Water
(Regular readers - Sunday’s blog, Frog march from Froghall is available below this one)
Monday 27th August: Cheddleton (Railway Station) to Milton: 6.5 miles, 11 locks
Water: not enough of it three minutes into this morning’s cruise. Two hefty underwater obstructions brought Cleddau to an ignominious and unscheduled halt...
Water: very slow to fill up the Cheddleton upper lock - the paddle culvert has a partial blockage, but the boater walking his dog nearby was a likeable chap, a one-time professional photographer who recommends the Leek Arm in May for the sight and smell of bluebells and Liverpool for its museums and a memorable Chinese restaurant...
Water: from above, first heavy shower on the stretch between Cheddleton and the Hollybush Inn...
Water: not enough space in it at the bottom of the three Hazelhurst locks; a boat on a permanent mooring, a boat exiting the lock - and Cleddau. She shuffled backwards, it was a squash! Shower stopped: little girls darted across the top lock gate at Hazelhurst from the lock house to play on the swings...
Water: plenty of it! Heavy rain at Park Lane services area, near Endon, really good water pressure when refilling the water tank and three taps!
Water: serious rain. The Captain clambered into waterproof trousers, then waded into Endon for a little bit of shopping...
Water: less from above, plenty at Stockton Brook locks. No anglers at all on this trip, anywhere... But the two ceramic walls showing Staffordshire industries both referred to the Spitfire aircraft. Why? Here’s the answer: R. J. Mitchell, the Spitfire designer was a Staffordshire man.
Water: odd showers, intense for a minute or two, fading away. Old waterworks, an elegant building despite its dilapidation, beside Stockton Bottom Lock...
Water: racing at speed out of the locks as the boat goes down. Waterspouts, twice, at Hazelhurst and at Engine lock...
Water: like a tide receding it leaves revelations – a star, a mason’s mark, in a Stockton Brook lock...
Water: essential medium for boats; 16 gallons used today in two laundry loads.
By 4pm moored up for the night before the rain returned in heavy persistent mode.
Tomorrow, back to the Trent and Mersey Canal, heading north.
