Taking the Leek Arm....

..... it was too easy to be amusing, so I ignored the obvious.

Yesterday afternoon Rod headed up to the services at Park Lane Wharf as he wanted to try to get a TV signal and wash his roof, I stayed put where I was and then this morning at around 8:15 I headed off to meet him.

En route to the services, a bit misty to begin with.

We both needed water and our plan for today was to head off and take a trip along the Leek Arm before the remnants of hurricane Ophelia gave us any grief, the arm is lock free and about three miles long and I headed off to lead the way once we were both filled and emptied.

Park Lane Wharf service building with shower WC etc. and three water points.

It was a lovely little trip and well worth the effort, the arm is shallow, narrow and with quite a few tight bends and bridge holes to negotiate, a couple of small aqueducts and a tunnel, it’s full of interest.

I’ll just let the pictures tell the tale although they don’t do it justice and some parts were missed while I concentrated on steering J

On the Caldon heading for the junction.

Hazlehurst Junction, the Caldon continues straight on, the Leek Arm
is over to the right, we'll be back later.

That's a lock on the Caldon we are now parallel with it.

And now passing over it on the small aqueduct.

Rod negotiating bridge 3

With high ground on the left and the Churnet Valley on the right
some lovely vistas.

Autumn is here, leaves a plenty.

A former asylum in the distance.

Just before Leek tunnel a large pool appears.

South Portal

Just getting lined up!

and I'm in, a short 130 yard tunnel, one way working !

Some parts have been relined (above pic) others not, this shows the joint.

That's Rod entering the tunnel behind me.

Looking back at the North Portal

Almost at the end of the arm just after bridge 9 there is a winding (turning) hole for boats over 45’ long, the canal does continue for about a quarter mile but is very narrow and the winding hole at the end will only allow boats 45’ or under to wind, so I winded and moored on the first space just clear of the winding hole, graciously allowing Rod the more lengthy and tricky reverse back to the only other space 3 boat lengths away, well I was there first!

Current Mooring:

The winding hole between my mooring and the bridge.

Rod doing a fine reverse.

And he's in and moored up.

Totals today: 4 miles : 1 Tunnel

A walk through an industrial estate gives access to a Morrison’s so I topped up with veg and bits, we are staying put tomorrow so I will do a second trip.

It’s now mid afternoon and the wind is quite strong, definitely not the time to be cruising.