Caldon Canal - Leek Arm

Wednesday 1 August

We had spent Tuesday night moored in the basin at the start of the Caldon Canal where there is a bronze statue of James Brindley, an engineer who surveyed the line of this canal in 1772.  the moorings are next to the CRT facilities and outside the industrial museum and visitor centre  We felt safe here, and enjoyed an indian take away from a local restaurant 'Mirchi'.

Etruria Moorings and James Brindley statue

Through the first locks and under an electric swing bridge we went.  Until you reach the village of Milton, it is built up and run down in places and we would not have felt safe to moor.  Milton is a great village with two supermarkets, a chemist, book shop, florists, Chinese take away and a lovely butchers/bakery where we purchase our lunch of yummy pork pies! Moorings with rings here.


Delicious!

   Mooring up for the evening on the summit pound after climbing the Stockton Brook Locks, we went on an evening walk to the local village  of Stanley enjoying a pint in the Travellers Rest pub and walking back through the fields to the mooring.  

Thursday 2 August

After using the  CRT facilities at Park Lane, we headed on the Leek branch which winds through wonderful countryside and is really picturesque.  The  canal was narrow in places and shallow and as it is fairly busy at the moment due to the closure of some canals, passing other boaters (which you always seem to meet on bends) is good fun!

Leek Tunnel

We went through the Leek Tunnel and made it to the end of the navigable canal, but unfortunately there were no spaces to moor, so we returned back to moor not far from Hazlehurst locks to start our journey on the Froghall Arm tomorrow.

   

Rode Heath to Etruria

Monday 30 July

We completed the last of the flight of locks nicknamed 'Heartbreak Hill'  by boaters.  As we have completed them over 3 days, these haven't been too bad.  The CRT facilities at Red Bull are very good and the pub food at the Red Bull pub is not too bad either. We moored at Hardings Wood, just after lock 42 and a quick walk over the Hardings Wood junction is a large Tesco, ideal for stocking up.


 Tuesday 31 July      

Early morning start, through one lock and then into Harecastle Tunnel.  After a briefing by CRT, we entered the tunnel... towards the middle it does get quite low in places, however after 40 minutes, it was great to emerge into daylight once again. The tunnel is 2,528m long and took 3 years to complete in 1827. 

Westport Lake

  After a short distance you reach Westport Lakewith plenty of mooring spaces.  Had morning coffee there and a walk, Nugget enjoying a run in the park.  The journey carries on through to Stoke on Trent where potteries are many, some are still in existence and working, however there are the old factories along the way and some of the bottle kilns.

Bottle kiln

 We moored for the evening at Etruria where the Caldon canal branches off from the Trent and Mersey and hope to spend a few days exploring the canal. The Junction has all the usual facilities for boaters. We took a short walk to the 'local' - but it's glory days have long gone !!

Harry Ramjams!

Painted rocks and painted ladies

Yesterday we came up 14 locks and as it was cooler, it made things easier.   Walking between the two locks at Rode Heath, Helen spotted a 'Painted Lady' butterfly which kindly posed for her.  Painted lady butterflies migrate from North Africa or mainland Europe in spring and summer.  They cannot survive the British winter.  

Painted Lady - Rode Heath 28 July 2018
 

We moored at Rode Heath for the day and whilst exploring the village (which has a pub and convenience store) somebody (Alicia?) placed a painted rock on the stern which was a nice welcome to the village.   

Painted rock - Rode Heath

Dutton stop lock to wheelock flight

Over the last few days we have left the Bridgewater Canal and joined the Trent and Mersey at Dutton Stop Lock. This Lock is only 6" deep and was originally used to prevent different canal companies pinching water.   The two tunnels (Preston Brook and Saltersford)  were a welcome break from the scorching sun!  On board temperature has reached 33 degrees centigrade with beer supplies running very low! The blackberries are already ripe,  ready for picking - delicious on our morning cereal.


yummy blackberries

Another early morning start (6.30) to beat the heat. What a wonderful time of day! We were the first boat to ascend the 3 locks at Middlewich and unfortunately the middle pound was completely empty.  CRT fed some more water down and soon we were on our way again.  We moored up in Wheelock  Friday evening where there is a general store, pub and a large Pet Superstore! Nugget was in her element and managed to get a few treats.  


Early morning mist

This morning we started to ascend the Wheelock flight of locks, most of the locks are in pairs which make it easier if it busy.

Wheelock paired locks

 

  

Bridgewater Canal

Monday 23 July

The moorings in the centre of Leigh are next to Aldi - really handy to stock up on crisps and wine!  Leigh has a small shopping centre, very handy for provisions and essentials. Cruising through to Bridgewater Marina takes about 2hrs where you can purchase diesel, gas etc.  It was very hot both on-board (30'C) and off (27'C) !!!



Barton Swing Aqueduct

Tuesday 24 July
Making our way to Lymm, we passed through Worsley, past the Trafford Centre and over the Barton Swing Aqueduct which spans the Manchester Ship Canal.  We also went past the old Linotype and machinery Company factory built in 1897.  The company built 185 homes for their workers and provided football pitches and other recreational facilities.  Most of the buildings have  been demolished, however a new housing development is being built on the grounds and the original factory is being converted into flats.

Linotype development -  new and old 

The cruise to Lymm takes about 5.5 hrs from Bridgewater Marina. There are plenty of pubs, restaurants, cafes and a few shops here. The moorings in the centre are limited to 48 hours & usually get very busy at the weekends. We moored in Lymm for the night. Weather overcast & warm.
Five minutes from the moorings is a Turkish Restaurant featuring an 'early bird menu'  - yum, yum, might break into a new £20 note for a treat !??  😉   😂



Excellent restaurant and food
 

The meal at 'Flavours', the Turkish restaurant, was really good! 😋

Wigan 21

Saturday 21 July 2018




                                      Yippeee 'I'm going on my holidays'



Waiting to descend Wigan 21 locks yet again, we usually hope for another narrowboat to pair up with, but this year there is a record 8 already waiting.  This is because within a matter of a few days, the whole of the Eastern side of the Leeds and Liverpool Canal including the Wigan flight will be closing until at least the end of August.  The feeder reservoirs are already less than 50% full with little prospects of reasonable rainfall in the near future!



Wigan Top Lock

    We paired up with narrowboat 'Predator' and began our descent about 8.30am.  We made slow, steady progress for the first few locks enjoying the warm dry weather.  Then along came our friends Martin and Andrea providing some much needed and welcome help.  We reached the final lock at about 12.30pm without incident.   We headed on along the Leigh branch passing through the two locks at Poolstock before they are padlocked for the evening.     An hour later saw us moored up at Abram by the Dover Lock Inn which has now been closed for a number of years.  Out came the deck chairs and wine!   

Sunday 22 July

Just a short cruise today passing through Plank Lane Swing Bridge to pleasant moorings overlooking Pennington Flash Country Park.  Plank Lane Swing Bridge is key operated and cannot be opened during morning and evening rush hour. Another warm sunny day.

Pennington Flash

Bank Holiday 'fun in the sun'

We really enjoyed the May Bank Holiday and the weather certainly helped!

We went on a short cruise from Standish to just before Bridge 74 on the Leeds & Liverpool mooring not far from 'Fredericks' ice cream parlour.

It was so lovely to see lots of cute ducklings and newly hatched Canadian geese goslings.



Duxbury Park and Woods are just a short walk from bridge 74.  We enjoyed a leisurely stroll around the grounds and came across the a memorial erected by Susan Standish in 1870 in remembrance of her dog Bevis with the inscription:

All ye who wander through these peaceful glades,
Listening to the Yarrow’s rippling waves,
Pause and bestow a tributary tear.
The bones of faithful Bevis slumber here.”

 

On the return journey stayed overnight just outside Adlington  and enjoyed (as always) an indian  take way from 'Adlington Spice'