Hopwas

Only a short hop of three miles today. The remains of the early morning mist were soon burnt off by the sun and just after breakfast we were underway. We met one or two boats on the way, mainly in the narrow or shallow sections. Just as we were approaching the Whittington Military Range we spotted a familiar boat, nb Telemachus moored. A quick blast on the klaxon resulted in a wave from the crew on board as we passed by. The visitor mooring at Hopwas was empty so we picked our spot and secured the boat. The furry crew member was then left on board whilst we visited the Tame Otter P.H. for lunch. Just one night will be spent here before we attended our boat's home port of Glascote Basin tomorrow.

   

 

• Totals 3 Miles
• Running total 371 Miles 214 Locks 14 Tunnels 

Whittington

We only stayed one night by the pig farm, so on Thursday 29/9 we set off for Fradley Junction. We had a brief stopover in Rugeley, to stock up on supplies at the large Tesco store by the canal. Then it was on through Armitage, the town made famous for its toilets. The weather was fine for the time of the year, and there was very little traffic. On arrival at Wood End lock we encountered a hold up. The lock has a defective ground paddle, and is very slow to fill. Today it was made worse by a huge island of reeds that had been sucked into the gate paddle reducing the flow further. Each fill was taking nearly half an hour. Once we got through it was only a short hop to Fradley. We dropped down a further two locks and then made our turn onto the Coventry Canal. Once through the swing bridge, we had our pick of position on the visitor mooring as it was empty. It didn't stay that way for long.

On Friday 30/9 we walked to the canal village of Alrewas, about two and a half miles away down the Trent and Mersey. We can actually return to Yelvertoft that way, but it involves a couple of river sections for which we would need an anchor, and this time we are stopping at Glascote Basin for a few days to have some work done.

On Saturday 1/10, the weather was forecast to rain later in the afternoon, so having stayed our allotted 48 hours at Fradley we moved on. We were aiming for Huddlesford. We needed a pump out and diesel so planned to visit Streethay Wharf on route. Not long after tying up it became apparent the pump out machine was kaput. We continued on to Kings Orchard Marina, and fortunately, unlike our last visit it was not too windy. The forecast rain however had arrived early and as we exited the Marina the heavens opened. Quickly mooring just outside the entrance, we avoided the worst but we're still soaked by the time we finished.

On Sunday 2/10 we walked in glorious sunshine to Huddlesford Junction where we found the Plough Inn. We have eaten here before and the food is great, today would be our first Sunday roast there. The pub is dog friendly, but four legs had been left behind to guard the boat.

Today we moved just one mile to the spot we had intended to reach on Saturday. The weather is again glorious for the season, but we have noticed that in the mornings the boat is colder now. We have yet to light the solid fuel stove but the diesel heating is getting some regular use.

 

We are only staying here one night as the cuisine at the Tame Otter, Hopwas is beckoning. After lunch we walked into Whittington to visit the local shop. One final point is that google have stopped supporting the app for iPad using blogger. This is a new app so I have no idea how it will appear once posted.  

• Totals  Thursday 29/9. 9 Miles 3 Locks
•           Saturday  1/10. 4 Miles
•           Monday.   3/10. 1 Mile

 

• Running total 368 Miles 214 Locks 14 Tunnels

Pig Farm, Bishton

This morning we departed Tixall Wide having spent a few wet and wild days there. Over the weekend period, the wide had been very busy accommodating Stafford Boat Club during their regatta. We enjoyed watching the boat manoeuvring skills competition, well until the rain started, then we went inside, battened down the hatches and left them to it. We got straight onto the water point at Great Haywood Junction and topped up the tank. Whilst waiting, we chatted with the crew of nb Maple Knot who informed us of a food festival in Stone next week. Wrong way for us, but we will chalk it up for another time. We had two locks to navigate and our timing at each was impeccable. On arrival at the pig farm we found our usual spot vacant. After securing the boat, the two legged crew gave four legs a brush. He had not been done for a while and was a bit knotted, so he was somewhat resistant to the process. There was only going to be one winner, and it wasn't him. Tomorrow we head for Fradley after a necessary stop at Tesco in Rugeley.

       

                                                                   Pig Farm mooring.

Totals 4 Miles 2 Locks 

Running total 354 Miles 211 Locks 14 Tunnels

Tixall Wide update

Tixall Wide this afternoon

       

Tixall Wide this evening

       

Tixall Wide

Following our epic journey yesterday, today we opted for a relatively short four miles and two locks. Our arrival at Weston Lock was timed to perfection, a boat was just emerging as we round the corner and so we were straight in. At Hoo Mill Lock we had a short wait, and then it was only a half mile or so to Great Haywood Junction. We needed to top up the water tank, as we plan to stay put for a few days. The water point was busy, and when we eventually got on it, the tap was quite slow. The junction is where the Staffordshire and Worcestershire Canal departs from the Trent and Mersey. Our journey home takes us straight on, but today we turned right and headed a short distance to Tixall Wide. The canal here is wide enough to cruise in circles, so we can turn the boat and rejoin the Trent and Mersey next week.

       

                                                  View from the side hatch across the wide.

During the course of our summer cruise we have collected a few scratches to the blacking on the hull sides. A further benefit of the mooring here at Tixall is a low bank, so whilst here, if the weather is fine we may tidy up the scrapes.

Total 4 Miles 2 Locks

Running total 350 Miles 209 Locks 14 Tunnels

Salt

Today we had a marathon day, for us anyway. We set off from Barlaston at 8.30 am, the sun was shining, but there is a definite autumnal feel in the air. We passed through the four locks at Meaford, meeting a couple of boats coming the other way, and soon we were entering Stone, the birthplace of the Trent and Mersey Canal. At this stage we were blissfully unaware of the drama that was soon to occur.

        

                                                Former waterside warehouses in Stone.

Shortly after passing the above warehouses, we picked up a small grp (plastic) boat ahead of us. This was going to slow our progress through the remaining locks. Sometimes with these small boats, two boats can descend in the lock together, but our 60' and their 15' meant our combined length was too long for the locks. At the final lock in the flight, the plastic boat caught up with a shorter narrowboat and followed it into the lock. All was fine and once the top gate was closed, other boat crews began to open the paddles draining the lock. It was at this point the lady from the plastic boat climbed back onboard. The boat tipped and moved away from the edge of the lock, depositing said lady in the water. Fortunately the paddle operators saw what had occurred and immediately dropped them stopping anymore water leaving the lock. At the same time, three or four of us onlookers grabbed the lady before she disappeared under either of the boats. It took all four of us to haul her out, even though the water level had only dropped by about a foot. After all the excitement we pushed on, navigating a further two locks at Aston and Sandon, before arriving at our intended mooring spot just beyond the village of Salt. 

       

Our primary reason for choosing this location, was the good reports we had received about the Holly Bush Inn. It is a 16th century thatched inn and is reported to be the oldest in Staffordshire. After securing the boat we walked to the pub and were not disappointed by the choice on the menu. The food lived upto expectations.

Totals 9 Miles 10 Locks 

Running total 346 Miles 207 Locks 14 Tunnels

Barlaston

Yesterday we set off from our mooring at Westport Lake for our trip through the potteries, aka Stoke on Trent. We had six locks to navigate on the eight mile journey, including the three at Etruria. The trip was fairly uneventful, meeting only a few boats on route. The amount of canal traffic seems to have reduced dramatically over the last week or so. 

       

                                                           Mooring at Barlaston.

We moored just beyond the Wedgwood factory, and after securing the boat we walked to The Plume of Feathers P.H. for lunch. Today we visited the Wedgwood factory for a tour of the site and museum. The factory had moved from its original location at Etruria, to Barlaston due to mining subsidence. Many of the original methods used by Josiah Wedgwood, remain in use today. Some of the machinery however has been updated. The modern kilns for example take just over nine hours to fire the pots, whereas the old bottle kilns used to take up to 48 hours to achieve the same result.

                          

The tour was very informative, not least the fact that there are only two hand painters working at the site. A hand painted tea service has to be pre ordered and will set you back circa 30 K. After the tour lunch was taken in the Wedgwood dining hall, but not using Wedgwood hand painted bone china.

Totals 8 Miles 6 Locks

Running total 337 Miles 197 Locks 14 Tunnels