Heading back

Monday 7th July

Another lovely morning as we left our mooring near the Engine lock around 9am, I went and got the lock ready for Kev and we were on our way and as we got to lock 9 at Stockton Brook there was a sign just after the lock saying there were men working and we could see them through  the bridge 26.

As we got through here there were a few men working on the towpaths and plenty of their workboats too! We carried on and stopped at the services at bridge 31 and we filled the water, got rid of some rubbish and of course the loo cassette was emptied! There was yet more work going on through the bridge so we had to wait for a workman to move the STOP sign and we set off again.

work going on 

looking back towards bridge 31

After we had gone under Hazelhurst Aqueduct we moored at the Hollybush pub where we had a bite to eat but not in the pub! The canal is very slow going and it is overgrown in most places which is a shame as it is a really nice canal and I think there should be more work on the vegetation and trees encroaching on the waterway. 

The Flint Mill close to the Cheddleton locks

We moored on the 48 hour moorings after bridge 44, it all looked quite new here although just before we moored here we got stuck on the underwater obstruction which is on the towpath side and there isn't much room round it as there are permanent moored boats on the opposite side, Kev had to get the pole to push us off. We weren't the only boat to get stuck here, there was a boat that came along just after we had got moored and another boat had to pull him off.

Our mooring at Basford bridge

Tuesday 8th July

It was quite misty early this morning but then the sun appeared again, Kev managed to get some touch up painting done to the port side gunwhale   yesterday and this morning he fitted a galvanic Isolator and then he had a walk to the station.

The train station is lovely it is like going back in time, the station master told Kev they were expecting 140 children today and this weekend there is a Real Ale Trail  event  with live music, bbqs and train journeys with five pubs on the trail which are: The Railway Inn (Froghall) The Black Lion (Consall) The Boat Inn (Cheddleton) The Red Lion (Cheddleton) and the Roebuck (Leek) it is all starting 11th, 12th and 13th July it should be a good weekend so I hope the weather stays good for it.
We left Basford bridge moorings about 10.30 am and moored at Consall  11.30am and we went for a pint to the Black Lion pub, there was a sign at the gate to say all dogs had to be kept on their leads due to the fact one of their chickens had been killed!! Oh dear mind you there were a lot of chickens about around the tables!!
Once we had been refreshed with a drink we went back to R&R and set off and winded then headed back.

Coming through the narrow cutting along side of the railway towards the Black Lion Pub

As we were leaving the 2nd lock at Cheddleton  there was a hotel boat coming through the bridge, 42  towing a butty.

There wasn't a lot of room but we all managed, the Hotel boat only had 4 guests but they said bookings for this year are good so thats nice to hear they are doing ok.

We decided to head back to moor at Denford where we moored on the straight not far from bridge 38 where the Hollybush pub is, we had a walk to the pub for a drink in the evening but only had one then we had a walk up onto the Leek Branch of the Caldon Canal, it was so peaceful and there was one boat moored up there.

Wednesday 9th July

This morning we were up and about early as usual and Kev managed to get the towpath side of the boat polished and I got some ironing done then we left our mooring about 9.40 am.

This is a tight squeeze going back through bridge 31, but no damage done!! I wanted to get my lottery and a few other bits so we have moored before bridge 18 at Milton  where we will stay overnight.