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In 1977 we hired our first narrowboat from Anglo Welsh at Market Harborough.From that moment our destiny was set. In 2006 we finally purchased our own brand new 57' narrowboat which we named 'Free Spirit'. Our aim is to travel the length and breadth of all the navigable rivers and canals of the UK. This will be our story as it unfolds.

Saturday 12 February 2011

Staircase locks Caldon Canal


After spending a week in Stone we left on a warm sunny day and headed for the Caldon canal. We made the very sharp right hand turn onto the canal and after using the facilities and putting up with the smell wafting across the boat from the loos, moored up just before Bedford staircase locks. I was woken at dawn by wonderful bird song. No idea what bird it was but I can only say the song sounded as if we were in a tropical forest. As much as I loved hearing it after 20 minutes I could have wished it further. I needed my sleep time!!
We got underway about 10 am and after going up the staircase locks we suddenly realised the tiller was bouncing all over the place. So we stopped and Ian went down the weed hatch and fished out the inevitable plastic bags. On we went again only to stop again after 15 minutes. You guessed it, another plastic bag. Well for the 4 miles it took to get away from the built up areas we had to stop several times more. I can honestly say the first part of the Caldon canal is the filthiest canal I have ever been on. There was even a notice at the facilities block to say the canal cleanup had taken place at the end of January! If that was the case where has all the rubbish come from!!!!

Posted by PicasaAs the depth of the top lock was greater then the bottom lock, a by wash built into the lock wall took the excess water away thereby allowing the water to even out and the gates be opened. The only problem with that is the flow caused the boat to be hard up against the side and I had to put quite a bit of power on just to move the boat.

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