Tuesday 30th May 2023
Disappointment of the trip – whatever happened to Caramac? It used to be creamy and taste of pure caramel. Shan’t be buying that for ‘old times’ sake again! (She didn’t, I did. Ed)
We started with just under an hours cruise to our first lock, of twenty in total today, at Wheelock. We found ourselves another boat but the dual locks initially allowed the two lock crew to share tasks. The lady off the other boat went ahead and set the locks while Graham worked both boats through the locks – brilliant until we came to the first single lock after Malkins bank. Then the system went awry.
This is one of our favourite stretches of canal and we were blessed with nice sunny weather to do it in – we are being spoiled. Task of the day was to find somewhere to purchase two 1st class stamps and post a card.
At Hassall Green we remembered when there was a shop and post office next to the lock and a pub, the Romping Donkey, was open. Now all domestic properties although there was a canal side sign for the pub about half a mile the other side of the M6 – which today was all clogged up Southbound.
Graham got a picture of ‘Saint Barbies’ – not really it’s name but it is an old corrugated iron chapel that is painted pink as they did in the Victorian times. We christened it St Barbies many years ago when we stopped for the night and found it during our evening constitutional.
On to Rode Heath where we could see there was a Post Office on the map. Graham reckoned he spotted it from the lock and so Brenda went off and found it was a Bargain Booze store. However, they did sell 1st class stamps (and oatcakes and fruited pikelets) but Brenda then had to yomp along the road for the post box – which was outside the Post Office near bridge 140 ;^) Card posted, post box photographed, as it had been yarn-bombed, and a quick phone call meant that Jannock picked her up at the bridge.
Another six locks and we moored for the night near the church before bridge 135. One of our favourite quiet moorings before the hustle and bustle of Kidsgrove encroaches.
G&B
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