Crickheath

Today's Canal : Montgomery

The weather took a complete change today and we awoke to brilliant sunny conditions. Some pictures to capture the moment. Time for lighter clothes! 

We set off in good time, planning to make the end of the canal by lunch time and then in the afternoon to come some of the way back to where we began the day.

We started under two large bridges, the first is the old A5 and the second carries the new by pass.

Despite having to cruise at no more then 2 mph, sometimes even less, in no time at all we were at the top of the three lock Aston flight. No idea why there is a car parked precariously lock side!

The first two locks were full as a boat had very recently come up but the third needed a little filling before we could enter. Even so, we were through all three locks within half an hour.

The next section was a very gentle cruise - we met only one boat in this time - but very relaxing. Eventually we arrived at Crofts Mill Lift Bridge - a standard 57 turns up and 29 down.

In the past we have been tempted to leave the bridge open as we had to turn just ahead at Gronwen Wharf and come back again, no mooring the other side of the bridge (in fact we always closed it but that was hard work) But the next mile and a quarter to Crickheath was opened last year and so we were able to cruise a new-to-us section of canal for the first time.

Morton Farm Lift Lift Bridge is thankfully normally left open so we sailed through! (Well, we would have if we had had any and a mast to carry them!)

In the distance we spotted a large industrial building, quite out of character from its surroundings.

The building then disappeared from view, hidden by dense trees and vegetation, with but one glimpse through a gap.

The site has two businesses - the large building is an animal feed processing plant, powered in part by a large solar farm next door. Also here is the UK's largest independent supplier of pullets to farms large and small - their web site says that they have fulfilled order between 6 and 200,000!

Just ahead another, quite separate, solar farm is just starting constriction on what, we have been told is low grade marshy ground, so not taking away good agricultural land. Or so they say.

And then we arrived at Crickheath where, for now, the navigation comes to an abrupt and unceremonious end, with a temporary dam underneath the bridge.

When we had moored we discovered that, unlike Queens Head, there was an excellent mobile signal. It did not take to change plans so that we would stay here for lunch, walk down the next section under restoration and then stay the night. We have plenty of time - at least in theory - to get back to Frankton tomorrow, in time for our booking up the locks the following morning.

The next phase of restoration, which started in the spring of this year, is making good progress with effort focussed on monthly weekend working parties and intermediate contributions from other volunteers.

Phase 1a is from Crickheath to a farm crossing beyond what was once Crickheath Wharf. A tramway once ran from a quarry at Lynclyst to bring limestone to be loaded on to boats for distribution is the area. We understand that one part of the canal was funded by the landowners on the basis that their return was from better crops rather than a shareholder dividend. The wharf wall is being carefully restored using as much of the old stone as possible. Only a few coping stones to go. Most of this phase will not need to be lines, only a few metres at the far end.

Phase 1b follows after a farm crossing. We have been told that there was no bridge here originally but when the canal closed the farmer filled in and has been driving his tractors across ever since, this gaining access rights. As yet a plan for a replacement  bridge is still to be finalised but agreement is close. It is hoped that construction will commence next year. 

From here to Schoolhouse Bridge the canal will new lining and most of that work is now complete. It is, in part, a pilot project for the technique to be used in later sections. In particular, the two rows of hollow blocks on the top of the offside bank are an innovation to encourage the growth of vegetation. Apart from that, it looks very similar to what we have seen being constructed on the Wendover arm.

Schoolhouse Bridge was long seen as a major hurdle, the last highway project in Shropshire (there are some more once the canal crosses into Wales) The original bridge here (presumably one of the old style humped back bridges) was removed and a level crossing constructed during the time the canal was closed. Although volunteers have completed some substantial engineering works on this restoration, this build was seen as a step too far and take too long and so professional contractors have been used to construct it. The bridge has had to be built to modern highway requirements not just as a farm accommodation bridge (such as  back at the farm crossing) The bridge was officially opened to traffic just last month.

Volunteers were at work, moving some of the remaining spoil heaps into their final places - much is going back to the local farmer who agreed to part of his land to be used as a temporary bypass for traffic whilst the new bridge was built. This piece of land will be used in the short term to signore blocks for the new lining.

We had a long chat to a chap we think was overseeing the volunteers and also a trustee on one or more of the charities involved and we learnt a lot about the work being undertaken.

Phase 2 is from here to the next winding hole, a couple of bridges further on. Much preparation has already been done but nature keeps intruding and light vegetation blocks the view. A good surface to the towpath has been installed about half way but for the moment all work on Phase 2 has come to a halt because a badger sett has been discovered. Investigations are in hand and agreements being sought to relocate the badger to a less intrusive new home. The latest progress can be seen here.

We then walked back to the boat - Christine need time to prepare for a Zoom meeting on Friday, sending in her contributions by email just in case we cannot fond a mobile signal at the right time - we suspect it may be problematic, based on experience on the way here. But at this point, it is great! Alas, by the time we had had our evening meal (cottage pie) and this blog written we lacked energy to work out what to watch . . .

4.2 Miles - 3 Locks