BBQ weekend at the Taft

Fri 5^th September (Continued)

Taft weekend

We returned to the Taft from our mooring by bridge 79 by crossing the bridge and walking along the canal bank as we had done before.  We were surprised to find a fence at one point where there used to be none. It was easy to climb (just three iron bars) so we soon arrived at the Taft. Later we discovered that the neighbours were new, and no arrangement had been made with them, so we had been meant to walk along the road instead of the canal bank.

Notices

Before tea

We met lots of other BCF members over tea and cake.  The resident dog, Amber really hit it off with Oakley, Tracey’s guide dog, and they were rolling around on the grass and chasing each other round the garden with excitement.

In the marquee we set up the PA equipment that we had brought, before returning to the boat.  There we met Sarah and Berni on Lion Star, and we gave them a copy of the programme.

Rob and Trish had also arrived on Mistol.  Trish had been canoeing a section of the Trent.

We had some samosas on board, before returning to the Taft for an informal social in the marquee. There were about eight people in a circle, and every time some more people arrived, the circle widened until we had at least twenty people.

Peter Brooks shared our torch on the return to the boat, as the road section was really dark, and the gate padlock needed some light to set the combination.

No more boating since arriving at the Taft.   3 mice.

Saturday 6^th September

The Taft weekend

A dewy misty morning was followed by a short time of prayer and worship, led by Vivienne Bull.

Then it was all hands to setting up tables for the barbecue, with 52 people. A very sociable time, even while queuing for the salad bar and turkey steaks.

Salad bar

We were trying to make plans to attend two funerals on Wednesday.  Doris Armstrong, a lovely BCF lady, had her funeral in Nottingham at 10.00am, with cremation in Mansfield later.  There was to be a celebration of the life of Graham Bell at 6.30pm in Mansfield Civic Centre.  We could have had a lift to Doris’s but would have to rely on public transport to return from Mansfield, and we were not confident that it would be possible.  If we hired a car from Lichfield, we would not get to Doris’s in time.

Moored by Taft bridge and Hugo’s tree

James was in charge of the evening entertainment.  We had ten acts altogether, ranging from songs and poems to John Halford who whistled and hummed at the same time in harmony with himself!  We kicked off with A long way down and Well, well, well.  David Bull provided the keyboard backing for three acts. It was all well received and good fun.

We returned to the boats with Sarah and Berni from Lion Star

No Boating today

2 mice

Sunday 7^th September

Taft weekend

Another damp and misty start to a sunny day.

Dawn light

Fuel barge

We had a communion service in the marquee, wonderfully led by Martin Oram. James played guitar David Bull played keyboard, and David Botham played recorder. Then we all went to the quayside for a boat blessing ceremony to bless Sola Gratia, Tim and Tracey’s newly refurbished boat.

Before Communion

Martin Oram 

 Boat blessing

Martin with his rosemary

The bring and share lunch was good, and we had ours in the marquee as the sun was hot, although most of the tables were outside.

James went back to the boat with Ernie and Sandra, and Ernie had a look at our immersion heater which doesn’t seem to be working.  He tested the electrics and found that there was power as far as the thermostat, but not through the element, so he thought it may be a faulty element.  We have hardly used the immersion heater.

Back at the Taft there was tea and cake at 4pm, followed by a cheese supper which was meant to be at 6pm, but didn’t get going until about 7.30pm.

Taft bridge at sunset

All in all it was an excellent weekend of fellowship.

No boating today

Monday 8^th September

The Taft weekend

A very misty moisty morning

Morning mist

Twelfth of Never went past.  We really must try and have a chat with them.

For those that remained (about 15), we both led a time of praise and prayer for half an hour. We sang 10,000 reasons, To be in your presence, and We’ll walk the land.

Just after we had finished, James had a call from Ernie, who had had an idea about the immersion heater.  He though the adjustable thermostat could be the one for turning it on, and as it is set to 75, it should be changed to zero.  The other thermostat is factory set, and is the one designed to turn off the power.

There is no winding hole between the Taft and Great Haywood, 2 miles and 2 locks away (about an hour’s journey each way)

To get our PA system back onto the boat we either had to carry it nearly half a mile, or bring the boat back to the Taft. We would need to be in reverse, if we didn’t want to spend two hours going to Great Haywood and back.

Terry and Christine offered to take the gear on Grace, and drop it off on Gabriel. It was further complicated by towing Jubilee backwards (John and Janet Halford) because they were facing Great Hayward, but wanted to go to Rugeley.

So we loaded the PA system onto Grace and set off with Jubilee on tow. Jubilee had to be released when we reached bridge 79 as there was not room for two boats.  We had to hold up another boat coming from Rugeley direction, while the PA was transferred onto Gabriel.  It all worked as planned, and Grace towed Jubilee on to the winding hole half a mile further on.

(8^th September continued under “The Taft to Swarkestone”)

Stoke-on-Trent to the Taft

Tue 2^nd September

Stoke-on-Trent to Stone

James had a chat with the guys on Milly B III. They had a very friendly dog.

We used the facilities by Etruria Industrial Museum before leaving the Caldon Canal and turning sharp left to face the first of the five Stoke locks. 

Stoke Top Lock

Yarn bombers in Stoke – better than graffiti

Etruria Industrial Museum

A chap on a bike said he would help us with the locks, and he cycled to the next one to set it for us. It turned out his name was Rob. “Rob the Lock” they call me. After the five locks, he said “I’ll see you at Trentham Lock in an hour”.

Rob the lock in action

Interesting product range

 Modern incinerator at Stoke

The waterway is quite wide and deep on this four mile section, and almost exactly one hour later, at Trentham Lock, Rob was waiting for us with the lock ready. He had helped two other boats through in front of us.  We stopped for lunch just after and Rob joined us. We were on the moorings for the Wedgwood museum and factory.  Wedgwood had just announced an appeal for a few million pounds to purchase their collection of pottery to avoid it being sold off.

The Wedgwoo Factory

 Rob the Lock

We continued south to the four Meaford locks, where, once again, Rob was waiting. 

Heron posing

 Autumn colours at Meaford Bottom Lock

Stone welcome

As we went through the final four locks, in Stone, we spotted Stronghold moored up.  We said to Ray that we would walk back and talk to him. Rob left us to cycle back to Stoke-on-Trent, and we moored up near the playing fields.

Stronghold in Stone

We arranged with Ray to meet him at the Star Inn later on.  We had had a very disappointing meal several years ago at this ancient historic pub which overlooks the bottom lock.  We decided to give it another chance, but we still were disappointed. Hazel’s risotto consisted of a very small portion, with nothing else to go with it. It should have been a starter. The choice of cider was limited to Strongbow or Bulmers.  It is another case of prime location establishments not having to bother too much, as the customers change every day.  However, it was good to catch up with Ray.

14 locks, 9 miles, 4hr50

Wed 3^rd September

Stone to Lower Burston

We visited the chandlery at Stone Boat Builders for some toilet blue, and picked up the monthly freebies Towpath Talk and Tillergraph.

We then found our way to Morrisons to stock up.  We were sad to see that the shoe shop had closed.  They had been very helpful in there, and we had made several purchases over the years.

We decided to reverse to the water point before setting off. This is fairly easy to do now that we have a bow thruster. 

Just over a mile further south is Aston Lock.  As we rounded the final bend and the lock came in sight, a boat had just left, and they said: “We knew you were coming so we left the lock open for you” “How did you know?”, we asked.  “Walkie talkie”, they said.

An old hut by Aston Lock

We only travelled another two miles, where we found a pleasant and peaceful mooring, with a wide towpath, at Lower Burston Bridge.

Moored at Lower Burston

Stronghold went past later, and so did Twelfth of Never.

1 lock, 3 miles

Thu 4^th September

Lower Burston to Tixall Wide

As we left our mooring and went under bridge 85, we found some boats from Stoke-on-Trent Boat Club. Among them was Val, whom we had met at Endon Methodist Church on Sunday.  We gave her some BCF literature.

The Stoke-on-Trent Boat Club boats

Sandon Lock

The very ornate Salt Bridge

We passed through Weston upon Trent, and realised we had never stopped there to explore.  Next time.

We had a lovely view of a kingfisher which flew very close to us, and then we arrived at a lock queue at Hoo Mill Lock – four boats.

Great Haywood Junction

We turned right under the bridge at Great Haywood, and cruised slowly past the many moored boats boats at Tixall Wide, including Mistol, before finding a place near the end.  Rob had been doing some painting on his boat, and was now setting off on his bike to do grand parenting duties in Stafford.

A beautiful evening.

3 locks, 8 miles, 1 mouse 3hr 50

Fri 5^th September

Tixall Wide to The Taft

Leaving Tixall Wide

We turned round and passed Mistol as we made our way to Great Haywood.  The water point was occupied with a boat waiting so we moored up south of the junction, and went to visit the farm shop.  This had some beautiful looking produce, and lots of staff, but very few customers. We soon discovered why: the prices were far too high.  We bought some milk but nothing else.

We needed to reverse to the now vacant water point. As we passed Great Haywood Junction, another boat was starting to come out of the Staffs and Worcs Canal. They didn’t seem to slow down until the last minute, and they almost collided with us.  There was also another boat coming down the Trent and Mersey from the north which made it all the more complicated.

We filled our water tank, and emptied our cassettes into their disgraceful hole in ground, for which they request payment of £1.  The first time we came here was in 1997.  They must have had quite a lot of pounds by now, and they have not made any improvements to this facility, which is one of the worst on the system, dark, damp and smelly.

Haywood lock was set for us by a boat leaving.  Colwich lock had no queue this time.

We stopped at the Taft to unload our PA system onto the quayside, and we had lots of help to achieve this. 

Sola Gratia and Maid of Oak at the Taft

We then proceeded to our mooring by bridge 79, where Hugo is in no danger of disturbing the wildlife at the Taft.  We moored by Hugo’s Tree, so named because in 2005 Hugo learned to climb trees here, with encouragement from Biggles, Roger and Mirjana’s dog.

2 locks, 4 miles, 1hr15

The rest of Friday 5^th September is continued under “BBQ weekend at the Taft”

Caldon Canal Consall Forge to Stoke-on-Trent

Friday 29^th August

Consall Forge to Cheddleton

There were six crayfish in the traps.  James used the water point there to fill his bucket for them. There was excellent water pressure.

Twelfth of Never went past – last seen last year in Stourport.

By the time we left, there were workboats all over the water point so we decided not to fill up with water. It was all very quiet as we headed back upstream on the river section to Woods Lock.  There was a white van there with two guys in, apparently skiving.  There had been a van there two days earlier as well.

At the Cheddleton Locks, a small boat was going up in the first lock.  They turned between the locks and came down again.  When Gabriel went up, the short pound between the locks was very low, with mud showing at the sides, so we had to run some water down from the top lock before we could proceed.

We moored just after the flint mill on 48H rings, and, shortly afterwards, Grace arrived and moored in front of us.  Hazel went shopping with Christine, and Terry showed James his quad copter, which he uses for filming.

By the time the ladies came back, James had had a shower and done the washing up.    Zzzz in the afternoon, while it rained.

James found a place to put out two crayfish traps in the River Churnet, downstream of the road bridge.

Terry and Christine came for a meal and we all watched Dr Who on our TV, as they couldn’t get a signal with their system.

4 locks, 4 miles, 2hr10

Saturday 30^th August

Cheddleton to Hazelhurst via Leek Branch

James collected his traps – nine crayfish, and one small fish, a miller’s thumb, which went back in the river.

American Signal Crayfish

Terry and Christine went off towards Froghall, while we waited for Hugo to come back on board. We both walked up and down calling him. Two frustrating hours later, James went for a walk to visit the church, and made a note of some changes for the BCF directory.  When he returned, he went round the bushes shaking a shopping bag, and flushed Hugo out.  He was only ten feet from the boat.

We cruised under the aqueduct, which has “Hazlehurst Aqueduct” carved in stone on it. The Nicholson Guide spells it as “Hazelhurst”.  There is a small hamlet nearby and a wood with the hazel spelling, so it looks as though the aqueduct stonemason couldn’t spell.

Hazelhurst Aqueduct

Hazlehurst spelling

There was one boat coming down the locks and we crossed over above the bottom lock.  The lock beams extend further than the lock walls, over some stone steps, and James nearly fell down the steps while opening the bottom gates of the middle lock. He saved himself, but pulled a muscle in the process.

After the top lock we turned left into the Leek branch, and paused for a quick lunch before setting off once more.  After an untidy collection of moored boats, the canal enters some beautiful countryside, as it meanders along the side of a hill and goes through a short tunnel.  There is a large winding hole just before the terminus where we turned and retraced our route.

Leek Canal scenery

 Inside Leek Tunnel

We moored for the night very close to our lunch location. 

3 locks, 7 miles,

Sunday 31^st August

Hazelhurst Junction to Engine Lock

We dried off the pram hood as far as we could before folding it away, and cruising the mile to the facilities block for water, rubbish, etc.

We then moored on 48H rings just before bridge 28, the nearest bridge to the Methodist Church, where we went for their 10.00am service.  We had a warm welcome, with lots of people saying hello to us.  There was a general buzz of conversation before the service, until the steward announced that he was lighting a candle, and everyone went quiet for a few minutes.  We didn’t notice anyone arriving late.  The music was led by a lady playing an electric organ, and the words were displayed on screens.  The talk was based on the words “Take up your cross and follow me”.  We met a lady there called Val, who is involved at Stoke-on-Trent Boat Club.  

Endon Methodist Church

We paused at the Spar for some milk on the way back to the boat, and before we set off James cooked the crayfish.

We also had a look at some Industrial remains opposite the boat club, which we discovered was an old wharf complete with railway lines and the mysterious traffic island turned out to be the site of a railway swing bridge connecting Victoria Mill to the railway system at Endon

Wharf and railway swing bridge site

Old wharf

We negotiated the five Stockton Brook Locks, and admired the Victorian waterworks near the bottom lock.

Victorian waterworks

There were also two manual lift bridges to operate before we reached our mooring below engine lock in glorious sunshine.

Hazel sat in the sun in the bows, while James sat in the shade at the stern and prepared the crayfish for the freezer.

There was a kingfisher by the lock, diving in to catch fish, but we didn’t see him have any success.

Hugo brought us a dead mouse as a gift.

6 locks, 4 miles, 2 lift bridges, 1 mouse

Monday 1^st September

Engine Lock to Etruria Industrial Museum

It was wet early on, so we waited until it cleared. It was 1100 before we set off, heading for Stoke-on-Trent.

James operated the electric Ivy House Lift Bridge, as Hazel had had difficulties with the traffic barriers on the way up.

At Bridge 10 Hazel left with trolley and credit card to go shopping in Hanley, while James continued on his own through Hanley Park to Etruria. 

Ornate bridges in Hanley Park

Planet lock was against him, with a boat just leaving ahead of him. This didn’t present any problems.

The boat in front filled the top lock of the staircase locks for him, but there was no bollard to tie to at the top, so he had to reverse a little way through a bridge to a bend where there were some, before he could open the lock gate.

The only other challenge was the climb down the long ladders after the boat had descended in the lock. 

Our usual mooring at Etruria had been taken, so he moored a little further back near the staircase, under some trees.

Hazel phoned to say she was just going into Tesco, so James went to help carry the shopping. It was a very full trolley plus three bags.

Twelfth of Never went past.   We guess that Grace had gone past while we were shopping.

3 locks, 5 miles, 2hr50

Caldon Canal Stoke to Consall via Froghall

Monday 25^th August

Westport Lake, Stoke-on-Trent

Wet day forecast.  Wet day delivered.

Went for a walk round the lake in a short dry period.  Otherwise caught up with the blog, stoked the fire, read books etc.

Found out that the “Full English” at the Packhorse Inn is Old English folk tunes played of fiddles etc.  No singing. They weren’t sure whether it would happen on bank holiday Monday.  We didn’t go.

No boating today

Tuesday 26^th August

Westport Lake (Stoke-on-Trent) to Endon (Caldon Canal)

Set off with hood up hoping it would dry off.  Turned just before Harecastle Tunnel and cruised back past Westport Lake to the Toby Carvery at China Garden.  £3.99 for breakfast – eat as much as you like.  Good value and it set us up for the day.

Turning round by Harecastle Tunnel

 Toby Carvery at China Garden

Into the Caldon Canal

After breakfast we visited the sanitary station by the Industrial Museum to do all necessary jobs, before proceeding up the staircase locks on the Caldon Canal. It was a welcome surprise to find two CRT guys there who had set the lock for us and helped us up.

Etruria Staircase Locks

Planet Lock no 3 was no problem, followed by Hanley Park. The moorings here look good, but we heard stories a few years ago about bored youths creating trouble.

Emma Bridgewater Pottery

Bottle kilns

We passed the Emma Bridgewater Pottery at bridge 8, which is low, as are 9 and 10.  Bridge 11 is a lift bridge needing a CRT key and a bit of muscle to lower the barriers.

Ivy House Lift Bridge

Bridge 13 is on a very tight corner, and although the bridge itself is a new one with plenty of width in the canal, the remains of the old bridge are first, and the gap is very narrow, necessitating a tighter turn than expected. We knew about this but we still got it wrong, ending up with the stern stuck in shallow water

After bridge 14 there are two places where it looks OK to moor, but we wanted to ensure that we cleared Stoke-on-Trent before stopping.

At Milton, bridge 18, we moored after the bridge to go shopping.  The First Mate Guide says the mooring is before the bridge, but the edge is solid concrete there, with no rings or bollards.  Milton had a few useful shops – butchers, bakers, a farm shop, a Co-op and a Nisa.

Moving on, we had to wait a short while for Engine Lock, and a couple picking blackberries were asking questions about it.  James offered them a lift through the lock, and gave them “How do Locks Work?”  They were Sergio and Teresa.

Two more lift bridges (21 and 23) and then 5 locks at Stockton Brook.

Stockton Brook top lock

Finally we came to Stoke Boat Club at Endon, where there is a mysterious traffic island in the centre of the canal.   

The traffic island

 

We moored just past the entrance to their club.  We picked some blackberries, while Hugo explored the hedge.  We sat out in the evening sunshine with a glass of wine and a dip.

9 locks, 12 miles, 3 lift bridges, 7hr20. A long day for us.

Wednesday 27^th August

Endon to Froghall

James was woken at 5am by some noises from our saloon. He found Hugo with a mouse, which was still very much alive.  James caught it in a glass and took it down the towpath to return it to the wild. It scampered off, apparently unharmed, and probably very surprised and grateful.

The result of that was that we overslept and didn’t get going until 10.30am.  We stopped at Park Lane facilities where we did the usual.

There was work going on to improve the towpath, and there were several sections where work barges and JCBs were being used, sometimes blocking the canal. We had to wait to get through a couple of times.

Work boats blocking the channel

At Hazelhurst we took the left fork and descended the three locks, before going under the Leek Branch aqueduct.  There were some very narrow sections after that, with tight turns, so progress was slow.

Hazelhurst Junction

Another blockage

We saw two kingfishers, and a black cat who was a long way from the nearest habitation. He was very scared of us.

At Cheddleton there is an old flint mill, which was open last time we came through, but it looked closed today.  There is also a building that straddles the canal.

Cheddleton Flint Mill

 Cheddleton

At the two Cheddleton Locks there was a family who were watching closely, so they had a “How do Locks Work?” leaflet.

Soon after this we passed the depot for the Churnet Valley Railway, and a steam train came up the valley.  When we got to Consall Forge, where the canal gets very narrow and runs alongside the railway station, a steam train pulled into the station.

Consall Forge Station

 Churnet Valley Railway

The mileage signs on the Caldon do not show Froghall as the final destination, but Uttoxeter.  The Uttoxeter Canal is mostly unusable, and some of it was used to make way for the railway, as the valley is so narrow. The railway beyond Froghall is now disused as well.

Mileage sign

At Flintmill Lock there is a gauge to show the Froghall Tunnel height and profile.  With a few adjustments to the things on the roof, we decided we could attempt it this time.  We stopped a little further on and took down the pallet, removed the TV aerial, and took off the chimney.

The last lock on the Caldon

 Tunnel Gauge

Chimney too high

When we arrived at the mouth of the tunnel, we had to crouch right down so that we could not see very well. We got through, but we did touch with the front of the handrail on the port side. It needs a dab of paint.

Froghall Tunnel

After the tunnel there is a lock down into the Uttoxeter Canal where there is a mooring basin.  There were two groups of people watching the locking procedure and they both received the leaflet.

The first lock on the Uttoxeter Canal

We reversed onto a mooring pontoon. There was only one other boat there, and they were very pleasant and chatty.  The son lives aboard, and the father was helping him get the boat ready for the boat safety certificate tomorrow.  They had a Jack Russell that was very interested in Hugo, but was also very obedient, and he stayed when he was told to.

Uttoxeter Canal Basin

James went to explore and found that there was no way down past the remains of the rest of the Uttoxeter Canal.  There some lime kilns nearby and a network of walks following old tram lines and plate railways.  The terminus of the Caldon Canal was only a few yards further on through a bridge, but there was not sufficient space to turn there, so we decided we had gone far enough.

 Limekilns

Froghall Wharf and canal terminus

A peaceful mooring, with owls when it got dark.

We found a gift from Hugo on the back deck, dead this time

9 locks, 9 miles, 2 mice, 5hr15

Thursday 28^th August

Froghall to Consall Forge

After heavy rain in the night, we had a bright morning.  We went to explore the footpaths in the area.

We chose a route that followed a tramway, and we thought it would be fairly level.  It was very straight, but the path climbed steadily through woods.  Apparently, full wagons would descend, pulling up the empty wagons on a chain or cable system. It was all done by gravity.  At one point the route crossed on an embankment through the woods, and then a bridge crossed over our path.  We took some steps up onto the bridge, crossed some steep and boggy fields before descending to a road in the village of Whiston. We then followed another path marked “Plateway” on a board.  This was fairly level until it reached some buildings, whereupon it went steeply downwards, presumably some sort of caisson on a cable system again.. It was wet, slippery and hard work. Never designed for walking down.

The tramway route

Old bridge over the tramway

Pausing for breath and to look at the scenery

The path between the houses at the end

Lunch back on the boat just as it started to rain, so the hood went up and we had lunch followed by zzzzzzz.

Later the sun came out again, and we decided to prepare the boat to go a little way back along the canal.  The chap on the other boat said it had passed the boat safety certificate.  He had shaved off his beard since yesterday.

We went back up through the lock, and through the tunnel. This time Hazel was in the front, shining a torch at the roof, and James was kneeling on the stern deck so that he could just see ahead. He went on tickover, and he used the bow thruster to steer as he couldn’t use the tiller without putting the stern into the walls. We got through this time without a touch.

Froghall Tunnel once more

We also passed under Cherry Eye Bridge.  Apparently it gained its interesting name from local ironstone miners who used to linger on the bridge. They all had red eyes from rubbing them with ore-stained hands.

Cherry Eye Bridge

 It was a lovely sunny evening, and we met no other boats as we cruised to Consall Forge, where we moored by the lime kilns.

Cruising the Churnet Valley

Black Lion, Consall Forge

We went for a meal in the Black Lion, and had good service and a good plateful. There were some friendly people in there – boaters and dog walkers. We discovered we had missed an acoustic night two days earlier. We could have got here if we had known.  It is now on our list. 

We also were informed that there are crayfish in the river. James had suspected there might be.  Three traps went out.

No internet signal, so we sent a text to Christine and Terry Rigden, who are heading this way, asking their whereabouts.  We don’t want to pass somewhere where we can’t stop.

2 locks, 2 miles, 1 tunnel, 1hr35