A start on Heartbreak Hill.

The fuel boat Halsall arrived as planned just after 7am, he was in a real rush as he needed to be at Harecastle tunnel by 8am and in his rush he under-filled my fuel, now I know last time I got filled up my tank was over-filled so I shouldn’t be complaining but he put 30lts in which I thought was very little but I hadn’t really checked how much I needed, I checked after he left and I was about 40lts light, now that is a bit too much of an under-fill! Oh well another top up due soon then. I also took 9 bags of smokeless, 20kg bags instead of the usual 25kgs, I much prefer the smaller bags they are a lot easier to handle.

We set off just after 8am, this stretch of the Trent & Mersey is known as Heartbreak Hill, presumably because of the amount of locks, 31 locks (singles or pairs) over approximately 14 miles of the section from Kidsgrove to Middlewich, nice but quite hard work, I managed to snap a picture of Rods boat as I was leaving the first pair (42) and Rod was closing his bottom gates.

The layout of the locks are all different and make for an interesting if busy time cruising between them.

Leaving lock 42 meant crossing the wide exit area and a blind approach to pass
 beneath the aqueduct that carries the Macclesfield canal over the Trent and Mersey.

Lock 43 was a single chamber, I was through first and Rod closed up for me.

Passing the Canal and River Trust offices at Red Bull.

From here on it all got a bit hectic, no time for pictures as we worked through the next 9 locks, most of which were duplicated but not all, I think 7 were, as I was ahead and not one boat came the other way, I was able to set both locks where they were duplicated, this didn’t require much more effort on my part but meant Rod could go straight in without have to stop on the often awkward offside landings.

Finally I was able to look back at the last lock for today (52).

We had made good time and the weather was pleasant enough so although it was mainly a windlass winding day it was still enjoyable, and just before midday we reached our intended stop at Rode Heath, luckily finding two spaces on mooring rings just after the winding hole (turning point) and a short walk to The Broughton Arms, a visit tomorrow could well be in order.

Current mooring:         

The gap between me and the cruiser has to be kept clear for winding (turning) boats

Totals today: 3 miles : 11 locks

Back on the Trent & Mersey canal.

I woke this morning feeling surprisingly ‘with it’ considering I had stayed up until 12:45 last night to watch Lewis Hamilton win his 4^th Formula 1 World Championship, not in the style he would have liked, he finished 9^th in the race, but I suspect he didn’t mind too much!

It was a frosty start and Rod needed supplies so I moved up to the services and did the usual fill and empty while he went shopping, I then pulled the boat back to allow him access to the water point before we set off.

Rod ahead at the service point.

It was chilly but another lovely bright day as we joined the T&M again at Etruria junction and headed north.

Looking back at Etruria junction the Trent&Mersey is on the right
the Caldon which we have just left is on the left!

It is not a very picturesque landscape, we are still passing through Stoke and pottery land, with functional modern buildings, a mix of bridges and run down properties but the autumn colours are still just about brightening the landscape in places.

Passing Longport Wharf I was puzzled by this boat, it was wider than a narrowboat so how did it get there? it could not have come through any locks and definitely not Harecastle tunnel so I assume it must have come by road, but why I thought, perhaps a customer particularly wanted work carried out on it at this wharf and so had it road hauled and craned into the water, I am not convinced but can’t see any other solution.

Another bottle kiln demanding a picture, but such a run-down site, like them or not it either needs some loving attention or demolishing, as it is the whole site is just a sad looking eyesore.

And another graffiti ‘decorated’ bridge, I’m not sure if I liked the style of this modern affair but interesting in its own way.

We arrived at Harecastle tunnel at 11:45 and the tunnel keeper advised us we had about an hours wait, so the kettle went on for tea and cake.

Arriving at Harecastle Tunnel's South Portal

There is a description of the tunnel in >THIS< previous post.

Rod led through and after about 40 minutes we were back into the daylight and the slightly orange tinted canal on the North side, this is caused by minute particles of ironstone which seep into the water.

Exiting North Portal

Passing through the duplicated lock 41 (2 narrow locks side by side) was made easier as both locks were vacant and in our favour, Rod took the left one and was assisted through by another boater, I took the right lock and once the chap had finished assisting Rod he kindly closed the bottom gates for me, we moored just before the next duplicated pair (42).

Current mooring:

Totals today: 6 miles : 1 lock : 1 tunnel 

I have arranged to meet fuel boat Halsall here at 7am (what time!!) tomorrow and we will head off again once he's been.

A misty start....

.....but a lovely day.

This morning was chilly and misty when I awoke at about 7:30, at 8:15 I went on deck with a cup of tea and liked the look of the sun rising through the mist behind this electricity pylon.

We headed off just after 9am through the narrow winding section skirting around the village of Milton and then the sharp left turn past The Foxley pub.

It was about 3 miles of open country cruising

to reach our first obstacle, the electrified hydraulic lift bridge (11), as  Rod was leading he opened the bridge allowing me through, I then tied up and closed the bridge once he had passed through, this type are easy with the controls on the towpath side and adopting a ‘leapfrog’ method reduces the waiting time for vehicles on the road.

Me first

Then Rod

Bye bye, another one done.

We then continued on skirting around Hanley with its mixture of run down property and new developments.

 Another preserved bottle kiln protruding through a roof, although the sun shining behind both adds to and spoils the picture in my opinion, probably needed a decent camera with a filter!

There are a few tower blocks close to the canal looming high above as you pootle beneath.

At Planet lock (3) Rod locked me through first and I went ahead to set the staircase lock for him, but as it happened there was an unofficial volounteer so I didn’t need to do much other than let Rod go first, and with me and the helper working the lock Rod was able to stay aboard, then I went down staying aboard as well while the helper worked the lock for me, he wanted to, it is something you find now and again, a person who just enjoys helping at locks and getting out in the fresh air to get some exercise.

In the top chamber

Moving from top to bottom chamber

Looking back at the middle gates

We moored back at Etruria junction, just passed the staircase lock but beneath some trees, Rod found out two boats were about to move from just around the corner so we moved there as soon as they left, a nicer spot in the sunshine.

Current mooring:

Totals today: 5 miles : 3 locks : 1 moveable bridge

We will stay here for the weekend.

A little catchup.

I didn't post on Monday, when you are travelling back along a canal there is sometimes not much to say or photograph, but here's a brief catch-up.

Sunday early evening we did go to The Hollybush Inn at Denfold, canal-side and just around the corner from our mooring it was a lovely little pub, just the type I enjoy, no TV on show, no fruit machines just a log fire, good beer, friendly staff and obviously a dog friendly pub, the food was very reasonably priced, £8.25 for Sunday roast, it was average quality but the portion size was more than adequate, overall I would be more than happy to use it again. We left around 7pm as I wanted to watch the F1 on TV otherwise I may have been tempted to stay a bit longer!

Monday we did the return leg to Endon, stopping at the services to fill and empty before moving on to the towpath mooring we had used on the downward leg, not much to report on the cruise, it all went smoothly, up the three Hazlehurst Locks (12-10) taking us back up to the summit and past the junction with the Leek Arm again, just a couple of snaps.

Yesterday was a mainly wet and breezy rest day, this morning we set off for Milton again retracing our earlier passage, a much improved day weather wise.

The Stockton Brook flight of five locks (9-5) was soon upon us, dropping us down 41’ 11”, care was needed due to the slippery surfaces and wet leaves, an early slip while stepping onto a lock landing for me was a timely reminder, we past this old Victorian Pumping station now looking rather unloved and sad.

Two lift bridges which after a bit of discussion we negotiated in the leap frog fashion we had used previously, Rod had considered dealing with the manual one solo (he has not been through one solo yet) to test out the method but knowing there was a boat following he opted to leave it for another time.

There’s a farm of sorts by the second lift bridge and a chap was ‘walking’ four sheep along the grassy canal edge with the hillside behind him, well it saves mowing it!

The last lock of the day Engine lock (4) is 12’ 1” deep and takes a while to fill and empty, Rod went through first and moved on to the same mooring we had used on the way down, by the time I had turned the lock for myself the boat behind had caught up, so I had a bit of help and the lady crew member closed the bottom gates for me, a nice end to a nice leisurely cruise, not bad for Late October!.

Engine lock, needs a bit of attention to the leaking gate and there was a C&RT
 surveyor looking at it as we went through.

Current mooring:

 Totals this post: 5 miles : 9 locks : 2 moveable bridges

Wet and steamy....

.....no not like that!!

Our mooring just before Woods lock (15) served its purpose of giving us an overnight stop and avoiding the really wet weather but the towpath was like a wetland and the Churnet Valley Railway was running along parallel in the distance so we were treated to the regular steam whistle sounding the passing of one or more steam engines, added to that a water treatment plant just beyond the tree line giving off a fragrance I’d rather not endure it could only really be an overnight stop, so it was that yesterday we decided to shower-hop further along and find a mooring more suitable to sit out the passing of another storm, Brian this time, and the wet weather that was forecast for the weekend.

Around 8:30 Rod walked up to the lock and set it for me to go, after I had gone through I set it for Rod and after he entered the lock I closed the bottom gates and raised the top paddles before leaving him to it while I went off towards the next lock.

Passing the railway station two steam engines could be seen in the distance warming up for the day’s entertainment.

I negotiated the rather awkward section (narrow and a blind bend with moored boats) before The Boat pub which worryingly had signs warning of an underwater obstruction but no real clue as to where whatever it was might be lurking beneath. The pub is higher up on the bank and just before a bridge hole so my attempt to get a picture was rather hopeless, but here it is anyway.

The Boat pub, well almost, a bit of the canal-side garden 

No anglers were abused as I passed by the location of the previous exchange and headed to lock 14, the first of the two Cheddleton locks.

 Having negotiated those we returned past the Flint Mill and our earlier mooring and continued uneventfully, passing a pair of retired boat painters boats (it said retired on the first one) looking quite resplendent despite the shaded location.

The mostly tree lined high ground to our left only gave occasional glimpses of the fine scenery and we had been dodging showers so my camera was in a tupperware box only coming out when I thought it was safe.

And soon we had arrived at our intended mooring, quite close to the pub we passed on the way down, I had blindly failed to notice the name, The Holly Bush, which was plastered on the side of the building, it is our intention to visit tonight for a Sunday Roast (possibly) and a couple of beers to make up for the disappointment of not being able to negotiate the River Churnet and reach the terminus of the Caldon canal, we deserve it!

We had mostly avoided rain but as is normal it came down fairly heavily as we moored up, and after mooring I noticed I had left the lid of my camera box, fortunately a wipe down with tissue and all seemed well with that, my phone however took a poor view of getting wet, it played up with the buttons all ceasing to function, however an overnight warm up above the stove has rectified that as well, I must be more careful!

It was very wet and windy this morning and although the rain has stopped now the wind is still strong and definitely not a day for moving.

Current mooring:

Totals this post: 3 miles : 3 locks