MopCop and scones

So here are the Lewis's looking bright and breezy then next day.   They had only just got back from walking Fletcher goodness knows how far when David and I said we were going for a wander (That is to say the scenic route to the pub) and they piped up oh we'll come!  So they did.

       I really should have taken a shot of Fletcher but he was never still for long.  

We hardly got lost at all.

I will never understand why oh why people do this.

The countryside around here is gorgeous.  I could retire to here.

Prettiest house of the day.

Prettiest flower of the day.

We had a rendezvous with the missing team members at The Red Bull pub, a few spits of rain the the sun came out and it was boiling.

We watched three sets of parents with a fair number of children playing all over the pub gardens and the barriers to the lock, running over the bridge and not once did a parent call the children away.  

I almost felt I should intervene but David stopped me.  

When the whole group had departed, they were three bottles of wine and empty pint glasses.  

Now call me old fashioned but had there have been a terrible accident, I can't help feeling CART would have had to answer for it.

Sunset over Church Lawton.

Everso everso early the next morning we snuck away.  The photo below is so you can see just how shiny NB Caxton is.  I'd like to tell you that they were all still in bed but they were all up and walking the dogs.  

It was all a bit of a gamble as David had this very morning popped the car to Rode Heath, he'd spied that there were hire boats there who would undoubtedly be moving on.

A couple of years ago when we had arrived in Rode Heath from Church Lawton but not one space for us so we'd had to go on down to Wheelock which was some 20 locks, although David had swapped out with me locking I was well and truly bushed.  Would we get in?

Absolutely gleaming, Hogarth too in in front.

I think this tree has kicked this wall down.

Just lovely, this whole stretch is.

So this is a disused lock but the bridge is in better condition than some of the used lock bridges.  I minute I win the Euro Lottery I'll pay to have these re-instated.

Did you see that blue sky...?

Fields of maize coming up to feed all the dairy cows nearby.

This morning is one of those that is hard to beat and not to be forgotten.

Mow Cop on the horizon

Mow Cop again but from many locks later.

Hard to see with the sun but a pair of locks here, I'd walked ahead to set the next one.

 On we trundled to Rode Heath and some empty moorings close to the pub with rather splendid views over a valley.

Twenty minutes afterwards came Caxton and then twenty minutes after that Lesley and Joe.

So that was our cruising done for the day, it was 9am but we were where we wanted to be, two more boats left after we arrived!

Anyone fancy a wee drive up to Mow Cop or Mop Cop as it's called in my house?

The approach to the village is pretty then as the road goes up and up the surroundings become a bit bleaker,  there are such a variety of houses, some old wee miners and quarrymen's  cottages and today some big flashy ones.  

But the question remains who wants to live at the top of this hill completely exposed to all weathers especially the wind?  The answer is seeming loads of folk, it's a big sprawling village. Yes there's a view over Staffordshire, Cheshire, Snowdonia, Shropshire and Manchester but how many days a year can you see it?  

Well it's a place I don't want to retire to.  

This is a folly on the top built in 1754, it hasn't fallen, it was built like that. 

As we stood up there with Amanda a shower came through and we were semi sheltered, but it was a howling gale at the top.

On the way back I dropped David off at Rode Heath again and us girls took a flit to Sandbach and its supermarkets.

There I took a phone call from Carol who we were hoping to meet further along the way, she couldn't make that so her and George jumped in the car and whizzed over to see us all.

Amanda whipped up some scones to have with jam and cream but butter and jam had to do today, I made a porridge cake, "A what?" I hear you say well yes porridge cake made without sugar or butter so almost calorie free.... almost.

George and Carol are great buddies.

Way back at the dawn of time 2019 actually we four changed boats.  I'll never forget when the subject came up over tea onboard their fabulous wide beam Still Rockin' when George turned to me and said "You two like swapping don't you?" when I picked my jaw up off the floor, they meant us to have their wide beam on the Thames and they had our NB WaL on the canals.

You can read all about that starting   HERE  

So then L to R  Lisa, Joe, George, David Lewis, David husband, Amanda (scone maker extraordinaire) Lesley and Carol

 

It took a long while to catch up on all the news but we did.  Can't wait to see you both again.

Orange water, he dropped it and old farmers.

So then, the Harecastle Tunnel.  

Yesterday ago the nice lady I had chatted to at Barlaston lock had told me that nowadays you have to book to go through the tunnel with 48 hours notice, they hadn't been aware either.  But they had called up and spoken to a nice lady called Charlotte, who had explained that without any bookings they men are deployed to other work.  

I called up immediately to make a booking for the following day, to be told by another person, that there was only 1pm and 3pm left,  can we just roll up in the morning and go through asked I?  There is only 1pm and 3pm available said she... Marvellously helpful as we all wanted to go through early.

Nothing more to say to that person, I think she is working from home in a spare bedroom, sometimes I wonder at staff training at CART, we have in the past asked about a problem in Stoke and the CART employee asked David where Stoke was!

Anyway after a team meeting over supper last night we all agreed to rendezvous at the tunnel entrance first thing to hope and ensure that we could all go though.

We were first away for a change although to be fair Amanda and Lesley had already walked the three doggies there and back and I think around the lake.  

We watered up, I'd done a wash for Lesley of all her soggy clothes, then I put a wash on for ourselves.  The very nice CART man on duty readily agreed that we could go though last of about 6 or 7 boats so that we could stay on the waterpoint until the last minute.

Off went all the boats having had their safety talk, light check and sounding of their horns.  We followed on well behind and cancelled the booking!!

Since the accident ...

HERE

in the tunnel back in 2014, a year after we made our first passage though, David appeases me by wearing his cycling helmet in the tunnel, he forgot this time so I fitted it on in the dark holding a torch in my mouth!

I was faffing inside with the washing and nearly missed the off.

All the other boats long disappeared inside.

Its a teeny bit unnerving when the CART man wallops the door shut behind you, its takes a few minutes for your eyes to adjust to the black and cold.

The light in front looks like it could be the exit but I think I took this just after going in.

It was about 45 minutes to get though then out into the orange waters of Kidsgrove.  Orange from the iron ore in the water.

Straight past the junction for the Macclesfield canal.  Two boats did turn here, we didn't as there was a breach earlier in the year which we hope will be repaired by August.... we hope.

I take a photo each time we come though here, this little place is still standing but now the sign on the first floor is illegible.

HERE  I can't find out much online but it was built in the 1850's and was the entrance to the Kidsgrove Gas Light Company works estate.  I hope it doesn't fall down.

At the first lock was a volunteer.  He lived locally and told me that this is his home patch, he grew up here and as a child these canals were full of rubbish.  He was delighted to be here and working the locks.

We past the other two team members who's crew had gone food shopping close to here.  We just popped onto the water point at Red Bull to top up after the laundry and away we went again.

Now Reader I just want to point out to you that the next batch of locks we met two single handers, both jolly, both chatty, both sharing information and I helped both of them.

At the very last lock we were to do today, there was a CART workboat being worked up.

  

I was HORRIFIED that the crew dropped two paddles.  I did say it was shocking to him but I think he thought I was joking.  So I told another crew member if this was standard CART practice and he said no.

We moored up at Church Lawton.  A fav spot with dairy cows on the nearby farm, a sunny west facing aspect.

Red Bull Yard 

A few youngsters I could see.  I think the herd are indoors.

Lovely sunny afternoon.

Maize coming up, great soil here.

Two old farmers chewing the fat

Chicken and bean leftovers for supper.  I'm loving these meals, cooking for four and then not needing to cook the next night.

The very impressive Commando

 We set off the next day.  Amanda and David wanted to visit the Wedgewood factory along the way here so we went off second to Lesley and Joe who unbelievably wake up earlier than my David, I think the wee doggies have something to do with that.

So as I was getting my shoes on, locating my phone, a boat went passed us.  David moaned about missing the locks but it made no difference as they all needed turning anyway.

The boat that passed us was in the lock when I got there.  a family buzzing about opening gates and off he went without them, oh no, a single hander.

Well I emptied the lock, in came WaL and another boat arrived after him and the lady crew member came up to help.  She was very nice and we chatted,  I told her that the boat in front was a single hander, I didn't mind helping a bit but I am not doing all his locks for him, Reader this applies to all single handers.

We closed the gate together after WaL left and I walked on.

It was a good long walk to the second lock of the day, when I got within sight of the lock sadly there was the single hander's boat still moored up on the lock landing, the back doors were closed and I thought he must be inside having a coffee.  I thought we could go around him, but as we got closer still, the lock gates opened,  a boat was coming out and down came the single hander talking to the crew of the exiting boat.

He took his boat into the lock and I walked up the slope and closed the two bottom gates for him as he climbed up the ladder.

I walked to the top of the lock, he had opened his paddle, he said to me "You can open that one"  I did so, but no good morning, no please, no thank you....

He asked me if we were going far today and I said yes.  Kinda hoping he'd say we could go past him....  no chance.

Well Reader then he sat on the edge of the gate with his back to me.   I considered him the rudest single hander that I have ever met.  

The husband of the boat following boat arrived too and said giggling to me that "You can cut the atmosphere here with a knife!  He continued, I haven't experienced this since I went to mediation prior to my divorce from my first wife.

We were both ignored but we shut the gate as he exited the lock, the man turned to me and with an almost imperceptible nod of his head, I said in voice that I hoped he could hear to the other crew, I suppose that half nod is by way of a thank you!

I vowed then that I was not going to help him again one jot.

Unreasonable...?  I don't think so.

WaL on the long run up to the locks in south Stoke, some parts here are nice!  I even saw a Kingfisher.

Several years ago I was concerned about this retaining wall.

This bit among others.  But it still stands.

CART are bound to keep this wee section of bricked towpath, probably at huge expense without enough income, but why why oh why are these historic bottle kilns allowed to fall into disrepair? 

Greenery growing out in all directions.

I love this lock, the canal, the ramshackle bridge and the modern, but unseen today a modern train going over.  I waited down below until I heard the rude man's engine leaving then went up and emptied it.

Now at this lock below, a while ago, the victorian building in front,  if I remember correctly had a sold sign on it or acquired for clients sign.  I was looking forward to seeing what had been created, but no joy.

This is where they, CART I mean to say have created a living hedge. Full of bugs eating the rotting wood.

Yes there are a few brambles in it but it will be full of insects too.

We have one at home but David isn't very keen on what he calls a rubbish heap.

Here's the unloved building.

 

So on we went and I was glad to see the rude man had moored up at the mill here, on a mooring that said "no mooring".

We did the last lock and cruised on towards Westport Lake.  Passing Lesley and Joe at the visitor moorings where they'd stopped for lunch.  What I haven't mentioned was that all morning the wind was getting up, when we arrived at Westport Lake it was fairly busy and we went to the end leaving no Git Gaps and up to another boats button.  By now I had the middle rope and was hanging onto it for dear life with the wind behind me blowing WaL out again...  

I yelled into the boat in front where I could see a man and asked him to help me!

He ran out out and grabbed a rope while David secured the stern and finally got the bow in, there are mooring rings here which are inevitably hopeless for WaL as they are never in the correct place for our length of boat.  Anyway with grateful thanks the man, who promptly departed for the tunnel for the following day.

About ten minutes later Lesley and Joe hoved into view.  We of course went out to help, Lesley was on the side with the middle rope intending to throw it at David on the shore and I  had reached for the bow rope, I bent down to pass it through the ring stood up and Lesley was hanging off the hand rail!

It all happened so quickly, I dropped my rope and shot along the rail on the gunwales to help her, by now she was hanging on commando style to the rope alone (I was quite impressed)  with David holding the rope up to keep her out of the drink .  

I realised that I could not lift her from when I was, Joe also had approached from the stern and thought the same so Joe brought the boat in closer to the bank and Lesley maneuvered herself along the bank, David kept the boat off of her, another man came running from along the moorings to help but she walked in the mud holding onto the bank to WaL right in front.  

She pulled herself up and climbed up to a standing position on the rudder first and hey presto, was out.

If that sounds easy, I dare you to try it! 

She went in immediately to shower, and we three roped up Hogarth with a spaghetti of ropes as she too is the wrong size for these rings.

Well I'd have liked to have had action shots but no chance in that small gale.

I went off and prepped supper and later all the team piled onto WaL for cocktails and supper, which was a chicken tomato and bean one dish with only 500 calories a head.  Over drinks I retold the singer hander story to them and David Lewis had waited alongside the moored man at the mill, he'd chatted and said he was a nice man.

I think he meant a nice misogynist.

Bitter tears of regret.

Well, it did stop raining but kind of in the way that made you think it could start again at any minute.

That kind woman Amanda lent me some waterproof booties and this pretty coat, my old wreck is still damp in the bathroom. 

David and I looked out to see that the Lewis's on NB Caxton, which was moored in front of us bar one other boat had already departed.  I blame that sweet dog they are looking after as he wants a nice early walk, so they may as well take the boat too.

After a small amount of faffing we too set off.  The Stone locks to do today and on up to Barlaston.

The water levels had risen a bit overnight, that was better for the Club boats who were all going down Aston lock and thus doing so would make this pound lower again.

We had a message from Lesley who had moored four locks up the eight where the two vintage boats were moored, unsurprisingly we wanted to get in front of them...

Amanda's pretty coat I started out in.

Still wet, David has his hood up.

Brobat, coming clean around the bend.

So hard to photograph turnover bridges, they should be considered works of art.

Coming into the 7th lock, absolutely no one about. 

This is a crime against humanity.

Total joy.

More joy.

So this is what every captain should do, close the gates going uphill himself, David is nicely trained while I prep the next lock.

Last lock.  A debate ensued with myself here, the rain had stopped and it had warmed up.  I took off the coat, I was walking the rest of the way to Barlaston.  At the first bridge I took off my fleece too.

Pretty row of old workers cottages here.

Has this hobby gone a bit far?

We arrived at Barlaston without incident, saw the other two boats and we went a bit past them to secure a sunny spot for the jolly old solar panels.

The car was here already here.  I had suggested a few days ago a little jaunt for those interested finally for me to visit the Moorcroft factory   HERE  Every time we have passed through Stoke I have wanted to visit this factory and every time we have been here it's either been a Bank Holiday or the entire factory is on holiday.  Today was neither.   I have a few choice pieces of Moorcroft at home and was keen to add another.  

I opened up the website to see that a month ago "With profound sadness" the company had ceased trading.

HERE

Reader I could have cried.

So the jaunt went ahead but to the Emma Bridgewater factory.  Now don't get me wrong, Emma Bridgewater's china is massively in demand, very successful, but is stamped on designs are without skill of the individual, as compared with the Moorcroft china that in today's world have no buyers.  I could weep. 

I did however buy my mum a mug for the very inflated price of £20 that she will love.

HERE .

Well Amanda and I enjoyed ourselves and on return found all the team crammed into Hogarth's well deck.

We crammed in too. 

Lef to to right, Lisa and Joe.

Rest of the team, Lesley, David (mine), Amanda and David (Hers).

We all went to the Plume of Feathers that evening, sad to say that although we have enjoyed several meals here, the recent change of management shows in the basics.  It wasn't terrible, but it wasn't great.

I had Katsu chicken, with salad and sweet potato fries.  

Wallop goes the diet.


 

Oh no, not again!

The next day's weather was rather nice, I did my 10,000 steps by walking back down the canal, onto the road towards the village of Salt, I walked for 5K steps then turned around and walked back to the boat.  When I got back I did some knitting, an unfinished project for the grand baby in New Zealand.  Later we toddled along to Hogarth for Barbie-Queued sausages and halloumi, the three ladies all contributed salads.  It was a rainy afternoon and brave Joe was outside cooking.  Such a hero.

We had been trying to learn the card game of Cribbage when we were just the two boats and four of us.  But now David and I taught them a new game called Sh*thead!  

(Apologies for the language)  

Its a game for any amount of players.

Much laughter followed.  All in all a lovely restful day.

The next morning we staggered our departures, Amanda and David were first away.  We are heading northwards to Stone, but there limited moorings below the Star Inn lock and we hoped to all get in. 

This is WaL approaching Sandon lock

Poxy Canadian geese, in the past we have seen dozens and dozens in the fields around Weston, thank goodness many less this time.  

One of my favourites and my first Foxglove of the year.  I have tried many times over the years to harvest the seeds of my garden plants and spread them far and wide for the following year but I think David hoes them away.

Cows in buttercups.

I'd guess at a Belgium Blue, but Mr Lewis will correct me.

I got off the boat to walk on the tow path after Aston lock as the tow path is hard there with light grit.  I am also blessed with Plantar Fasciitis in one foot, so walking on terra firma is more comfortable, you may not see here but the forecast rain arrived early. 

It was shortly after here that I discovered I need a new rain coat, this one is 14 years old and the hood is too short and all the seams leak.

This smelt divine.

So as we approached Aston lock, we had messages and then a phone call from Amanda, whose boat was in front to say that two vintage boats were ahead of them, but one had gone aground just before the first bridge completely blocking the canal.  

I think it was due to low water plus the number of boats moving that day.   David Lewis who was helming Caxton, tried in vain to tow him backwards but it wouldn't budge.  

Amanda who was on the towpath helped the helm of the second vintage boat, a fuel boat to pull it free with the boats centre line, this was all unseen to me as we were still below the lock, by now there were three or four boats waiting to go into Stone and boats the otherside waiting to leave Stone.

After some considerable time the fuel boat was at the side and the vintage boat was also at the side but sticking out into the canal, so boats could only edge past taking care themselves not to go aground on the offside, one passing boat did and a further delay ensued, but the Lewis's had escaped.

Well, I guess it was half and hour or forty minutes later when we could ascend the lock.  I walked on only to find that the bloody vintage boat after this rush of boats had passed him, he had decided to have another go at moving, of course the pound was even lower now for these two deep draught boats because of the boats that had gone passed and used the lock.  

Added to the mix were a flotilla of clubs boats that were coming up from Tixel Wide and intending to turn around and retrace their steps the next morning.  I did ask myself with the knowledge of the low water in front of them why not simply turn prior to the lock, but no they all just kept coming and the pound got lower.

I went forward to ask if I could help pull, yes was the answer from the fuel boat helm, so I took the bow rope and joined in the pulling backwards.  It moved a bit, but only a bit.  

More fruitless attempts.

David was hovering amongst boats on private moorings drifting without much space to go anywhere.

Then as the rain teamed down on the proceedings, the vintage boat owner went and fetched a winch which he inserted into the ground and attached his stern rope to.  This rope had two large knots holding the pieces together..... When I saw the state of it I moved well well out of range as I predicted it breaking and the winch flying through the air.

I didn't have long to wait.

He tried again then with three large knots.....

Finally with the fuel boat pulling and two of us on ropes it did move back to the side where it had been maybe an hour before.

I walked on, no thanks for my efforts but hey ho.  I told the oncoming boats to wait for three boats to come though the bridge as if those (including WaL) didn't vacate they wouldn't have anywhere to go.

Well by now most people were soaked to the skin, I walked ahead as no chance of getting back on WaL as the water was low.  

I marched on to the visitor moorings and saw that there was a space newly available and within a short while David brought WaL onto it. 

David Lewis helped pull us in, hardly seemed worth putting the tonneau cover on as the deck was completely soaked already but he did.

Sadly no spaces for Joe and Lesley on Hogarth so after they watered up they carried on up another four locks to find a space.

Well the drama didn't end there as about three hours later who should appear but the two vintage boats again.  The fuel boat helm was heard to say she had pushed the other boat through every bridge hole (About 4 or 5 bridges) they had arrived together at Star Lock and the very same thing, got stuck and were there for a good 90 minutes. 

We didn't see the end of it here as when the rain stopped and the four of us had had hot showers and draped the wet clothing, shoes and coats all over the bathroom,  we went to the Joules Pub. 

Having our second drink,  they went passed the pub window, 

it was over four hours since David Lewis had offered help.  

I too had offered WaL too to tow him back, but rejected.  They would have been better off waiting a night for the water levels to return to normal, but that's folk for you.

Amanda had a ringside seat watching the whole thing at Star lock.   If you can't make it out the vintage boat in the middle, he in turn had pushed a hire boat onto the mud to the right and the fuel boat was on the left.  No other photos due to the rain.

When I took off my soaked trousers, I gently shook them out and the turn ups were full of grit from the towpath which went all over the floor, marvellous.

Supper was leftover salmon pasta.