With the likelihood of a somewhat depleted crew - like just the two of us we spent some time earlier this month referring to various route planning software and our trusty guide books to work out a gentle amble to explore the Caldon Canal, planning to visit both 'ends' of it, Leek and Froghall. I apologise in advance for the lack of photos this time, we simply didn't get around to it.

Friday 21st Dec 2007

Having been at the works Christmas do the night before and after seeing the other crew members on their way we set off at around 1:30 and after a very pleasant few hours decide to stop for the night outside Jannel Cruisers (as was) for the night.

Saturday 22nd Dec 2007

We set off just after 9:30 and proceed through some familiar territory, passing through Branston, Tatenhill, Barton, Wychnor and then Alrewas locks where we were delayed for 6 days earlier on this year by the floods. We moor up in Alrewas to visit the exceptionally wonderful Coates butchers who seem to be one of the few decent butchers left and to prove it there is a queue that goes out of the door and on to the pavement. Money changes hands and we set off once more making good progress through Bagnall, Common, Hunts and Keepers locks before stopping at BWB Fradley to take on some water and dispose of some rubbish. Continuing on through Junction, Middle and Shadehouse locks we eventually settle down for the night at bridge 55, a short distance past Kings Bromley marina.

Sunday 23rd Dec 2007

We roll out of bed and get moving by 8:45. The canal has set. A thin layer of ice, perhaps 1/4 of an inch all over has settled upon it, making a wonderful crackling noise and all sorts of patterns as we move gently through it. The scenery too is stunning, everywhere dusted white and sparkling; it's easy to get caught up in the often quoted 'romance of the canal days' when you travel this way, yet we've only to slip off a thermal-lined, waterproof glove to try and free a knot in a frozen mooring rope and the reality of the working boatperson's life cuts through - literally. Knowing that ice breaking removes the paint from the hull and can damage the prop we make slow but positive progress through Colwich then Haywood locks, past Gt. Haywood junction and then on to Hoo Mill lock where we find a large and very permanently affixed BWB sign telling us that Star Lock at Stone is closed due to the chamber collapsing and will remain closed until further notice.

We consider ourselves quite lucky. If we had got to the other side of Star lock and then it had closed we would have had a real struggle getting around the system in time to beat the assorted BWB closures that would follow as soon as new year is over.

This ends the cruise as planned - there is no sensible way around this so we go through Hoo Mill and head to the next winding hole before turning around and then heading back downhill. At this point I decide to try and log all of the bridges, water points etc. as GPS co-ordinates for later use on my Garmin Sat Nav. I wish to point out that this isn't for canal use - just follow the ditch - but for use as I travel the country as part of my job and would like to find the canal that is so often hidden just yards away from the roads. On road my Garmin is wonderfully accurate, like most other GPS units it can take you more often than not to exactly the door number you need. Imagine my surprise then to find that according to the Garmin at the moment we are cruising through a field with a canal (the one we are actually on) a few hundred yards off to one side. As we progress this becomes noticeably the norm rather than the exception and I have to decide whether to mark where I really am or where the Garmin thinks the canal is. As I intend to use this from the car I decide to mark things where they really are.

We go back past Gt. Haywood Junction and moor up just before Essex Bridge as the night draws in. It promises to be cold - the front deck is already frozen, as are the mooring ropes. On with the heating then.

Monday 24th Dec 2007

We wake up and tentatively look out of the window, expecting to find a good layer of ice to deal with and decide that if it is frozen we can stay put rather than battle on as we are now in no rush to get back. What we find is a mild and altogether pleasant looking day. Bugger - we'll have to get up and do something then. We saunter off to the very nice farm shop adjacent to the road bridge at Gt. Haywood junction and top up with a few essentials before setting off at around 9:40.

Steady progress is made along this very pretty section and we make our way down Colwich lock and head towards Wood End. In between these 2 we are more than pleased to find a gentleman whose name we don't know but anyone who has ever cruised this section will be familiar with the man with the golden windlass and his dog. We've traded time with him in the past and advise you to do the same. This is one interesting man, a veritable living history who worked the boats for many years and like many others was forced off of the system during the 'Big freeze' in the 60's. He still walks this section wielding his windlass with practiced ease and is a pleasure to spend time with.

As we move on down through Wood End lock we decide that if there is space we will stop at Fradley, never having moored there before as it is always busy and see if we can find a meal at the Swan - known locally - like over the entire network as the 'Mucky Duck'. Luck is on our side, not only does a nice space loom into view as we pass through Shadehouse, Junction and then Middle locks but familiar faces greet us as we get there, the crew of Sarah Louise are also moored here and we pull up next to them. Our luck remains - the Swan is serving food, there is space at the Inn and all is well with the world.

 We recommend the Swan. The food is great, the beer is great, the staff are great. Go visit. After a very nice meal (or in my case 2 very nice meals) and a pint of Pedigree to help it settle we head back to a lovely warm boat courtesy of the Eberspacher.

Tuesday 25th Dec 2007

Bah Humbug ! I feel better for that. After a leisurely lounge in bed we finally set off into a fine drizzle that turns into rain as we descend Keepers and Hunts locks, after which it stops and the day remains largely dry. The current plan is to get to most of the way back to our mooring today and finish off tomorrow. All is going well until at Tatenhill we manage to get jammed in the lock entrance by a decent lump of tree stump that is doing its best dug out canoe impression. After a little persuasion I lift it clear and we carry on, leaving the improvised canoe beside the lock for someone with a wood fire to collect.

Excellent progress is made and by late afternoon we make it as far as Willington where we stop off and empty Ollie's little tummy. The moon is out, the stars are out and it is simply too beautiful not to cruise - so cruise on we do, reaching home moorings around 7:00. One last drama awaits us, as we moor up our gear cable snaps and we are in reverse - moving quite quickly. Fortunately we have a very substantial rear bumper which we have now tested thoroughly.

So there we are - not quite what we had in mind but we count ourselves lucky. If you are going to have a mechanical failure it may as well be at your mooring where car access and chandleries abound.