The end of the line

Not sure there is an equivalent for canals rather than railways ... end of the cut I guess.

Catching up on the most recent cruise now....the delay being around photos on the camera not my laptop.

After waiting around for the steam train to pass to get this shot...

...we plodded along the section of canal that is now my valley walk. This is from Consall Forge to the basin.  Beautiful it is on the boat as it is walking. It was a nice pleasure to hear Percy's engine filling the quietness of the valley.

We just crept under the gauge for the tunnel.... just that did not inspire confidence for the main event later that morning !

Then it was the best section of the canal  - deep in the valley just the chug chug chug of Percy's engine to keep us company.

I walked to the tunnel with Rachel aboard Percy doing the technical bits....

So the tunnel. When we brought Sylph our share boat here some years ago we winded as she would not have done the tunnel. Before the gauge I thought we would have no problem. ... I did have doubts ....

The winding hole is a hundred yards or so  before the tunnel so if we bottled it now it meant a slow reverse back....nothing ventured etc, so with Rachel on the bow for a little extra steerage (gloves on and hood up - she was very brave as she does not like such environments ) and me on the back at tickover we went in. It was horrible. As close to pot holing in a narrowboat as can be experienced. I literally was crouched down peeping over the hatch feeling all the cobwebs hit my face trying to hold a line.... at one point I did consider stopping and reversing out as I was sure I was going to insert Percy into the gap like a cork in a bottle..... then the bow made sunshine and I duly followed with so much relief but instant concern for the return trip ! 

It was worth the effort, we watered up - which would help the return trip by lowering the bow a little more and locked down into the basin. It was pleasing to see two other boats had made the challenge, no doubt experts at the tunnel.

We then walked home !!

Part of my planning was to make this cruise as easy for us to swap crews and we were about a 20 minute walk to our cottage. So we did just that walked back and collected the car.

We had a quiet night after Rachel's run into Derby to see her mum. I stayed aboard and cleared the junk hole the  forecabin had become.

All in all a beautiful cruise and a fitting start to my reinvention as a non working member of society !

The return trip detail are next.....

Thinking of Les Biggs at Consall

It is a fine thing to inspire people. Many years ago when I was toiling away and planning a future of less work and more boating one picture of the many on the bloggers blogs was by Les Biggs   who took a shot that inspired me to plan to do the same ... 'someday'.

Well that someday arrived as they all do and I managed to get my shot at the same location. I have unashamedly saved Les' picture that was taken August 25th 2006 over 11 years ago.

There was a boat in front of me so I could not get the exact same shot and we were pointing the other way but the shot pleased me greatly and I have to thank Rachel for her forbearance while I waiting outside to get the shot.

The trip then had a real connection as coming back down the T&M just past Burston  we passed a green boat and it was Jaq's boat with Jaq waving to me through the window. Some dubious boat manoeuvres saw me hop off for a 10 minute chat while John and Mick took Percy on to the next lock. It was a treat to catch up and have the briefest of chats. But I know where Jaq will be over the winter so I can hopefully get more time to talk and offer any help I can. I'd also like Rachel to meet up as well. She is a truly amazing person who is also an inspiration but for a different reason. I am not sure I know of a person with more character and determination. I was just sorry we were on a mission to get my co crew back for the weekend so I could not spend more time chatting.

As it is we are now sitting out the forecast rain at Woolsley Bridge with food being the reason for the location as we have eaten at the pub by the bridge on a few occasions. 

I have much more to blog about for this trip but wished to put my thoughts onto my blog and dedicate them to a fantastic couple of inspirational people. 

A small fire aboard, but not in the woodburner !!

Today was always going to be the longest of the week. I think Stoke has an unfair reputation as everyone we have met  (apart from one boater) has been very friendly.

We untied at just before 8am which turned out fortuitous as by the time we had got to Trentham lock there were three boats behind us.

Another beautiful start with lots of blue sky.

I have never been to the factory tour - it is on the to do list.

No queue for us at Trentham lock 

We were soon joined by three other boats who left just after 8 

I like the run into Stoke, it gets progressively more urban then industrial, 

What is difficult to appreciate is the growing noise as you approach the A50/ A500 roundabout then it is just full on noisy. 

 I can't help but imagine the faces that have looked out onto the canal from these long last used windows 

 You just know this is someones well thought out home 

The couple of hours went very quickly and we were soon at Stoke bottom lock. This is just a massive concrete box and it echoes like no other lock on the system. We were helped initially by an Austrian crew who were off up to Chester. We then got help by a very enthusiastic lock wheeler and entrepreneur   - a young man on his cycle called Rob. He was very efficient and advised he cycles as far as Stone and will help on the Wolverhampton 21. He also said he does laundry and shopping ! I have his mobile in case you ever need it.

The top lock was staffed by volunteers, Rob said he had been a volunteer but did not like it as he had to stay on one lock.  It is an imposing lock and one I do not like being in for no reason I can put my mind to !

We are still climbing and have been ever since leaving Fradley. Tomorrow I'll tot up the feet we have risen when we hit the summit pound. This is looking back from the top of the stoke flight.

Yep you guessed it my 180 degree turn onto the Caldon was perfect and no one saw it . We watered up and emptied the bogs then off to the staircase to climb some more.

Again we met and chatted to a fella who lives close to us .... he come to the locks to operate them for boaters to pass time while he waits for his boat time. 

Then off through Stoke .... I have to say it's much improved since we last came. Lots of new property by the canal. Shame the canal is not in better condition with lots of off side growth needing cutting back. It really is a meander and slow due to the reduced width and tight turns.

We both got it wrong on a couple of turns. Bridge 18 is shocking I had to pull the boat around on the centre rope as there was no other way of avoiding trees and bushes on the off side as I came through the bridge hole. 

Good old bridge 9  - it caught us out last time on Waterlily when I creased the chimney ! This time we were ready .....

Lots of decent development and some renovation.

It does get better  - wider and more rural. Only one hand lift bridge now as the other has been converted. Still impossible / difficult for a single hander as the winding mechanism is on the off side 

We made out schedules stop at the bottom of Stockton brook. CanalPlan said 7 and a half hours we did it in 7 with half an hour to water up so very good cruising
.

Moored with fishing in mind. Caught well until some predatory fish were attracted then it went dead. I put a spinner on and lifted out a large Perch - proper fishing.

The fire.... we treated ourselves to a deep bath and when Rachel brought the kettle in to top up my bath she used the tea towel to lift the kettle and realised it was on fire as she came into the bathroom. She cuold have dropped a boiling kettle but instead was practical and dropped the tea towel in the sink to put out the flames - so easy to have an accident.

Tomorrow we aim to eat at our local - The Black Lion.... lets see !