Sunday 19th November – Rode Heath to Red Bull
Visitor Moorings
We woke up to a cold and frosty morning but with the promise
that it was going to turn out to be a lovely morning. We began our cruise up through the last of
the locks on Heartbreak Hill and it did indeed turn out to be a lovely sunny
day!
We met an elderly gentleman at the locks who talked about
how the locks had come about. Originally
there was a staircase lock which created a bottleneck for the working boats so
the course of the canal was changed and the locks were widened out. A few years on the second locks were built
alongside, the first locks were built by James Brindley and the second set by Thomas
Telford. The ones that are still being
used today are the older locks, built by James Brindley.
We moored up for the night at Red Bull Visitor
Moorings where the facilities are excellent – washing machine, showers, rubbish
disposal and water and a quiet mooring as well.
Monday 20th November – Red Bull Visitor
Moorings to Barlaston
We
made an early start this morning as we were booked to go through the Harecastle
Tunnel at 10.10am We moved up to the
water point and put on water and disposed of rubbish before continuing on up
through the last locks before the Tunnel.
As
Ella passes through the water she churns the mud deposits and creates a
swirling colour changing pattern.
The
black and white board shows how low the roof of the tunnel gets in some places
in the tunnel, due to past subsidence.
Dave drove the boat through the tunnel and followed the advice to go at
normal cruising speed as this would help to keep the boat in mid-stream and
away from the tunnel walls. He managed
to bring the boat through in a record for us – 35 minutes – an excellent smooth
passage!
We
cruised past Middleport Pottery and saw nbDane
moored outside, an old working boat built in 1946 at Mersey Weaver that used to be next door to the pottery. Enthusiasts believe that nbDane used to ferry china clay to the
potteries and other materials from the city to the North West.
After a 4 year restoration she will used for boat trips and an extension to the current tearooms.
This
is the first of the 5 Stoke locks at Etruria and begins the decent of the canal
down towards the River Trent at Shardlow and the Derwent Mouth Lock. This is our ultimate destination for this
part of our Winter Cruise.
I was
struck by the interesting juxtaposition of the old and the new here, the old
bottle kilns next to the modern housing!
Again,
a fascinating view of the old canal system next to the newer railway line. When the railways were built after the canals
they followed closely the path already cut by the canals.
Our
view from the dinette window – a golden tree in the middle of a field!
Tuesday
21st November – Barlaston to Stone
We set
out and cruised alongside the railway line towards Stone. There was a team of lumberjacks working on
the trees alongside the railway track, stopping each time a train roared past
and giving us a cheery wave as we crawled along!
We
then went down the 4 Meaford Locks towards Stone. I love these locks, they are in a very pretty
setting, however the first lock was very slow to fill and quite difficult to
open! Put your back into it Janet!
We
cruised through the Stone Locks and moored up for the night below the Star
Lock. We shall stay 2 nights here as
tomorrow the forecast is for high winds, not ideal cruising conditions.
Wednesday
22nd November – Stone
We went
for a walk along the canal towards Aston Marina, and on the way we passed a
boat with a little rowing boat attached, I love the owl and the pussycat in a pea
green boat!
Aston Marina
was particularly windy but their price for diesel was excellent so we decided
to call in tomorrow for diesel and water.
NbDyonisus was the boat
launched just before ours and was moored here, but no longer apparently. I wonder where they have gone?
On our
way back we called in to the Star Inn alongside the canal and sat in the Canal
bar. The Star was built before the
canals and was originally a coaching inn. It is in the Guinness Book of Records
for the pub with the most different levels, it is very up and down and you must
take care not to hit your head!
Thursday
23rd November – Stone to Sandon
We set off
and called in to Aston Marina for diesel and water, it was a little tricky as
the wind got up and where we were moored up under the bridge we seemed to be
blown around a lot!
We
carried on, but the weather soon deteriorated so we called it a day and moored
up about a mile before Sandon with cows to keep us company!
Once the
weather had improved we went for a walk up to Sandon Lock and then up the hill
towards Sandon Church, it stands proud on the hill overlooking the valley, very
impressive. It dates back to 1311 during the reign of Edward II.
On the
way up the hill we found the abandoned Sandon School, looking very sorry for
itself, but it had a planning application attached to it for permission to turn
it into 2 dwellings. It will make
beautiful homes.
Friday 24th November – Sandon to
Great Heywood
Woke to
a glorious morning, cold and calm with a mist rising from the canal as the sun
was coming up. Cruising was an absolute
joy today, beautiful conditions and hardly any other boats moving.
Salt Bridge
is one of the prettiest bridges on the canal and my favourite.
An interesting
reflection in the canal as we cruised past.
Many of the trees have been cut back along here and the stumps painted
orange – I wonder what the significance of the paint is?
At last
a decent shot of a heron on the canal side.
We have also seen several kingfishers on our journey but they prove far
more difficult to capture on film.
We moored up
just past Great Heywood Junction with Staffordshire and Worcester Canal where
we shall stay tonight and possibly tomorrow.
Saturday
25th November – Great Haywood
Woke up
this morning to sleet and snow, some of which began to lay on the cold plants,
but not for long. Today has been a bitter,
cold day with squally showers and a chilly wind.
A rainbow
came out over the finger post after a particularly heavy shower. We are continuing towards the Trent tomorrow,
when hopefully the weather will be better.
After a
walk through the National Trust woodland beside the canal we called in to a
Craft Fair at the Memorial Hall and began buying a few unusual bits and pieces
for Christmas. Then back to the boat and
light the fire for the evening.
This is the
end of Week 7 and with only a month until Christmas we shall think about
planning our journey back towards Market Drayton, in the meantime we are
enjoying our time on the boat immensely.
Map Key Week 1 - Brown Week 2 - Purple Week 3 - Dark Blue Week 4 - Light Blue
Week 5 - Green Week 6 - Olive Green Week 7 - Yellow
Week 5 - Green Week 6 - Olive Green Week 7 - Yellow