Onto the Caldon Canal

Well we set off this morning after the usual routine of emptying the loo and topping up with water. 

We have now turned on to the Caldon Canal and the first lock is a staircase lock. The captain is driving today and left me to sort out which lock to empty and which to fill. 

Fortunately the locks were set in our favour so Brigid could take the boat straight in.

Here she is in the bottom lock.

And now moving into the upper lock.

We went through another lock and then through Hanley Park, somewhere we have stopped at before.

This is another place we have stopped but, not today.

Now we come to Ivy House Lift Bridge.

Luckily it's fully automated and all you have to do is put your key in the slot and press the buttons in the right order.

It's quite exciting having beepers beeping, barriers lowering and this massive bridge lifting high in the air.

And there she goes, stately as a galleon.

After that, close the bridge and an acknowledging wave to the motorists who have been waiting patiently.

As I was making the tea, the boat suddenly went into reverse. Ah, the usual nightmare, a bridge on a bend with another boat coming through. But, panic not, with the captain in charge we sailed through after the first boat had exited the bridge and sidestepped around a second boat following closely behind. And the only comment she made was 'Why were they going so slowly?' 

More remedial work going on.

We stopped briefly at Milton to get some meat and vegetables and found The Teapot, another café, where we had a bite of lunch.

Talking of lunch, not exactly a teddy bears picnic but close.

We've now stopped before Engine Lock which is opposite Norton-in-the-Moors. As you can see, open fields and a clear blue sky.

Spent the afternoon painting the nest of tables, splicing a rope while Brigid worked on her forthcoming Quiet Day. 

A peaceful, sunny, relaxing afternoon - just what we needed.