Voyages of Gabriel: Cheddleton to Cheddleton via Consall Forge

Wed 29^th July Cheddleton to Consall Forge

Cheddleton Flint Mill

Through the building

There are two locks at Cheddleton, and the top lock is right by Castro’s restaurant, which looked completely closed. Looking online we found that they announced in early January that they would close on 13^th March, unrelated to coronavirus. This was good timing for them, as that is when lockdown started.

Into Cheddleton Locks

We passed the Churnet Valley Railway station, where a train was briefly moving, but services were not running. After Wood’s Lock, there was a lot of weed around, and we had to visit the weed hatch twice. The lift bridge on this section is usually left open. At Oakmeadowford Lock we found Rob, an unofficial volunteer lockkeeper.

Lift Bridge open for us

Weed and plastic

Oakmeadowford Lock

Rob the unofficial lock keeper

The river section is a relief from the shallow canal, and is quite twisty through overhanging trees.

Wooded river section

Himalayan Balsam

We arrived at Consall Forge, and moored on an overgrown bank near the lime kilns. The people on the boat (Additional Cargo) in front suggested we join them at the pub. We had a long chat with the lady on Curly Sioux as we passed.

Curly Sioux canal art

The limekilns

Churnet Valley Railway

Black Lion at Consall Forge

The bridge to the pub

The Black Lion is very remote, and popular with boaters and walkers. They serve a good range of ciders, including Old Rosie and Addlestones. There was a one way system, and our names and phone number were taken for track and trace purposes. We joined Paul and Caroline at a distance and had a good chat with them. They are heading in our direction, so we may coincide again. They moved on down to Froghall later.

Moored at Consall Forge

4 locks, 3 miles. Dep 1000, arr 1210

Thu 30^th July Consall Forge to Cheddleton

We had decided not to go to Froghall as we had reports of bad weed on that section. Accordingly, we turned at Flint Mill Lock. The canal runs alongside the railway and the platform overhangs the canal at the station.

The weir

The overhanging station

London Bridge and a view down the valley

Flint Mill Lock, where we turned

Station buildings

Bridge 50 by the Black Lion

We returned past the Black Lion, and along the picturesque river section to Oakmeadowford Lock. A boat was coming down in the lock, so we went in as they left. We discovered that the bottom gates were not shutting completely, leaving a gap where water was draining away rapidly. We managed to get the boat up in the lock, but found the pound above very shallow, as several boats had used the lock, using a lot of water. Another boat went in as we left.

After a few hundred yards of slow progress, we found ourselves stuck on the bottom. We phoned Canal and River Trust and were told someone would call us to establish the next move. 15 minutes later, a guy on a bike came past and told us they were letting water in further up. 20 minutes after that, we noticed some slight movement, and rather than slip back, we started the engine and bumped along the bottom very slowly.

Stuck in the shallow pound

Ragwort on the hill

It took an hour to get to the next lock, ¾ mile away. There we moored up out of the way well in advance, as we found a lock queue both ways, with deep drafted Tug No 2 stuck on the bottom, facing downstream just below the lock.

Tug No 2 stuck

Chaos at the lock

They had the paddles up on the lock to put water into the pound. Eventually there was enough water for the two boats in front of us to use the lock, and for Otter to come down. Otter hitched up a towline to Tug No 2 and when the next boat was coming down in the lock, the two boats managed to get going very slowly, and they passed us, followed by the boat that had just come down. It was then our turn to use the lock, assisted once more by Rob the volunteer.

First boat up

Under tow

Rob the volunteer

Above the lock there was plenty of water and we arrived at Cheddleton with no further problems.

Cheddleton Locks

Cheddleton Flint Mill

Later, Additional Cargo arrived, and we took our chairs and drinks to join them on the towpath, while they sat in the stern of their boat.

Caroline and Paul

4 locks, 4 miles. Dep 0940, arr 1420, including 35 minutes stuck, an hour creeping, and 40 minutes queuing.

Fri 31^st July Cheddleton

We caught a bus to Leek, as we had never been there before. It is a nice old market town. Hazel bought a folding walking stick, and James found a butcher and bought some sausage meat. We had a coffee and tea cake in a café, and pie and chips for lunch. We stocked up at Aldi, Hazel had her hair cut, and we caught the bus back.

It was very hot – the third hottest day on record.

Tug No 2 and Otter arrived later, mooring between Gabriel and Additional Cargo.