The Four Counties Ring Canal Boat Holiday
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DAY
1
Sunday,
5th June, 2011
Weather: Wet
Cast-off
Time: 15.40 hrs
Diary
Set off in light rain from Gailey Wharf on the Staffordshire and
Shropshire Canal. Learning to steer and moor-up for the locks was a challenge.
11 locks in the first 4 hours kept the whole crew busy. Ordered
dinner by phone with Mike and Rosie Fenlon, who then
met us at Stafford Marina, with a take-away. All enjoyed a fine Indian
meal, and the wine cellar took a battering. Thank you Mike
and Rosie.
Nature Notes:
Canada Geese with Goslings, Grey Lag Geese, Mallard ducks and
ducklings, Swallows and Swifts, Several Herons and we
heard our first Cuckoo
Mooring Time: 20.10
Location: Stafford Marina
First
Impression: Very Big Boat
|
Ship’s Log |
Previous |
Today |
Running Total |
|
Hours |
- |
4.30 |
4.30 |
|
Miles |
- |
7 |
7 |
|
Locks |
- |
11 |
11 |
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DAY
2
Monday
6th June, 2011
Weather: Sunny
Cast-off
Time: 07.00 hrs
Diary
Early start to get up to Milford for breakfast at
8.00 hrs. Off again at 9.10 a.m. then swing north into the Trent and Mersey
Canal at 10.15 a.m. Julie negotiated
this first turn, with some difficulty, but we learned to use the poles. Then we had a good run all morning on this
slightly bigger canal (only 2 groundings!). Skipper rammed a German Cruiser
when exiting Bridge 90A. No Fatalities. Stopped to top-up water and ammunition, just south of Stone
(birthplace of the canal system). Busy afternoon with numerous locks and
plenty of sunshine, plus a few more groundings, but not a bad day as total
groundings still in single figures!(NB: some parts of
canal seemed to have more silt than water). Moored south of
Hem Heath Bridge No. 106. Dinner
at Toby Inn (former Trentham Hotel), where Skipper was given beef that might
have been an old donkey? Early to bed (knackered!).
Nature Notes:
Moorhens and chicks, Electric blue Dragonflies with black wings,
Green Dragonflies, Shire Horses and foals, Cows and calves - Long Horns and Jerseys. Two men in
camouflage with guns! (hunting rabbits). Julie saw fish surfacing. Saw many
attractive houses and beautiful gardens leading down to the canal Lance did a
splendid job at the helm on our first full day and Julie, Gra
and I jogged to and from the locks along the way! Wonderful reflections from
the front of the boat, smooth, quiet and peaceful and saw many bright yellow
Irises growing in the canal. Friendly people on boats and walking along the
canals
Mooring Time: 17.45
Location: Hem Heath Bridge 106 -
Trentham
First
Impression: A.O.K.
|
Ship’s Log |
Previous |
Today |
Running Total |
|
Hours |
4.30 |
10 |
14.30 |
|
Miles |
7 |
20 |
27 |
|
Locks |
11 |
13 |
24 |
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DAY
3
Tuesday,
7th June, 2011
Weather: Rainy a.m. / Sunny p.m.
Cast-off
Time: 06.45 hrs
Diary
Up with the Lark (bloody Pigeon actually!). Sunny start, zero traffic.
Great team-work through ascent of locks to Victoria Marina in
Stoke. Onward in light rain, to moor just short of Harecastle
Tunnel for bacon and mushroom sandwiches for Brunch at. 10.00. We were third in queue and entered
tunnel at 10.45. An
out-of-world experience, the boat oscillating from side-to-side in almost
complete darkness. Exit at 11.40,
only to be confronted by an oncoming pillock who
failed to give way, forcing us onto a sandbank (the canal was very shallow and
sandy-looking coming out of the tunnel).
This does NOT count as
grounding! Superb teamwork got us through an interminable sequence of locks,
getting soaked in a squall half-way down.
More locks and several cups of tea later, we arrived at Broughton
(Bridge 140) at 14.30 in glorious sunshine, but Lance panicked because he could
not see the pub at 50 yards!. Sunbathed and drank our first bottle of chilled
white wine on the fore deck! (former Trentham Hotel) Time to dry out f the clothing and mellow out. ZERO groundings! A very nice dinner at
Broughton Pub.
Nature Notes:
A Greater Spotted (black, white and red) Woodpecker flew right
across our path. Impressed with industrial area of Stoke. Like Venice!
Many fine buildings still standing. Amazingly, beyond Stoke, the canal traversed
a ridge, and there were beautiful views looking down into the valleys towards
the river Trent. Arriving north of Alsager, early at
2.30 p.m. we saw a magnificent swan coming in to land. Also a family of swans,
including 6 cygnets, and ducks with 6 ducklings. Fed them bread – they loved it. Julie and
Lance walked down to the river and saw a family of long-tailed Tits.
Mooring Time: 14.30
Location: Broughton Inn, at Thirlwood
First
Impression: Gorgeous – but Lance
couldn’t see the Pub!
|
Ship’s Log |
Previous |
Today |
Running Total |
|
Hours |
14.30 |
7 |
21.30 |
|
Miles |
27 |
13 |
40 |
|
Locks |
24 |
17 |
41 |
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DAY
4
Wednesday
8th June, 2011
Weather: Very mixed - sun, rain, thunder, hail and
wind
Cast-off
Time: 06.45 hrs
Diary
Up and away before the traffic. 6 locks by 08.15 – moored up for breakfast
after M.6. Another 8 locks down to the
Cheshire Cat at Wheelock, with problems of generally
low water levels in the pounds (low rainfall). Skipper walked straight past
service point in pouring rain. Moor up
at services for water top-up and tea break (10.50-11.30 a.m.) Lovely run across
rural Cheshire. Some sharp showers, necessitating frequent changes of kit. Southerly gusts of wind across the Cheshire
plane forced us to learn to tack! Pulled up just short of
Kings Lock, Middlewich, in a thunder storm. Graham, Lance and Julie got very wet, whilst
mooring for lunch at 14.00. Brilliant helmsmanship
by Lance, with Julie directing, to negotiate a sharp left-hand turn, leaving
the Trent and Mersey Canal through the 100 yards long Wardle Canal, and
entering a branch of Shropshire Union. Cross-winds
nasty for most of the day. Moored for night twixt Bridges 22 and 21, above River Weaver –
lovely spot. Julie cooked a
lovely pasta meal, whilst lance ate most of the pesto.
Nature Notes:
Walking between locks, Sandra saw 2 brown and 1 black rabbits.
Many swallows swooping and, at Kings Lock, they were
nesting under the bridge. At Middlewich, going through Wardle Canal to the
Shropshire Union, saw many lovely gardens on canal side. Again, beautiful wild
flowers and irises, green trees, woodlands and hedges along the canal.
Mooring Time: 16.30
Location: Wimboldsley
Wood
First
Impression: Superb
|
Ship’s Log |
Previous |
Today |
Running Total |
|
Hours |
21.30 |
7.45 |
29.15 |
|
Miles |
40 |
12 |
52 |
|
Locks |
41 |
21 |
62 |
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DAY
5
Thursday,
9th June, 2011
Weather: Bright, Sunny Spells, Dry
Cast-off
Time: 07.20
Diary
Mutiny averted by giving crew a half-hour lie-in! Beautiful run
through rich farm land. Lots of wild
bird life. Only 2 locks, then hang a left at Barbridge
Junction into Shroppie proper, at 10.15. Again,
superb turn by Helmsman Lance assisted by Julie, poling several times! Then 15 minutes wait in queue for water
top-up. Moor, just south of junction for
brunch at 11.00. Jules sprayed Lance with surplus water, whilst reeling in hose
(perhaps to save on shower water later?). Lovely afternoon cruising across
Cheshire, lots of wildlife. Very busy
canal traffic through Nantwich, then became
quieter. Arrived in Audlem at 15.30.
Moored in lovely spot between Locks 14 and 13. Lovely afternoon,
had a walk around village – superb Church.
Booked evening meal at The Lord Combermere
Pub. In bed by 10.15 p.m., again!
Nature Notes:
Beautiful morning. Julie saw a Kingfisher – Sandra just missed
it! Flocks of Goldfinch and Great Tits in and out of
hedgerows. Rabbits, Buzzards, Swallows, Chiff-chaffs,
Skylarks, Cuckoo. Kestral, Rabbits. Blue and Black
winged Dragonflies, again. Sandra tried
to photograph a Heron, but he wouldn’t pose! NO RAIN TODAY.
Mooring Time: 15.30
Location: Audlem
First
Impression: Lovely little town
|
Ship’s Log |
Previous |
Today |
Running Total |
|
Hours |
29.15 |
7 |
36.15 |
|
Miles |
52 |
17 |
69 |
|
Locks |
62 |
6 |
68 |
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DAY
6
Friday,
10th June, 2011
Weather: Great Morning. Very wet late afternoon
Cast-off
Time: 06.45 hrs
Diary
Up early to climb up through Audlem
Locks before the traffic. Achieved 13
locks to the top in just under 2 hours – great team
effort again. Moored
up for a well-earned breakfast on Shropshire County Boundary at 09.00 hrs. Due to highly efficient chef who had bacon
cooked before we stopped, we were underway in 20 minutes. Glorious cruise through
Shropshire countryside. Light
traffic through Adderley Locks, including an 86 year old gent who was cruising
alone! Short stop at Market Drayton for
water services and hit traffic at Tyrley Locks (set
of 5) but still thro’ in just over the hour.
Amazing run through Woodseaves cutting, moored
for lunch snack at Goldstone Bridge 56 at 14.10 hrs. Then it rained a bit – then a lot! Julie and Lance waterproofed up and led us
bravely onwards! Slow crawl through Shebdon Wharf and onto Norbury
Junction, past miles of moored boats.
Rev Counter cut out. We reported
it, they suggested we switched the engine off and then on again. Later, we did so after we’d stopped. It worked!
We had a good meal at the Junction Inn.
Nature Notes:
Early morning Buzzard flew over the boat. Swallows
drinking and bathing on the wing in the canal in front of us. Mistle Thrush
perched on a post nearby. Baby Moorhens
out for early morning stroll on the bank.
Hare seen.
Buzzards and Kestrel. At
Adderley Wharf Bridge, fresh produce, including great cakes, available on canal
side - 7 days a week, and/or at the Farm. Wind dropped this morning, lovely reflections
again. Wagtails, Jay
on water’s edge. Saw black and
white cows being chased over the bridge by herdsman on motorbike. Very calm and peaceful through Woodseaves cutting, almost a single “track”, Glad no one
came towards us. Many different ferns,
flowers and trees – looked tropical. Herons on canal side. Bullfinches at Norbury Junction.
Mooring Time: 17.30 hrs
Location: Norbury
Junction
First
Impression: Wet
|
Ship’s Log |
Previous |
Today |
Running Total |
|
Hours |
36.15 |
9.15 |
45.30 |
|
Miles |
69 |
14.5 |
83.5 |
|
Locks |
68 |
23 |
91 |
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DAY
7
Saturday, 11th
June, 2011
Weather: Glorious morning, shower at lunch, lovely
p.m.
Cast-off
Time: 06.45 hrs
Diary
Topped up water before leaving Norbury
at 07.10 hrs. Fabulous
trip thro’ Gnosall – moored
for breakfast at Bridge 31, 08.20 hrs.
Depart at 09.00 hrs. Glorious morning, half of crew abandoned ship to
walk towpath – but at full throttle, Graham at the helm, Sandra navigating?, we caught them up! Thro’ Wheaton Aston Lock at 10.45 –
had to queue. Lovely thro’ Brewood and over Watling Street Aquaduct. Moored for lunch at Pendeford Bridge (only 2 miles from home). John Ward met us with essential supplies
(bread and milk) and a quick lunch. Queue at Autherley Junction for our one
and only “stop-lock”. There was some difficulty in negotiating the acute
70 degree junction – almost lost a couple of crew, Julie did a wonderful job
poling in the deep water. Fascinating
run through our old home territory of Pendeford/Fordhouses – all looks so different from the canal. Calf Heath Marina was heaving and Restaurant
closed for a private function. So we
moored just north of Marina for our last night.
Jules cooked a delicious Pasta Penne dish.
Nature Notes:
Lots of Herons today. Chaffinches. Heard Cuckoo again. Saw Greater Spotted Woodpecker and Chiff-chaff. Also a Jay, Buzzards and Kestrel. Long-tailed Tits, Great
Tit. SAW Chiff-chaff.
Lovely scenery, calm waters, very relaxing when on the
forward deck. The Helmsman or
woman, however, always had to concentrate all the time to keep the boat on an
even keel. Much appreciated by those who
were not driving! Beautiful morning, but cool out of sun. Cooler and cloudy in
afternoon but no rain. Sun came
out at 5.00 p.m. and we had a lovely sunny evening for our last meal on board.
Mooring Time: 17.10 hrs
Location: Just outside Calf Heath
Marina
First
Impression: Busy
|
Ship’s Log |
Previous |
Today |
Running Total |
|
Hours |
45.30 |
8.30 |
54 |
|
Miles |
83.5 |
24 |
107.5 |
|
Locks |
91 |
3 |
94 |
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|
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DAY
8
Sunday,
12th June, 2011
Weather: Cold but clear
Cast-off
Time: 07.25
Diary
Cold enough for brass monkeys when Lance and Graham got up at
06.30 – had to put the bloody central heating on for the girls! Sandra and Julie up at
07.00 for quick coffee and cereals, followed by a rapid final pack up. More early morning canal traffic than we had seen all the week. Arrived at Gailey Wharf well ahead of
schedule (8.00 a.m. instead of 9.00). Lance treated us to a demonstration of
long-boat steering, by turning our 68 ft boat into
the Viking Boats herring-bone Wharf.
Started to rain as we unpacked the boat and loaded the car – typical!
A SUPERB HOLIDAY – CHALLENGING BUT VERY SATISFYING
AND ENJOYABLE. THANKS TO
LANCE FOR ALL THE ORGANISING. HOPE WE DO
IT AGAIN SOMETIME.
Nature Notes:
Cold this morning but still heard Chiff-chaffs
at dawn (well some of us did). Banks of beautiful honeysuckle
and wild roses climbing the trees along the canal, hiding the chemical works as
we passed by. Also saw
chaffinches and heard many birds with unrecognisable calls.
IT HAS BEEN A WONDERFUL TRIP, calm, peaceful, exciting, exhausting
(all those locks), friendly people, many houseboats with gardens attached,
people making and selling canal decorated pots and pans and canal art, many
attractive houses with beautiful gardens alongside the canal, many, many
narrowboats - a different world, even Stoke didn’t feel
like a city. JUST
BEAUTIFUL GREEN COUNTRYSIDE FOR MILES AND MILES. A WONDERFUL EXPERIENCE.
Mooring Time: 08.10 hrs
Location: Gailey
Wharf
First
Impression: MADE IT!
|
Ship’s Log |
Previous |
Today |
Running Total |
|
Hours |
54 |
0.45 |
54.45 |
|
Miles |
107.5 |
1.5 |
109 |
|
Locks |
94 |
- |
94 |