Summer Cruise Day 24 - Westport Lake to Milton on the Caldon Canal

The rare appearance of the sun shining into the bedroom woke us up at 7:45am so we got up and after breakfast we got underway.  We were quite looking forward to today as we would be turning onto the Caldon Canal for the first time.  We had been told it was nice so had expectations.

AmyJo is prepped for cruising

On the way we passed the Middleport Pottery now a tourist attraction with moorings outside for boats to stop.  We decided we would visit this another time.

Boat loading bays now shuttered off

We stopped at bridge 118 shortly after getting under way as we desperately needed a shop having run down stocks for the weekend away.  With the help of Google maps we soon found a Sainsbury's 15 minutes walk away.  With full bags once again  a taxi ride back to the mooring was called for.

Whilst Chris prepared lunch I got underway again but before we could blink Etruria Junction came into view.  The volockies started to prepare the locks but I indicated we were turning onto the Caldon and received a thumbs up in return.  Chris had to abandon preparations of lunch as we would soon be at the first locks, a staircase.

Etruria Industrial Museum sits on the junction as we make the turn onto the Caldon

 On the opposite bank of the Caldon to the museum is a statue of James Brindley.  The statue stands on a tall square-sectioned plinth, facing the canal he was responsible for building. He is shown in contemporary eighteenth-century dress with his right hand resting on a theodolite, an instrument he would have used when carrying out his work of surveying land for the canals. His left arm is bent at the elbow and tucked behind his back. Compared to James Butler's statue of James Brindley by the canal in Coventry, this figure is shown in a very wooden stance.

A little research revealed the Inscriptions read :
(on front of plinth)

JAMES/BRINDLEY/CANAL ENGINEER/1716-1772/UNVEILED BY/LORD HESKETH/UNDER SECRETARY/OF STATE/FOR THE/ENVIRONMENT /20TH JULY 1990

(around the base of the plinth, from front)

THIS STATUE WAS ERECTED BY THE/BRINDLEY COMMITTEE/GUY BANKS. BILL COSTELLO./VERA ROWLEY. JOHN SUTTON. DAVID SALT./BRIAN KEELING. GORDON MYATT. PAT OSBORN.

(back of plinth)

SCULPTOR/COLIN MELBOURNE/ON BEHALF OF THE CALDON CANAL/SOCIETY/THE STOKE-ON-TRENT BOAT CLUB/THE INLAND WATERWAYS/ASSOCIATION./THE TRENT AND MERSEY/CANAL SOCIETY/THE CITY OF/STOKE-ON-TRENT/AND BRITISH WATERWAYS

We were to find the Caldon to be quite twisty and in places narrow.

 Shortly after turning onto the Caldon an ornate bridge straddles a tight turn.  I had to half wind AmyJo to get her round the corner.  Fortunately the canal is wide at this point to enable boats to make the turn.  After that we reached the Bedford Street staircase Locks.

Tight turn and a squeeze to get under the bridge.

 Bedford Street Locks consist of a two chamber staircase.  Unique on the system is the fact that the upper chamber is much longer than the bottom one.  So that the bottom chamber does not over fill a by wash is built into its wall to drain away the excess water from the top chamber.

Looking down to the bottom chamber the bywash is at the far end on the right

The by wash on the left here runs off and joins the by wash from the upper chamber out of frame on the left.

 The first few miles are a mixture of industry and housing.  Graffiti adorns everything, if you can reach it it's got graffiti on it.  Some of the bridges are quite ugly and not in keeping with those we have seen in the past.  These seem more modern and functional rather than interesting.

An ugly bridge with graffiti

The next lock is Planet lock, located in a now predominantly office block based estate.  When we arrived a private boat was on the lock landing, the crew enjoying a cuppa and made no attempt to move off.  I had no choice but to nose AmyJo up to the lock gates with a very gentle thud.  The cheery fellow on the other boat quipped " Another paint job by the sound of it" with a cheesy grin that quickly disappeared with the lash of my tongue.  We were not amused.

Planet Lock

Hanley park comes into view shortly after the lock and is a welcome break from industry to park land.  Sadly now its pavilion is looking sorry for itself being boarded up, barriered off and like everything else, plastered with graffiti.  To be fair the park itself is quite pretty and well maintained, worthy of a stop for lunch, though we were advised not to moor here over night because of the wino's.

We did get a rather pleasant surprise here though as we passed a moored hire boat.  It turned out to be Olivia Ginger, a Canal Company hire boat of note for us.  We had hired her back in 2002 for our first ever trip up the Llangollen canal with the in laws.  A trip with fond memories in her.   We were so pleased to see she was still around and still looks in good condition too!  The young lass on board seemed really pleased when we told her we had hired the boat and eagerly told her family so.

Olivia Ginger moored at Hanley Park

And when we hired her in 2002.  The dog was Pepsi who we sadly no longer have.

Ornate bridge in Hanley Park

As we continued on we came to the first of the low bridges by the Bridgewater Potteries, these are noted in Pearsons as low headroom, no headroom more like!  By now the Graffiti was getting more up market and looked quite good in fact.

We came to bridge 8A and slowed down to a snails pace.  We watched carefully as first the horns went under with a few inches to spare, but would the top box?  I gently coasted AmyJo ready to slam her into reverse if needed as the top box approach the underside of the bridge.  With a sigh of relief it passed under with a mere 3 inches to spare

Slooowly does it.  Inching AmyJo forward to ensure we pass through

Old potteries behind bridge 9?

 At bridge 9 we thought we would not get through as it looked even lower than the first!  With no winding hole available we thought if it won't go we'll have to stop and remove the top box.  I inched AmyJo ever closer ever so slowly.  Again the horns on the front passed under just, now for the top box.  With breath held we crept forward inch by inch and, with just 1 inch to spare the top box passed under.  You can see how close it was from the photo below.  Lets hope the levels have not risen when we return.

Only just, but then, only just is just enough.

 By now we were leaving the confines of the city behind and the canal was beginning to look a look prettier.  Old pottery and industrial areas are now giving way to new housing projects with apartments being built all around.  As we moved further into the countryside the graffiti was reducing also.

No porttery left.  Old pottery kilns still remain but now new apartments replace the factories.

New housing estates face the canal.

Less Graffiti on this bridge.

From now on the canal narrows considerably and is really bendy.  We passed under some bridges on bends and the engine pitch changed with the tell tale tiller shake warning we had picked up a prop Jockey.  This occurred several times but a bit of neutral followed by a burst of reverse usually shrugged it of.  For an urban canal there is an awful lot of detritus in the canal. Considering how pretty it was becoming it is a real shame.

Just before Milton is a particularly tight turn with a pub on the bend and narrows immediately after.  Onlookers appeared at the pub garden as we approached to make the turn.  Clearly this was a form of entertainment for them as I imagine the difficulties a less proficient boater could get into here.  No pressure then. Taking it slowly AmyJo neatly rounded the bend and lined up perfectly to pass through the narrows.  An almost audible moan of disappointment could be heard from the spectators in the pub who then disappeared back inside.

The tight bend and narrows with spectators watching on in the pub garden.

 We knew there were moorings nearby and at bridge 18 we found them partially occupied.  The only decent mooring slot was on a slight bend.  Chris scouted ahead and reported this to be the best spot so we stopped there.  20 minutes later the cut was as busy as the M25 and 6 boats came past some mooring up all around all within an hour.  This left the cut very narrow but needs must as these are the only available moorings for a way in either direction.  The addition of building wind made it imperative to get moored up so we doubted there would be much further traffic anyway.

As a precaution I visited the weed hatch for the first time in ages as the tiller was still vibrating badly despite several attempts at neutral and reversing.  Sure enough we had a jockey, here was my prize that could not be shaken off.  Not too bad considering.

Urban jellyfish were our prop Jockeys.

For our non boaters here is a quick glossary of terms I've been using so far.

Urban Jellyfish - Any form of plastic bag, polly wrap or plastic sheeting.  These usually float on or just under the surface and are sucked onto the prop.  Many like to lay in wait at bends or winding holes.

Prop Jockey - Anything hitching a ride around the propeller causing speed to drop, tiller shake, banging sounds, drop in engine revs or worse, stalling the engine.

Poo Bunny -  A doggy poo bag tied up with the handles sticking out like rabbit ears.  Usually found hanging in trees or on alongside the towpath (if you are lucky.... or under foot if not).

Metal fishing net - submerged shopping trolley.  Usually frequents bridge 'oles or a distance of a mile or so from nearby supermarkets.

Logadile - any sizable piece of floating wood that cruises the canal.

Total distance:7.27 miles Elapsed time:4h6m42s Locks:3 

Bridges:41 Average speed:2.26 mph (2.26 lock/mph)

Summer Cruise Day 23 - Heritage Marina to Westport Lake

Having recovered from the hectic weekend we rose and prepared AmyJo for Cruising again.  Whilst Chris got things sorted below I did my engine checks and got everything ready to Cruise and topped up with water.

We slipped the mooring and pulled alongside the fueling jetty for a pump out and diesel top up.  After thanking the marina staff we got underway.  We may only have been away for a few days but it felt like an age.  We were so happy to be on the cut again.

By Teapot Hall the locals were out watching us leave though who she was we do not know.

Once again we were watched as we left.

 A little further on we came across a boat with a rather novel stern canopy.  The boat was obviously being worked on and the tent was placed over the stern presumably to enable the owner to work on the engine and stay dry.

Never seen a tent used in this manner before.

 Rain was in the air and by the time we reached Hall Green stop lock a fine drizzle had set in. I dropped Chris off and she opened the lock.   When the gates opened I let AmyJo drift out and helped Chris close the gate.  A long narrows after the lock mean we could simply walk back to her and step on.

Unusual design on this bridge

Two Lock keepers cottages I mentioned before

The colour of this rabbit caught our attention.  It did not look like a wild one and could have escaped.

 Having carefully passed all the moored boats We made our turn to the right at Hardings Wood Junction.  Chris was checking the way was clear and not a moving boat was seen in either direction.

We had intended to moor up by Harecastle tunnel and do a shop at the nearby Tescos but no sooner had we moored we were told we could proceed.  The tunnel keeper was really good and asked us to show our tunnel light and sound the horn.  He then asked me to stop in the tunnel entrance and explained what was required of us.  He also checked our top box fitted under the new height board for clearance.  It went under with inches to spare.  Once the emergency horn sounding procedure was explained of a long blast every 30 seconds until answered with 3 short replies we were allowed to proceed.

The familiar North portal of Harecastle tunnel and the height check board.

Despite the worry about head room Chris and I had been much looking forward to going through.  Interestingly the doors were not closed behind us and fans started.  We assumed it was because there was only us and a boat in front some way off.  We later found out why.

Just inside the tunnel portal you can see how low the check board is.  Would we get through OK?

 At first the tunnel is like any other.  Dark, wet but nothing to concern one.  We made steady progress with Chris relaying what was going on upfront by radio.

Still plenty of headroom

 It not until you are halfway through that the ceiling starts to descend.  Fortunately this is in steps each with white painted ceiling edges show where the roof drops

The lowest section ahead.  You can see the painted edge in the distance ahead clearly as you approach

 At one point I was getting a bit concerned as I had to crouch down low to avoid hitting the roof.  The top box at this moment had just 3 inches of space above it.  I found keeping slightly to the left we were in the highest part of the roof so nothing came amiss. Phew!

At the 1100meter mark the roof begins to rise again and eventually the light from the South Portal could be seen.  400m from the end the doors suddenly slammed shut in front of us and the fans came on.  All of a sudden a thick fog enveloped us.as the fans purged the fumes through the tunnel.  So that was why the doors remained open when we entered.  Then within minutes the fug cleared, the fans turned off and the doors re opened much to our relief.

Almost clear at last.

Looking back at the South portal and boats getting ready to enter.

For the benefit of our non boaty reader and according to Wikipedia Harecastle Tunnel is on the Trent and Mersey Canal at Kidsgrove in Staffordshire. It is made up of two separate and parallel tunnels described as Brindley (2,880 yards or 2,633 metres) and the later Telford (2,926 yards or 2,675 metres) after the engineers that constructed them. Today only the Telford tunnel is navigable. The tunnel is only wide enough to carry traffic in one direction at a time and boats are sent through in groups, alternating northbound and southbound. Ventilation is handled by a large fan at the south portal.

According to legend a young woman was decapitated in the Telford Tunnel in the 1800s and her body thrown into Gilbert's Hole, a coal landing stage within the tunnel. The man had hacked the woman's head from her shoulders with a piece of slate until it was removed.

It is believed that she now haunts Harecastle Tunnel, either in the form of a headless woman, or a white horse, and her appearance used to forewarn of disaster in the local mines. Some boatmen took long detours to avoid the tunnel, and today the tunnel keepers relate tales of occasional mismatches in the number of boats going in and coming out. Such tales are, however, fanciful, as any such discrepancy would result in a major search operation.

In fact there is no record of any such murder, and the story seems to have been inspired by the murder of Christina Collins in similar circumstances near Rugeley. The association with another canal ghost 'Kit Crewbucket', who haunts the Crick Tunnel, would also seem to be spurious. Locally the Kidsgrove boggart is known as the Kickrew Buggart because of the local dialect in which Kidsgrove is called kickroo or Kickrew as the dialect is not written down the spelling is optional. 

I'm glad to say we did not see the Boggart on our trip this time.

We then came to Westport Lake which looked quite nice so we decided as the rain was still in we would stop for the day.  You guessed it, once more, within 30 minutes the rain stopped.

One word of warning when passing through Harecastle tunnel if I may.  Do wipe down your boat roof afterwards as soon as you can.  AmyJo was covered with Yellow droplets of water.  Seems where the water is dripping from the tunnel roof it now contains the very iron ore that tinges the water Orange.  If not cleaned off straight away it will stain the boat roof.

Our mooring at Westport lake

 After wiping down AmyJo Chris and I had a wander over to the visitors centre for a spot of lunch and a cuppa, then we had a stroll around the lake.  It is an amazing place for wildlife with birds galore to watch.

Westport Lake visitors centre Modeled on Noah's Ark one wonders?

The visitor's centre has quite a distinctive look about it with a large balcony looking out at the lake that gives it the appearance of being stood on stilts.  Its actually built on a slope and its only the balcony that is on stilts.  Its also very eco friendly with solar panels for power, straw bales for insulation and a planted roof for added insulation.

View across the lake

AmyJo can just be seen in the gap between the bushes from the opposite side of the lake.

Our mooring looking from a nearby bridge

 After walking the lake we then walked to the local Aldi just up the road for some essentials before settling down for the night.  One has to walk through a small industrial site across from the canal until you reach the main road.  Aldi is off to the left in a few 100 yards.

Total distance:5.33 miles Elapsed time:2h49m52s Locks:1

Bridges:25 Average speed:1.88 mph (2.24 lock/mph) 

Summer Cruise Day 18 - Congleton to Heritage Marina and Anglesey Weekend Away

Due to a sailing weekend we have not been able to update the blog, apologies,  so I'll try to summarise events as I remember them.

Another damp drizzly morning saw us underway at 9:30am on Thursday.  We did not have far to go as we had booked AmyJo into Heritage Boats Marina for the weekend.

We could tell we were getting near to the end of the Macclesfield Canal as in the distance Mow Cop (pronounced like cow) could be seen again standing atop the hill through the murk.

Mow Cop Castle

Mow Cop Castle is a folly at Mow Cop in the civil parish of Odd Rode, Cheshire, England. It is recorded in the National Heritage List for England as a designated Grade II listed building. The ridge, upon which the castle sits, forms the boundary between the counties of Cheshire and Staffordshire, the dioceses of Chester and Lichfield and the ecclesiastical provinces of Canterbury and York.

Further on we came to Little Morton Hall though we could not see it through the trees.  At Ramsden Hall restored railings protect walkers from a steep hill down to a field below.  Located almost opposite Ramsdell Hall one wonders is this is to give the appearance the gardens end here.

Restored Railings though why they should be restored we do not know

Impressive Ramsden Hall

Just after Ramsdell Hall is the marina.  We pulled in and backed up to our allotted mooring.  We then spent the rest of the day preparing for our sailing weekend on the Isle of Anglesey.

On Friday whilst waiting for friends to pick us up we had a surprise visit from Steve and Denise of nb Riverside Escape, another Fernwood Boat.  We chatted for a while over coffee until Simon arrived.  We know Steve and Denise will be coming down the Shroppy when we will be travelling it back to Tattenhall so resolved to meet up again for a longer chat.  

After shutting AmyJo up and driving to Anglesey we arrived at Tyn Ross camp site at about 6pm and set up the tent.  All our sailing friends were there so a good old catch up over a bbq was had.

On Saturday we took the boats to Red Wharf Bay and had what we call a play day.  Its a chance for crews to tune the boats for the coming race and general enjoy a blast up and down the bay in each others boats.  we do not have much room on the River Dee so to get the boats in open water and see what they are capable of is really good fun.

Chris in the club RS Vision called Ermentrude so called
because of the black patches on the sail.

Andy (Amy's crew) and myself in her Lazy E classic dinghy.  

All hands help bring the boats ashore

 In the afternoon we hired some paddle boards and just larked around on them.  They were really good fun and Chris particularly enjoy them even though she kept falling in.

Chris gets a helping hand from Simon to stand up

A bit wobbly but she made good progress

Until she fell in that is.

Sunday morning was the day of the race.  An early start saw boats launching from Beaumaris.  59 dinghies sailed down the sound and through Penman point and then up to Moelfre, a distance of some 15 miles.

Preparing to race at the start line.

The lighthouse at Penman Point with some of the race fleet in the distance. 

 Unfortunately the boats are too far offshore to photograph so we moved round to the finish in Red Wharf Bay to see them come in nearly 4 hours later.  Our club had 10 boats taking part and eldest Amy and crew Andy did really well coming 8th out of 59 boats.  She was also the first of our club boats to finish.

Amy and her crew Andy celebrate finishing the race in her Lazy E dinghy

 Those that know me will know I am also an RYA dinghy instructor.  A very proud moment for me occurred when two of my friends who I taught to sail only last year completed the race.  Not only was it the first time they had taken part but it was also the first time they have ever sailed on coastal waters.  Better still they were not last and enjoyed every minute of it.

In the center, Larry and Chris, completed their first coastal race and loved it.  Dave and I were on hand to help them in.

The weekend rounded of with another camp get together and bbq complete with copious quantities of liquid refreshment.

Chester Sailing and Canoeing club, some members were missing for the photo.

We struck camp on Monday morning and were back on board AmyJo by the evening having had a super weekend with great company.

Total distance:3.30 miles Elapsed time:2h22m16s Locks:0

Bridges:12 Average speed:1.39 mph (1.39 lock/mph)