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!!!!
As 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.
Now I would just have left them but not Ian. No. He had to jeopardise his crown jewels on the barb wire fence just so he could retrieve the said items!!!
Be VERY carefull!!!!!!!!!!!
This morning the sun came out and we could fully appreciate our surroundings. Last night was the first night in ages that there was absolutely no noise of trains, planes or cars. All we had was the occasional hoot of an owl. Wonderful!!!
instead of carrying on down the Caldon. There has been notification on Waterscape of an unstable chimney near Froghall and in consequence both the canal and towpath is closed. We are hoping that by delaying our trip to the end of the Caldon the stoppage may have come off. Will probably give BW a ring later in the week to see whats what.
Im not sure why this has been stuck in the centre of the canal. Maybe there is some sort of obstruction right in the middle. Its a good conversation peice though! As its by Stoke boat club moorings, maybe someone from the club could tell me why its there. 
Jade definitely prefers to stay on the boat. I felt she needed the exercise but she stayed close by Ian hoping he would take pity and bring her back on board.. 
industry.
A few days before we left Sandiacre in January, some thieving person nicked mummy duck from our roof. We looked everywhere for her but to no avail. Then when we arrived at Trent lock Kevin spied another plastic duck bobbing about in the water. He managed to get it and after a good clean and a paint job the pair were back together again. They were so happy that they produced their first ducklings of the year and now they will all take pride of place back to where they belong,on the roof ( extremely well stuck down I may add!!!!) 
What a stunning blue flame. Picked up what appeared to be a rotten fence post and as it seemed relatively dry, burned it that night. Goodness knows what chemicals were on it. but it made interesting viewing for a short while.
When spring arrives we may well get a full bottle of fermenting beer and by Autumn it should be ready to be picked!.
And what a fish!!! After spending days dangling a maggot from a hook and catching nothing, along comes this fantastic chub. The wind was blowing waves on the surface of the canal and I very nearly didn't bother about fishing but I'm so glad I did. This was the only chub but I had a few small perch as well.
