second one. It takes ages turning the windlass, a perfect build up for my muscles.

Soon afterwards we saw a kestrel hovering beside the canal. As we drew parallel it plummeted and rose again with a small rodent hanging from its talons. How do they spot such small prey from up there? Today we were struck by the strange sight of a bottle kiln poking through the roof of a building. surely it was built first then the building added later.

Unusual bottle kiln protruding through roof

To my embarrassment my husband had no trouble working the Ivy Lift Bridge where I had struggled to raise and lower the barriers. I thought being tall would make it easy but he is only a couple of inches taller than me so obviously it is his technique that is superior. On reaching the bridge by the park we found the graffiti had been transformed by local art work.

We cruised for four hours in total arriving at the staircase lock with it set for us. However at the bottom all the moorings were full. Hungrily Paul filled with water while I made the corned beef sandwiches.

We joined the Trent and Mersey canal and reversed away from the lock to moor for lunch. 

Bridge brightening

Some lads were paddling canoes nearby, what a fun thing to do in the holidays. Suddenly there was a bang and strange noises coming from the rear of the boat. One of the boys had thought it fun to paddle under our rear fender and had got his canoe wedged between the fender and the rudder which lies hidden in the water. After wriggling, pushing and almost capsizing his craft the small canoe popped free of the rudder half full with water. Its young owner was red faced when I asked him what he was doing. After all there was lots of water to paddle through without cuddling the rear of a narrow boat. 

Unfortunately this disturbed Lottie and she didn’t settle down again so after only forty minutes we headed into our next lock. 

Ponies resting

We sped down this flight as well, meeting boats as they exited the locks. Lottie found a large chunk of muck which she ate much to Paul’s dismay. What goes in must come out so we have a smelly evening ahead of us. The windows will be needed for ventilation. After that she lay down in the stern literally keeping a low profile but the locks were concrete affairs that wouldn’t interest her anyway.

At our final lock of the day she perked up and explored the woods which lay to one side of the lock while I worked it.

This overnight mooring is rustic with ponies grazing peacefully in the fields. Lottie was excited but they remained peaceful as she was taken inside and not allowed loose to chase them. The moon shone through clear skies making this a beautiful evening.

 

High winds

View from the aqueduct

Lottie woke us at6.30 to go out and use the dog toilet.

After breakfast we were ready to move off with blue sky and sunshine ahead but ominous dark clouds were building to our left. Paul decided to wait out the squall as his forecast suggested gusts of up to 30 miles per hour.

Canal side cottages

Windy views

Just before nine the clouds cleared and the wind dropped so we set out for Leek. The first minute took us over the aqueduct with stunning views along the valley. The cruise continued with lovely views back down the Caldon as the canal clung to the edge of the hill. We passed a boater with a rescue dog that barks at everyone and she waved merrily while her dog loudly told us to keep moving.

Tranquil out of the wind

Leek tunnel was so different from Froghall tunnel with loads of head room, but Paul struggled to get the bow into the tunnel as the wind had started to blow strongly again. By the time he reached the winding hole it was gale force. It spite of that he wound successfully and then tried to reverse past two moored boats to moor. The wind swept down the hill and pinned our boat to the bank as if we had tied up. It would not budge. While we were still stuck against the side of the winding hole another boat turned. Fortunately it was a wide winding hole and we were right up one end.

The end of the canal

As the wind eased Paul reversed back past the first moored boat but as he approached the second the wind gusted strongly.

The gap between the boats seemed big enough for our boat so Paul let the wind blow him over. He slid sideways into the tight gap perfectly without touching either boat using wind power with our side acting like a sail.

winding waterway

We had a pleasant walk along the river from the disused aqueduct at the end of the Leek arm and managed to stock up on edibles.

Lottie settled down for a long sleep before I could clear the sofa of our magazines. Why choose to sleep on top of things when the other sofa was empty? 

Lottie sleeping

After a long lunch break the wind dropped again so we set off back towards the junction. Lottie wanted to walk but rejoining the boat at the tunnel entrance took some nifty steering from Paul.

unusual tower seen from the canal

The return journey was sunny but the wind started to gust again.  We caught another narrow boat at the aqueduct as he dropped his crew. The crew woman hurried down the steps to set the locks for her boat before it cruised round to the top of them, but I doubt if it saved them much time. Due to them stopping ahead of us our loopy Lurcher jumped onto the bank, but for the first time I failed to follow her. A large water rat watched her from the far bank whiskers twitching. It was the biggest and healthiest rat I’ve ever seen, but most stay concealed in the grass. Lottie ran on ahead and waited where we had been moored this morning as if waiting for us to pull over. When we cruised past she ran after us barking, her way of asking to get back on the boat. She jumped back on as soon as we neared her bank and settled down on the back deck.


There were not many boats moving today so it was unfortunate to meet one at an awkward bridge hole on a corner. I couldn’t reverse up as the CaRT boats were moored by the bridge and there was no room for a boat to pass between me and them. The other boater reversed... and got stuck. The rear of the boat was aground but the front floated around and blocked the canal. The other boater pushed off with her barge pole giving me room to slide past.

Today was a no locking day as we moored above the Stockton Brook flight of five in a surprisingly rural spot. Tomorrow we will face the concrete of Stoke on Trent.