The promised photos and a drip we did not want to hear in FS

 27th July

I have promised photos of the difficult conditions we encountered during the 5-day trip along the Caldon Canal. The first section left a lot to be desired but the further along and the prettier it got. It was after Stockton Brook locks that the rot set in. It was hard work from that point. I was asked by hirers today if they should proceed to Froghall. "Only if you have some experience", was my reply. With very narrow bridges obscured by the undergrowth, blind extremely tight bends and a river section that needs a lot of concentration, it would not be a relaxing cruise. They laughed and said they liked a challenge!

In 2017 the River Churnet looked completely different. What lovely riverside moorings

Look back through bridge 50. How lovely and well kept the towpath was then.

 

 And this today.

 

I could keep on making comparisons, a picture tells a thousand stories, I do hope someone from CRT  will read my blog, they will see what I mean but just to make sure, an email with photos to Richard Parry may just make him sit up and take heed!

And the lock landing is...where????

River section

The bottom three photos... there is a lock around the corner and through the bridge and would you believe this was supposed to be the lock landing!

step off through this lot????

And there is a bollard in there somewhere.

 

So now a question, what will this waterway be like in another couple of years?

We did cruise today but just back to Park Lane facilities. M&D have Ed returning tomorrow, he never completed the huge list David had made of things to do on Waka Huia. It was also the day Bevan and Madeline left to continue the journey in their motorhome. 

 At the junction of the Leek branch a boater made that turn toward the lock, a three point manoeuvre did the trick.

Making the turn

 It was a good job that we didn't have far to go. Last night I was woken by a drip! Rain had fallen from early evening and continued all night. Midnight, the rain still beat down on the cabin top but this incessant drip was what brought me out of my sleep. It was definitely coming from inside somewhere. I tried not to wake Ian, failed miserably because my shuffling down the bed and then switching the light on, was all that was needed. And I was right! To the right of the porthole nearest the engine room, and coming from underneath the gunnel, was water. Groan...it had to be the porthole leaking. Thankfully Toffee had decided that night to sleep in her basket in the lounge. She would have been one very wet doggy otherwise! Nothing to be done until morning so towels were placed where the droplets fell and we went back to bed.

We met Waka Huia still on the facility mooring. Another boat was also there which meant no room for us. I held back through the bridge hole until Waka Huia started to move and then took her place. Once the biz was done, a mooring had to be found. Waka Huia was on the 24 hour, David had walked ahead and found a mooring for us right at the very end, not ideal as it was right by a narrow section. Anyway we got in, we went to M&D for orange drizzle cake (jointly made by Marilyn and Bevan) and then said our farewells as Mad's and Bev departed for their motorhome.

Back at FS Ian started on the porthole window. It was lose hence the rain getting in through the frame. It was not just a question of silicon around the outside, that would have been too easy. No he also discovered the drain hole to be blocked by the glass having slipped down to cover it. So it was a proper job of complete removal and dismantling the whole thing.

 

Ian was on a time limit for this job. He was to make dinner tonight, 5 bean chilli, rice and garlic bread. Marilyn was to make the crumble for desert, I had some rhubarb left and David came to collect it. Now what is it about older men acting like toddlers? I ask you...playing swords with the rhubarb???

I can't remember why Marilyn came over later on in the day but she was there at the right time because coming past us was the boat that had been moored by Waka Huia. This was too good an opportunity to miss, so on went the tiller, engine started and with Marilyn fending off at the stern and Ian at the bow, I reversed it back into that vacant space. 

That night the last game of Quiddler played. Ian won, he often does. I came last...as usual! Tomorrow we will be saying farewell to Marilyn and David. We to head south toward Brum and they to meet up with family in Stoke. These two weeks together has been the best, we laughed a lot, played loads of games and eaten wonderful home cooked vegetarian meals. Gosh, we will miss their company. Hopefully this won't be the last time we see them. I have been hankering about going back to experience a NZ winter. I have been told the South Island is spectacular at that time of year!

And wildlife