This one took a little planning to ensure we were at a pub for food every night... I had to make a few changes as we progressed, mainly due to weather. In fact the out trip was very specific weather, dry in the mornings with rain appearing in the afternoons. The wind was also a constant companion - weather wind that is !
So a crew change with the retired one staying on board and the worker going back south on the Sunday afternoon. My two new crew came from the south west of Scotland. Both accomplished crew having been on my other boats in the past. John and Mick came bearing gifts of copious amounts of beer, wine and frontier whisky plus a copy of Three Men in a boat - a winter read in front of the fire (finishing off the dregs of the whisky !)
We made a rights pigs ear of the exit from the basin lock with Mick getting marooned on the far bank and loosing the pole in the canal.... then the trip boat arrived so we were the comedy for the patrons of the boat as well as a few local walkers !!
We eventually cleared the trip boat and the turn and headed for the tunnel. With two large gentlemen on the bow, a full water tank and lots of extra weight (beer) in the forecabin we cleared the tunnel and struggled a bit as C&RT had left work boats near the entrance, but we cleared it and were on out way back.
It was a short days cruise as we were heading for the Black Lion for food and a drink or two so soon made our destination and were on the same mooring as Friday night ..... The Black Lion was buzzing Sunday evening much more than Friday... for such a remote pub is does do very well....
We then repaired to the boat for more socialising
Much was consumed and much laughter was made - especially while trying to make up the bed for John with Mick sitting drunk as a lord on the bog !! Proper belly laughs where you struggle to breath - good old beer !!
Monday was a 5 hour cruise on the Caldon to Stockton Brook. The river section was bucolic, in fact this whole section was so very rural and remote, truly beautiful and a canal everyone should visit -ideally to its terminus if your boat will fit !
The Cheddleton steam railway was operational - I suspect a train 'driving' day - about £600 I think but if it is a dream realised well worth it IMHO.
This old pumping house at Stockton Brook is ripe for a conversion to a palatial home - but at some cost I guess.
So we dropped down the Stockton Brook locks, very pretty. I was a little concerned I'd not adjusted the tappets on the donk since getting the boat. With no feeler gauge aboard I set of on the Brompton into Stoke to buy a set..... what a waste of time, none had any in stock and I cycled over 10 miles trying different shops and automotive suppliers.... says something about home servicing I guess. In the end back at the boat I ordered a set from Screwfix and collected them just yesterday (17th October about a month after this trip) now I just need to have a play.... maybe later today.
We could not find a place to eat so I rustled up some man food - pies, beans and tatties then we repaired to the local pub for beer !
I had the back cabin drop down bed that is very comfortable and useful for such multi occupancy trips as it puts the loo between the two cabins.
As we were having a post brekkie chat there was a knock on the cabin from Irene and Ian from Nb FreeSpirit . It was lovely to finally meet up with you both. Proper cruisers covering decent daily distances on their travels.
A lovely well cared for boat
The canal here has lift bridges and turns from rural beauty to metro canal with some horrible turns and some much in need of cutting back vegetation. It really is a canal of two characters - I know which I prefer ! It was at bridge 18 at Milton the boat took a scrape - when going up I got off and pulled the boat through - never mind it happens and it did polish out just about. Just CART need to pay more attention to the vegetation - it really is bad here
We stopped at the Etruia services and serviced ourselves with hot showers while the boat filled up and waste was emptied. We then dropped down the 5 Stoke locks to end up as planned back at The Plume of Feathers at Barleston
No photos for this day as I was quite hungover thanks to this poison drink. We did the Meaford flight then stopped in Stone for much needed chips to help the hangover disappear.
The plan was to stop at Barleston and frequent the Greyhound (a favourite pub) but the weather for the day after was heavy rain all morning so we pressed on to Great Haywood and ate at the Cliffird arms. Chatting to the landlady she said there was planned to be a large 'encampment' for HS2 workers close by and she had been advised to have bouncers on her pub when it all comes to construction !!
As we passed a boat close to Barleston Jaq from NB Valerie came to the window.... A emergency stop and I jumped off to have 10 minutes with this very brave lady. Please do click the link above, her story is sad, beautiful and inspiring. I know I'll call over later in the year to her winter mooring for a longer catch up (and cake) Take care Jaq.
I set a record on this day of over 24,000 steps .... it is a great stretch of canal to cruise and walk being so remote. We moored opposite Great Haywood marina and immediately noticed lots of cow pats on the canal.... their owners soon showed themselves as escapees from a close by field, mooing to those still locked up ! I did phone CART in case they could track a local farmer - they were pleasant but not too interested!
Thursday was a short hop to Woolsey bridge as the forecast heavy rain arrived at 11am and stayed till 4pm. More beer and food in the local but the beer was very expensive - as a retiree I need to be aware ! The only noticeable event was passing Longfellow.... we tried to buy this boat (build by Harland and Wolfe) way back as our first boat as at the time we got the mooring with the boat and this boat was moored at Hunts lock. We wanted a survey and the owner sold it to someone who did not - can't blame him for that.
Another favourite (that I'll be walking to later today) is Woodend lock - Percy approaching
Another known boat - Phyllis May II did the turn from the Coventry - no doubt on its way back to Stone, no Darlingtons aboard.
As I came through the engine room I smelt diesel and on investigation spotted a leak from the pipe out of the injection pump on the right hand side, not too bad so I wrapped it up in a cloth and limped back to the mooring - more on the repair later. Only time so far the donk has given an issue.
Last night at the Mucky Duck saw Mick embarrass himself with the Mixed Grill. No doubt the large fish and chips with a large sausage at lunch time took its toll ! I had liver and onions - not had that since Rachel was expecting Tom 30 odd years ago - the food and service was much improved from my last visit.
The poison was not quite seen off and it sits behind me as I type this .... I recon I can clean the engine with it if needed!
Saturday saw a decant and a drive back to the staffs cottage where John and Mick set off on their 6 hour drive to Scotland - thanks gents a great week.
So for the two weeks it was a 96 mile trip and 86 locks - not too shabby and very enjoyable.
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