Back up Anderton Lift

Saturday 28th May 2022

We left our overnight mooring and headed towards the lift in sun-shine! We’d booked for a 10am ascent but when we arrived we were asked if we’d object to going up at 09:15 as there was only one boat booked in for that trip up, so we went straight in and up.

 

Moored at the bottom of the lift was the Daniel Adamson, complete with a stoker blackened with coal dust. The stewards were just arriving as we ascended, to get ready for a trip down the Weaver with paying guests. Last time we saw her, she was stranded the other side of the broken lock on the Weaver and looking sad. Today she was steaming and open for business – excellent

 

 

Some new cuddly crew members joined us once they had been liberated from the Anderton visitor centre gift shop. Brenda (trying to emulate Pamela Stephenson, who always took pictures of her crew during her South Sea adventure) used the ‘posh’ camera for a crew photo – it showed off by telling her that faces had been detected, a bright yellow and pink toy cat, a knitted monkey, two cuddly ducks, a swan and a kingfisher. That must be beak recognition mode then. Worryingly, the camera refused to take the picture as a blink had been detected. Really! Which one of you blinked – own up!

 

Out of the lift, we winded opposite the entrance and set off North towards Barnton where Graham had positioned the car just after Saltisford tunnel. However, we found a much better 14 day mooring before Barnton tunnel alongside a layby where the car could be positioned for loading purposes. The festival trolley came into it’s own moving all our washing, food etc to the car once Graham had retrieved it.

Then home for a couple of weeks for important events etc.

G&B

Down onto the Weaver

Friday 27th May 2022

Last night we decided that as we were running ahead of schedule we would book the Anderton lift down onto the Weaver to return on Saturday. If nothing else, it was good use of our extra days and at £10 for both trips, it was cheaper than a funfair ride. The Weaver also meant the Graham could wash some of that orange muck from Jannock’s roof and sides using cleaner river water.

There were plenty of early boats passing us before we set off this morning. It was clear that most of the boats that passed us at normal cruising speed were privateers. One steerer had a most impressive bow wave and seemed to be tacking – he was engrossed in a call on his mobile phone. Ironically it was the hire boats making their way back to base at Anderton that were the ones slowing down to pass us – just saying ……..

 

We were the only boat on our 10:45 transit down to the River Weaver on the lift. Even after our 3rd trip down on Jannock it still feels special.

We approached Northwich town pontoon moorings pleased to see that there was plenty of room. Unfortunately all of the gaps were too short to get a boat into as the boats already there had tied up so far apart.

Since we needed to get the Di Blasi off the boat to move the car, tying up against the high wall was not an option and so Graham reversed Jannock into the gap between the pontoon and the river wall and tied to the sliding pillar. The front end was then tied to the wall. The smart live-aboard that was on the end of the moorings had her garden chairs, faux lawn and drinks table set up on the pontoon. She didn’t look too pleased when we tied up against her ‘garden’.

 

After lunch, Graham went and fetched the car from Church Lawton and Brenda went for a mooch around the shopping centre finishing at Asda where the larder was re-provisioned. After a couple of shops and a busker, Brenda realised how much she dislikes the constant sound of muzak and how she doesn’t miss constant urban noise when we are cruising.

 

Shopping and shuffling completed, we left the pontoon and returned back downstream to the country park pontoons where there was plenty of space. Graham washed Jannock and then we had dinner.

G&B

All our ducks in a row.

Thursday 26th May 2022

Grey skies are going to clear up – put on a happy face … or so they said. Tomorrow, tomorrow, the sun will come out tomorrow ….

It was a morning of squally showers with the wind mostly at 90 degrees to Jannock’s route. Never the less, we made very good time with all of the locks being in our favour due to some in-considerate southbound boater leaving all the top gates open from Crows Nest to Rumps lock. At Middlewich we met a southbound boat leaving Kings lock and then found CaRT vo-lockies on all three of the Middlewich locks. Brenda managed to execute the sharp bend between the top lock and second with perfect precision.

 

This had us at a good mooring by 12o’clock which was deemed to early to moor up even if Graham wanted to do a car shuffle from Church Lawton. Sadly no sign of the Tam-Lin crew as they are off to Scotland for a steam train trip.

On then through glorious countryside with a quick stop at the council tip to recycle our rubbish. The scenery gradually changed from lovely country side with side flashes where we remember seeing abandoned working boats many years ago and into big industrial landscape.

 

Old chemical works are being pulled down and replaced by new ones being built. many new homes now exist where people have worked for centuries, taking salt from underground. There is even a new marina being built near basin bridge. Brenda loved this sign approaching the Tata salt works.

 

The weather brightened during our journey until about 3 o’clock when it turned very grey again and then poured down for about an hour. During this deluge Graham managed to find a suitable overnight mooring spot and tie us up with no help from the wind or rain.

The minute we were safely tied up and he had stripped out of his soaked attire, the rain stopped and the sun came out for the rest of the evening.

G&B

Cheshire locks

Wednesday 25th May 2022

After a lovely sunny blue skied evening last night, followed by a good nights sleep in a lovely quiet mooring – today we woke to ‘grey out’!  Waterproofs at the ready, we set off expecting a very lock heavy day. For most of the day we had all of the weather for most of the time.

 

At our very first lock we saw what we believe to be the most useless CaRT sign ever. Of course the lock is closed, it has no gates and it totally overgrown.

 

We continued on past Rhode Heath and Hassell Green and had done twelve locks, luckily meeting southbound traffic making passage easier, before we pulled over for lunch immediately after passing beneath the M6 motorway.

 

It was after lunch that I spotted this excellent spelling mistake on a commercial vehicle – how can mistakes like this get past management, printers and the people who actually livery the vehicle without being spotted?

 

The basin at Malkins Bank was full of working boats as usual. I must research to find out which canal carrying company had their base here.

 

We stopped at Wheelock for a water fill and then continued on into the countryside before mooring in the middle of no-where for another quiet night. Once stopped, Graham did some work on the Di Blasi carburetor ready for tomorrow’s planned car shuffle.

G&B

Welcome to Cheshire

24th May 2022

This morning the Cap’n was up and at-em at 8am. We hope to get through Harecastle tunnel today, but there was a water supply issue which closed the tunnel yesterday afternoon and so we knew it was going to be busy this morning. Hopefully last night’s downpour and today’s forecast rain will help ease the situation.

Twice now we have visited the fabric store in Newcastle-under-Lyme and both times it has rained heavily whilst we were in the shop. Just along from Etruria the site of the old steel mill is now finally being developed with huge steel framed building being constructed.

 

As we approached Harecastle southern portal there were 6 boats on the tunnel moorings awaiting to go through so we had to hold Jannock on the opposite bank until they had gone. Then we moved across and became first in the next queue to go so we would get through today unless there is another stoppage.

The volunteers have been working hard, there are now gardened areas alongside the waiting moorings and new planters outside  the ‘tunnel keepers ut’ Where would we be without volunteers?

The water is a bit orange here! It leaches through the tunnel walls deep inside the hill.
 

Cap’n had time for his breakfast and a shower before the southbound boats appeared out of the tunnel. We were then first in of a flotilla of three boats. The tunnel wasn’t too wet but it was very cold. Once the doors were shut and the fans switched on we met the bank of fog rushing towards us before the other end was visible again.

 

Once out the North end (40 mins transit time) we dropped down through the top lock and then tied up for shopping at Lidl. after lunch, we continued down through 5 more locks to moor for the night at Church Lawton visitor moorings.

 

Graham decided to do an experimental car shuffle. Google Maps said that you can get from Church Lawton to Stone by two bus’, changing at Handley bus station so he gave it a go. Not as quick as using the Di Blasi (bus’ get stuck in jams whereas the bike doesn’t) The No3 runs every 30 mins from C L to Handley and then the 101 is every 30 mins from there to Stone. Total shuffle time, due to road works, rush hour and a traffic accident totalled just over 3 hours. He’s done it in just over 2 hours on the Di Blasi.

G&B

Up the locks to Stoke on Trent

Monday 23rd May 2022

Last night we walked up to the Trentham village Toby carvery for our Sunday roast. En-route we passed both this amazing tree root growing up a disused railway bridge

and also passed this amazing rose growing in some-one’s front garden.

The meal was excellent and the service was superb. Graham had read some worrying reviews on T’interwebnet about surly and rude staff but the service we received from Lauren was wonderful.

This morning we set off just after 9am with the target of getting to the top of the Stoke locks before the predicted rain starting after midday. We passed under this bridge undergoing repair just before the Bet365 arena. 

 

As we arrived at the bottom lock another boat was going in but we had southbound boats at every lock and CaRT vo-lockies at three of them. An easy ascent.

We did a tight, rope assisted, turn into the services at the junction with the (currently closed) Caldon. nb Willow was already on the water point filling their tank so we tied alongside and waited for them to finish. When they left, we pulled onto the services and attempted to use the pump-out machine but it refused to accept our pre-paid card – do these have a ‘use by’ date?

Not able to do a self pump-out due to a grid firmly affixed across the top of the elsan disposal point so we winded and left. At Festival park marina they wanted £20 and we know our tank is not anywhere near full so we didn’t bother with that either.

 

Tied up just after the Festival Park Toby and then went on the bus to Newcastle under Lyme for Brenda’s pilgrimage to the fabric store just after the forecast rain arrived. This was followed by a visit to the Holy Inadequate after it had opened at 4pm and then back to the boat as Graham is controlling blood-bikes tonight.

G&B

A frustrating set of locks today

Sunday 22nd May 2022

We set off from our Stone mooring at 09:00 and made our way up to the water point below Star lock to fill the tank. Whilst this was happening, the crew mutinied to the adjacent play park for a photo opportunity. 

 

Once the tank was full we passed through Star lock just in time to see another boat leave the lock landing and enter Yard lock ahead of us. They must have been moored overnight on the lock landing because no-one has come past at all this morning and Star lock was in our favour.

Graham walked up to yard lock to find the young lad (grandson apparently) sitting with the gate paddle partly cracked open but the ground paddle closed. He pointed out that the ground paddle should be opened first but the lad said that he already had too much water entering the lock from the gate paddle. Graham explained how the paddles worked and then had a word with the steerer who said “ I do not know what he’s doing “. At this point Graham noticed that the boat was a time-share.

The new Stone’s tap house development looks good, must pay it a visit on our return trip to see if it’s any good.

 

When we arrived at Newcastle road lock, the Time-share boat was on the sani-station moorings and so Graham asked the lady if they were using the facilities or entering the lock. She said they were staying there but before we could get Jannock to the empty lock, it started being turned by the next boat coming down. Having stopped that by letting them know there was another boat down below waiting to come up, they ceased the turn and reset the lock. At this point, time-share Cap’n appeared out of the toilet and they went into the lock. Whilst waiting, Brenda chatted to the bloke off the previous boat that had just come down. He was fuming because he was unable to exit the lock due to time-share boat having his bows blocking the bridge-hole.

The pound above Newcastle road lock was very low and as we exited Lime Kiln lock we had to pull over to clear a load of rubbish from our prop. We then made our way to the Meaford flight for a very slow ascent there with southbound boats at every lock.

 

Today is the first time we have ever passed under Siddall’s bridge when there has been no car accident damage – but you can see where it’s been repaired recently.

Once clear of the Meaford locks we cruised through Barlaston to Trentham lock where we passed through with relative ease. Onto Trentham village where we have moored for the night as we fancy a carvery roast dinner tonight.

G&B

The Di Blasi as pace setter

Saturday 21st May 2022

We set off from our really peaceful overnight mooring near Shirleywich at about 09:30 and set off towards Stone. We passed through the first two locks with no problems and made our way towards Aston lock, our planned last lock of the day (unless there are no visitor moorings available below Star lock) We were pleased to see that the Jubbly flags were out in force at the offside moorings.

 

At Aston lock we joined a crew of three boats waiting to ascend. Graham got chatting to a couple of eastern European lads who were out for a walk during their day off and absolutely intrigued by how the locks worked.

Once through Aston we continued on into Stone and set about trying to find a mooring. Graham spotted a suitable space mid row but the south bound boat suddenly pulled over and tied up. Knowing that they had passed down all the moorings further North, this left us in no doubt that there was no more space available below the lock and so we reversed back and tacked ourselves onto the end of the row.

 

After a spot of lunch, Graham set off on the Di Blasi to return to Huddlesford and collect the car. As he joined the A51 at Stone it was obvious that there was a cycling time trial taking place. He easily caught and overtook a couple of riders but ahead of him was another who was proving difficult to catch. Going up the hill the Di Blasi finally managed to overtake him but then on the downward section he came roaring past again. Di Blasi overtook him again and the rider tucked in behind and sat on it’s tail until the course end was in sight. Here the rider overtook again and sprinted to the finish. As we overtook him again he gave us the thumbs up and thanked us for being his pace-maker.

Car fetched from Huddlesford Graham bought a tub of lemon Ice Cream from the convenient M&S shop and returned to Jannock to have desert before dinner.

G&B

Trent and Mersey- day 1

Friday 20th May 2022

The sun decided that it wasn’t going to shine today – possibly because Graham had his shorts on.  On the up side, the Fradley lockies were there in force and we were helped through both Middle and Shadehouse locks.

 

The rhododendrons, so beloved of Victorian gardeners, are lovely on this section of canal.They certainly grow some unusual crops in the fields around here.

As we approached Wood End lock, having cruised past the (temporary) worst of the destruction of countryside – that is HS2, we noticed that all the offside moorings below and above the lock are no deserted and the lock cottage garden looks sadly un-cared for. There is evidence that they have planted lots of new trees but also evidence that trees that were previously in the centre of the wood have been flattened by the weather since HS2 carved a route through the middle. Hopefully, in 20 years or so, it will all look glorious again.

 

We continued on through Armitage, the ‘tunnel’ and on to Rugeley where we stopped for essential supplies. As we left there, the blue skies came out but were accompanied by clouds and wind. Past the Taft, through Little Haywood and onto Great Heywood where we not only spotted a locked up nb Autaky with Brian busy in the foredeck of another boat 3 down the moorings. Graham managed to get a good picture of Shugborough house.

We continued straight on along the T&M and through Hoo Mill lock. As we passed a disappointed fisherman and Graham chatted about his day – finishing with ‘at least it isn’t raining’. About five minutes later it started raining and so we pulled over near Shirleywich and moored for the night.

G&B

On to Fradley

Thursday 19th May 2022

Off again, a few days later than hoped but life just got in the way. We know approximately how many days we need to get to Liverpool for our booking and so are not stressed as we have plenty of time.

 

After a night of horrendous thunderstorms and torrential rain at home last night, we drove up to Huddlesford under bright blue skies.

 

 

 

We passed Streethay wharf and the adjacent HS2 works before passing under the A35 and managing to find the last mooring space in the dappled shade before Fradley junction. Once tied up we went for a walk around the nature park, including spotting these amazing bee hives in the back garden of the former lock keepers cottage on the junction. We then walked back to Jannock for dinner.

 

G&B

Short run and home.

Monday 9th May 2022

Terry, from Arun, stayed for supper last evening. It was lovely to catch up with him as it’s the first time we’ve seen him since he and Janet were married. Part of the pleasure of narrowboating is that there is always the possibility of a chance meeting with friends anywhere on the system.

Many years ago, we moored for the night in Hopwas woods and heard so many Owls that we renamed it HootyWol woods. No hooting last night but Graham did spot a barn owl out hunting in the dusk across the fields opposite.

 

The asparagus tunnels were in full production as we passed today. About 15 people out wandering the lines cutting tips as required.

 

Another pleasure of canal boating is the view you get of peoples back gardens. As we passed through Whittington today many gardens were ablaze with rhododendrons and azaleas in full party frocks. It was here that we had a quick stop and chat with nb Autarky and Brian (pootank) Jarrett. Look back at December 2001 on www.jannock.org.uk if you want to know why he’s named that by us.

We moored at Huddlesford and Graham went on the Di Blasi to fetch the car from Brinklow. When he got back Brian, who had moored a few spaces behind us, popped in with his lovely dog for a cup of tea. We also had a visit from an un-known tabby cat before we finally closed up and headed home.

G&B

First Locks for 7 months (ish)

8th May 2022

We haven’t seen a (proper – not counting Suttons stop) lock for seven months and then eleven all come along at once – that’s two hours worth. We noticed two boats that were moored behind us last night were loosing off this morning so Cap’n got Jannock untied and at the top lock before they had even set off. First boat down Atherstone flight this morning. Excellent!

 As we passed Baddesley wharf, Graham spotted Moondarra moored just outside the wharf. We knew the original owner of this boat who used to be the shop owner at Cropredy bridge many years ago.

As we neared Grendon services, another boat was coming through the road bridge. Brenda signalled that we were pulling into the waterpoint but their steerer just continued on to moor at the wharf. Graham, stood at Jannock’s pointy end holding bow rope in hand pointed out that if they moved back a bit, then there was room for both boats to stop at the services. The fast flowing tap soon filled Jannock’s tank and we were off before they had even extracted their cassette ready to empty.

During all this time part of Jannock’s stern was overhanging an empty long-term mooring and so the neighbour started having a go at Brenda because she shouldn’t be moored there. The reply that “we didn’t have much choice” and “we were not moored up in that space” did not appease. As we left they let their Alsatian dog off the lead so that he could come over and bark at Brenda just to make a point.

We hope the other long term moorers at Grendon appreciate the noisy dogs owned by the people occupying the second mooring.

As we approached Glascote locks we were warned by a south-bound boater that there was a long queue to come up the locks. It would seem that there had been a stoppage in the bottom lock for several hours which was resolved by an engineer from Glascote basin bringing a skeb and a grappling hook to clear the blockage. We passed down both locks without really stopping and thanked the willing helpers who assisted us. All the boats on the right hand side of the picture were in the queue plus a couple around the bend under the bridge.

 

Lock trivia – until 1998 Reliant three wheelers were built in the factory overlooking Glascote locks and were frequently seen leaving the paint shop.

On through Fazely and Hopwas until we stopped and moored up just at the top edge of Hopwas woods. It wasn’t long before we were joined by Terry S. on nb Arun who was heading South towards Fazely. He stayed for a chat, dinner and a couple of beers before.continuing on his way to his early morning bus to work.

G&B

Back onto the Coventry

7th May 2022

We awoke to clear blue skies after a night of rain. We hope the sun shines in Chilton, Bucks – congratulations on your wedding day Jack and Nicole, only two years late thanks to Covid. The may blossom has bloomed this morning and is as pretty as a wedding dress. Sunshine, insects and it’ll soon be pink and lacey, like a bridesmaid.

We had a problem free run down the last three miles of the Ashby to Marston Junction where we turned right towards Atherstone. 

 

We had heard that our friend Terry had been to collect their newly re-painted boat Grace from Springwood Haven and was bringing her home. It wasn’t long before we met him just south of Nuneaton. A pause for a quick chat and we then continued on our merry ways.

 

As we approached the Anchor Inn at Hartshill, a couple of tatty boats, skippered by equally tatty gentlemen, pulled out in front of us and then proceeded along very slowly. The boat immediately in front of us must have got so much rubbish around his prop – judging by the prop wash he was generating. At Hartshill yard the front one pulled onto the water point whilst the other moored in the layby opposite. As we passed them the chap on the water point beamed at us and announced that ‘the plan had gone really well!’ It hadn’t seemed all that complicated to us. Perhaps the herbal smells had something to do with their perception.

As we approached Atherstone we spotted a couple of brown birds, about female blackbird size, fighting on the towpath. It appeared to be a ‘no holds barred’ battle.

 

We moored at the top of the flight and visited Aldi to restock the kitchen. We’ll attack the lock flight tomorrow morning.

G & B

Returning back down the Ashby

6th May 2022

Wildlife of the day – a Sika deer.

We awoke to a lovely sunny morning with a bird chorus busy practicing their scales (or should that be feathers as fish have scales) Choir practice was over far too soon as the grey clouds blew in on a cold wind.

 

Down through Shackerston and Husbands Bosworth with just the occasional northbound boat to avoid, usually at bridge holes. One of the bridges we passed under was suffering but luckily it doesn’t carry vehicle traffic.

 

En-route, the Cap’n had an engineering idea. We know that Jannock’s new calorifier makes the water too hot – to the point where he had fit a thermostatic valve to restrict the maximum tap temperature. And the new heating pump is a much more powerful model to the old one – what if we leave the pump on whilst the boat engine is running?     Yes, it heated the radiators sufficiently to warm the cabin whilst we were traveling. Excellent!

As we approached Hinkley, we spotted a deer in the hedge around the Triumph factory – not scared by us at all, just carried on eating as we passed. We also passed nb Lord Toulouse moored outside Trinity marine. This boat used to belong to good friends of ours – Andrew and Wendy.

 

As we approached our favourite mooring spot near Burton Hastings we were disappointed to see it full of moored boats but closer inspection showed a Jannock sized space (just) between the last two boats.We moored up and had dinner before it started raining.

G&B