Started the morning gently as Anna due with her big sister Ruth at 11am. Soon started kicking myself for not saying half ten, because she's prone to having disasters and therefore arriving late. Today was no exception as she forgot her phone with the directions on! Only 30 minutes late in the end. Here I need to apologise as so much yakking went on I forgot to take photos... As they arrived, yoo-hooing across the water, a boat was about to go into the double lock, so I hailed them, to ask if they would hold for a moment while I joined them (relax, I had done my engine checks at 11am in the expectation of moving). They obliged so I slipped in with them while Anna navigated her way, from the housing estate in which they were ensnared, around to the lockside where they could more easily come aboard. It was Ruth's first time on a narrowboat, although both go yachting, so we had the Grand tour as we brought their things on board. Which included vast amounts of food, so I hardly nee...
With Stoke dropping behind, we were soon out in the greenery. Been a really good year for buttercups. Passed a couple of homages to the industrial past of the area. And a ghost of when water management was a highly valued matter. Yes, that's a former water works. The Caldon Canal is so named because it uses the eponymous river for part of its course, and has two destinations, Leek and Uttoxeter, neither of which reached by the canal these days. At the fork in the way, the Uttoxeter route immediately drops three locks, while the Leek arm travels alongside and then crosses over on an aqueduct a little further on. Here's the junction. Both ends are IWA Silver Propellor locations. The canal gets quite close to Leek, through a tunnel and a winding hole beyond. Having spun, we then reversed up the Arm for a lovely mooring spot. Leek itself is an elegant town with a surprisingly large shopping area and plenty of independent shops, plu...
I arrived at the visitor moorings at lunchtime, and here I can brag. There were two boats moored about 70' apart: I'm 57' and coming down with the flow so lots of momentum. I was going to have to do a 180° turn across the flow, kill the speed, and get into the bank without too much fuss, and without clattering anyone else, so I could get secure without the boat drifting away. I only nailed it! And a splendid view: Wet and cold all afternoon so did not indulge in any of the lovely walks thereabouts, but instead made myself a gf pizza. Dead simple, cupboard staples, stupid cheap, not buying ready made ever again. I can't believe that Saturday is my last full day on the River. The weather has been mostly pants but the morning was OK to prowl looking for rust to cover with a conversion paint. It's quite happy to be drizzled on after a while, and guess what, it probably will be. After lunch away to Northwich for rubbish and water, and then probably down to Saltersford mo...
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