TNC On Tour 2003 23 More Caldon (XP)
Neil Arlidge
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Neil Arlidge -Monday 4th August 2003
It was going to be a short day, so late start from Cheddleton at 08:50.
Rather hot and humid all day. We had of course winded at the end of the last
day, so it was retrace our steps up Hazelhurst Locks, leek bound. This time
Neil half filled the chamber of the bottom lock with the working side pound.
This was locked up with a rather greasy chain and hand cuff lock. The rather
sharp 360 degree turn was negotiated and the excellent photo opportunity
looking down on the Hazelhurst Locks was take advantage of. The trace of the
old staircase locks wash walls could be seen in the garden of the top
cottage, before the 90 degree turn over the Hazelhurst Aqueduct.
As ever a very pretty trip up to the Leek Tunnel as the canal hangs on the
valley side. Beyond the tunnel the valley opens out, good views up to the
water tower of the old hospital.......this would appear to be being worked
on............turning into housing??? As ever we ignored the last winding
point signs in the wide and trundled up to where the Rudyard feeder meets
the tiny stub leading up to the infilled aqueduct. Hear we did managed to
wind the 50ft Beatty. After much silt stirring, we reversed Earnest against
the aqueduct stub and let the feeder flow take the bow
round...............just!
Once back on the piled visitor moorings (11:15) opposite the wide a shopping
expedition went to the old railway station site - now a Safeway. The rather
sad route into town was taken via the industrial estate built on the old
basin. Rather extended stay for TNC, for once we were not in a hurry, so
lunch was taken NOT on the move! Shoved off at 13:35 and took an hour to get
to Hazelhurst Junction. Back down to Consall Forge, arriving at 17:30. We
moored up just on the outside of the final bend. This we knew from last year
was deep and in the shade to escape the sun and let the boat cool down. We
finally met up with Bob Wood and Rosemary on NB Silkwood, who were moored up
on the end of the Visitor Moorings. After a lot of chat, then showers all
round we made it up to the Black Lion at around 19:00. As was now the norm,
rather exocentric service from the couple that run the pub, helped by an old
granddad type bod who served the food. Only Marston's Pedigree on, but on
form. Food yet again up to last years good puby standard, the smoked salmon
and scrambled egg salad seemed the best value dish on offer...rather large
portions as well. Once back on the boat it was a magical evening and night,
with buzzards mewing overhead.
Tuesday 5th August 2003
Had to wait a while for water point to clear. The Commode D' Or got rather
peed off with yet another wayward hose snap on connector that would NOT stay
on the pistol grip water thingy, so smashed off the end in disgust and
stuffed the hose directly on, securing with a jubilee clip. While the hose
was being dragged through the saloon, to get to the Hob, to heat up the end,
SCSI the parrot went bananas, throwing herself around the
cage............we can only assume she has some genetic imprinting
concerning yellow snakes!
All the Froghall Tunnel preparation work was now done, cratch off, two
dustbins of water in front well deck, plastic gutter handrail protectors
fitted and the roof equipment stored inside and the racks folded down. Off
we
finally set (12:00), Froghall Tunnel bound. Earnest steered like a pig,
seeing as we were low on diesel and the bow now well down. Bob led in
Silkwood and at the Tunnel approach moored up (14:00). Earnest just kept on,
Neil being on a "roll" having lined up Earnest perfectly for the tunnel,
without having to resort to stopping, seeing as the mouth is at an angle to
the line of the canal. Straight through on tickover with out touching the
handrails or the sides. As ever the lowest bit was about 20ft in. We stopped
at the other end - we had to seeing as we did not make the sharp turn, but
were more worried about making a clean exit. Bob and Rosemary were summoned
for the rest of the "test" run. Straight through the final bridge, past the
winding point and just managed to get past the hydraulic powered butty trip
boat, that was rather sticking out of its dock. Right to the end of the arm,
planting Earnest into the silt. Rather clean reverse back, then winding in
the junction with the remains of the Uttoxeter Canal top lock. Passage back
through the tunnel was more tricky as the line up angle was sharper, but
still done without any scrapes.
Earnest was winded in the "new" 65ft!!! winding point, created when the
section of the canal before the tunnel was troughified. The "V" was created
using wire boxes full of rocks, of course someone had removed the stones
from the end most gabions. With Earnest firmly planted in the "V" we
measured the distance behind and came up with a 68ft 3ins max length.
Captain Beeky - Andrew Goodland appeared a couple of minutes after David
Kitchin and partner (sorry David we could not remember her name!) Next to
appear was the unexpected John
Watson. Brian Dominic could not get to us until 20:00, so we decided to all
decant up to the village of Foxt and grab a meal in the Fox and Goose pub /
restaurant. Rather good venue, quite up market. Guzzling Goose ended up the
beer of choice. Of course we over shot the 20:00 deadline, so non-dining
John W went back down to Froghall, to direct Brian D up for a pint.
Eventually around 21:30 ish we all assembled back down at Froghall and did
the repeat trip though the tunnel. People on the front were delighted by the
bats that were trying to come back to roost, flying right up to them. So
fairly quick goodbyes all round when we returned back. Captain Beeky was to
stay overnight then leave early, us not being far behind leaving, bound for
a quick traverse of the Caldon and back down the Trent and Mersey, to Stone.
In case people are interested in doing the Froghall Tunnel, Earnest easily
did it with the trim as follows: 5ft 1ins across the handrails and 5ft 4ins
from front most edge of cabin side to water level.
Wednesday 6th August 2003
Bit of a hack day really, early start at 06:10 meant we missed ALL the out
bound Caldon traffic, exiting at Eturia at 13:30.Good run with no problems,
BLOODY hot day. Near Stoke we passed a VERY badly stemmed up Challenger
boat, who seemed to be interested in catching up with us at the electric
swing bridge, then getting past us........no hope, the WWW legged it up to
the next bridge!
Going down the Stoke Flight we got behind a rather slow Black Prince boat,
but this soon went up the bank a few bridges onwards and we got past it on
this deep and straight section of the Trent and Mersey. We eventually moored
up, in the shade, above Star Lock in Stone, just as Captain Beeky appeared
in the car park opposite (18:15) OK meal in the Dolce Vita Italian, in the
old lock cottage opposite the Star Inn. Rather blowy night, but still warm,
so we managed an outside table until we finished our meal in the dark. This
venue was somewhat pricey, for food that did seem to have mainly arrived "in
a truck"..........hardly up to "La Rosetta" standard in
Brentford............
Thursday 7th August 2003
Captain Beeky did his obligatory bit of TNC On Tour crewing
.............working Star Lock for the then solo Neil at 05:50 that morning.
We were trying to catch up with Roger and Margaret Millin, who were taking
Albion down the Staffs and Worcs. Bratch was the rather optimistic stop for
that night. Good run down the rest of the Trent and Mersey to Great Haywood
Junction (09:35), but picked up some light traffic after this. Most of the
traffic on the Staffs and Worcs, seemed to be coming up, so many locks were
straight in. Stopped at good old Teddesley for diesel - 29.5p/L. 18:30 saw
us pass Autherley Junction, then 18:50 pass Aldersley Junction. Although
Wombourne looked welcoming, we ploughed on, grinding to a halt - WWW's Spag
Bol ready - on the quiet offside Visitor Moorings above Dimmingsdale Lock.
We had heard the Bratch had been bedlam the day before, due to a 24 hour
emergency stoppage, hopefully this will be smoothly operating tomorrow.
NB Earnest
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