We have a SIGNAL, of sorts

We have a signal, of sorts anyway.. I can't promise any photo's again but I will try.

So catch-up time.

Thursday

We moved along from Denford towards Cheddleton on Thursday afternoon planning to moor between bridge 40 and 41. That plan was scuppered when he who is charge of the throttle sailed straight through. We ended up moored after bridge 44 in a quiet spot with a reasonable TV signal; F1 at the weekend you see.

Friday

Friday we walked back along the towpath to Cheddleton to meet Graham and Jill to see the Cheddleton Flintmill. The Flintmill was closed. Lack of volunteers to man it sadly. The heavens then opened so we sort refuge in the Red Lion. That was Friday about done and dusted.

Saturday

Saturday dawned and the sun shone so we caught the steam train from Cheddleton Station along the Churnet Valley into Froghall which is the terminus for the Cauldon Canal. The trip on the train lasted a mere twenty minutes but was well worth it. We walked up the hill from the station to have a look at the basin and tunnel and judge whether we could bring the boats down. A big no. The tunnel is too low. Strangely BW and Staffordshire CC have spent a lot of capital on refurbishing the terminus, creating a basin and installing facilities but barely any boats can get through. The basin is badly weeded up and the new pontoons are rarely used. How did that spend get approved then?

We all walked back to Consall Forge along the towpath and had a pint at the very popular Black Lion which overlooks the railway station and the river/canal. Joe got the train back from there while Graham, Jill and I, plus the four dogs of course, walked the remainder of our five mile trek.

We all had dinner that night in the Boat Inn at Basford Bridge. Very popular and very reasonably priced food so worth a visit if you are in this neck of the woods.

Sunday

Sunday it teemed all day! We watched a tedious F1 Grand Prix and did very little else. Which brings us to... Monday in the next post!