Canal Holiday: Four Counties Ring
Coven to Stoke-on-Trent
6 to 8 June 2007
On Wednesday morning, after a few lock-free miles, we reached Gailey. The Round
House here was originally a toll clerk's office, but is now a splendid canal
shop, with an excellent range of books on the first floor. We filled up with
water here, and Stephen picked up a few more books, and several of the other
members of the crew made purchases, so it was a good early morning for the canal
shop.
Alan watches Maria coming out of the lock as Helen and Merry wait to
close the gates
Sheila and Helen taking a walk between locks
Before Jane left us to go back to London, we stopped for a day-early fifth
anniversary cake for Lucy and Stephen - much appreciated.
Stephen and Alan as we get ready to set off again.
Mary, Stephen and Helen all looking cheerful
Having said a sad farewell to Jane, we reached Milford Bridge, where Stephen,
Sheila and Helen jumped ship to do a bit of photography. The bridge is a
turnover bridge where the towpath changes sides, elegantly designed to allow a
horse with a towrope to cross without having to cast off the rope. The most
elegant examples of the type can perhaps be found on the Macclesfield Canal -
one day we may see them ourselves.
The main reason for jumping ship was to attempt a photograph of our boat
crossing the Sow aqueduct, so here it is. Unfortunately the intervening
vegetation rather obscures the arches of the bridge, but you do get a sense of
the huge size of the structure for such a modest width of canal.
The River Sow from the aqueduct
Lucy at the tiller as Maria descends Tixall Lock.
Waterlillies starting to come into flower
The impressive Elizabethan gatehouse of Tixall Hall: the Hall was demolished
long ago, but the gatehouse is available for let.
At Tixall Wide, or Broadwater, the canal opens out into what is, by narrow canal
proportions, a veritable lake. It is uncertain whether the canal was widened
into this artificial body to placate the owner of Tixall Hall, or whether the
lake predates the canal and was naturally formed. Whatever, it makes an
interesting change.
Our second river aqueduct in quick succession - this one over the River Trent.
At Great Haywood junction, we turn left towards the Potteries, a literal sign
that we are heading towards journey's end.
Helen watches for the boat to come into the lock.
Merry, Helen and Sheila - hear no evil, see no evil, speak no evil. Apparently
they got bored waiting for the boat!
Dinner at the Saracen's Head in Weston-on-Trent - definitely recommended.
A heron takes flight in what is a common but pleasing sighting on the canal
system.
Making our way through the canal town of Stone, once the headquarters of the
Trent and Mersey Canal, we pass what used to be the Joules brewery.
A hotel narrowboat by the tail of lock 29.
Ilford, an old butty boat, moored by a signal box, presumably translocated.
Merry, Helen, Alan and Sheila empty the water from the deep Trentham Lock ready
for the boat
Coming into Trentham Lock
And here we are, in the Potteries once more, with a surviving bottle kiln
perched by the canal edge
Mary on lock duties
The two Helens waiting for the lock to fill
Helen watches the boat go out, while the rest of the crew go on ahead to prepare
the next lock.
Helen watches from inside
Helen and Lucy as we ascend the five Stoke Locks
Lock working
Just one more lock to go
Stephen steers Maria towards the final lock as Helen and Sheila close the
top gate
Stephen from above
A glimpse up the Caldon Canal
An incomplete group as we serve dinner on the final night.
And so another great holiday - a bit tiring perhaps, but a wonderful break.
Plans are already being developed for next year - perhaps the Llangollen Canal.
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