Eastwood Pottery

Today's Canal : Caldon

Late yesterday we finally secured a visitor mooring for the next period back home. As we are moving to Cropredy, we are able to have a short term mooring at another marina in their group - with the important proviso If Available. We had planned to get as far as the start of the Ashby Canal (on the basis of distance to get there and proximity to public transport fort he car shuffles) but after some complicated communications we were told that they do not have room for the dates we want but that we could stay at Brinklow. It may well mean an extra taxi but we opted to take this. However, when e came to plan out the remaining schedule we realised that it is just a bit further than we had thought, compared with the Ashby, but nevertheless still doable and as good as any other option we know about.

The result is that, whilst we do not have to rush, nor can we hang about, starting late or stopping early at will! The forecast for today is that rain is expected for the middle part so we set off promptly with, at that stage, some sunny spells and a warner breeze than yesterday.

About half way to the Stockton Brook locks we again passed the entrance to the old wharf that is now home to Stoke-on-Trent Boat Club.

It only took us 45 minutes to reach the locks and we were delighted to meet another boat coming towards us just before the top lock. This should mean that they will all be set for us, unlike when we came up. In fact, despite only a few minutes elapsing between the other boat leaving and our arrival, enough water had leaked out to mean that a paddle had to be raised before the top gate could be opened. But all the others remained ready for us.

Just a nice picture!

The rain held off until Lock 7 when light drizzle arrived, but rarely enough to impeded our progress but waterproofs had to be donned. We also met a single hander coming up at this lock.

And so to the bottom lock - five locks in 52 minutes. But they were all set for us.

The first lift bridge was again left open so it seems that this is probably the default position now. The second mechanised one has a restricted view until just before we arrived. Almost at the last moment we saw that a boat had just come through and then the shore crew waved us through. (Most bridge and lock systems have a captive key arrangement which means that you cannot take your key out until the bridge or lock is fully closed)

Leaving the single Engine Lock it was still only slightly wet but before very long real rain arrived. Christine retreated inside whilst Mike gradually soaked up the downpour! As a result, using the camera was not an option until after we moored at Eastwood Pottery - or more importantly, the very proximate Lidl store. We moored, changed and then had lunch!

The rain had all but gone by the time we were ready to make a raid on the supermarket. The closeness was especially important this time as we had quite a load to carry back to the boat - in the end we did it in two trips!

Yesterday one of our smoke detectors went into battery low mode with a beep that cannot be ignored. We do not carry a spare - after all, the sealed battery is supposed to last 10 years and this is only five since it was last replaced. Mike hatched a plan to walk, when the weather dried up, to a nearby-ish Screwfix to Click and Collect a replacement. Alas, when he came to place the order he found that it is on Next Day collect which, given our schedule and it not saying when it would be ready, was not useful. Looks also as if this is true of such items at most of their centres so the next plan is to order ahead for collection at Rugeley when we are more certain about timing. We think that they keep orders for a few days - just that you cannot collect earlier!

7.0 Miles -  6 Locks