Bartimaeus

Yesterday started with some rain but this turned to low cloud quite early.  We decided to move on despite the poor forecast, reasoning that working locks would keep us warm.  I put on several more layers than the day before as Clare had opted to work Engine Lock, a few boat lengths ahead.

During the next mile, the mist that had been forecast was substituted with drizzle.  It isn't like the proper Scottish stuff though, even though all the surfaces were soon wet.  Clare had worked two lift bridges so at the flight of five locks, I got off to work them.  They were all set against us, though we weren't aware of a boat ahead of us - perhaps they leak to full.  I was too warm in my big coat by the time we'd reached the top.

Another mile or so on we found an unusual traffic island in the middle of the channel.  It was exactly in the line you'd take when heading under the bridge and sent all traffic to the towpath side.  It was easy enough to go round it and under the bridge.

Just around the corner was an open spot where we could moor up for lunch, and then later decide to stop for the day.

When we got up this morning the sky was grey again but it quite soon brightened up, though the wind had got up a little too.  I started making some bread but then realised I had no further stocks of flour just as we were about to go in to an area with few shops.  I walked back to a nearby supermarket (no other supermarkets were available nearby) hoping to buy some more bread flour, but no joy.

We cast off in full sunshine.  At the services a mile further on we decided we didn't need to fill up the water yet, though Clare took the chance to empty our recycling bin. It was only another mile until we reached the next set of locks.  There was another boat just entering the locks as we arrived. We tied up at the back of the lock bollards and had some lunch - the bread was ready just in time.

We had just finished eating when I spotted a boat coming up through the lock ahead.  Clare went to help them, all of us commenting that the timing was excellent.

The locks mark the end of the summit pound of the Caldon Canal which is less than three miles long.  The short pound was part of the problem with the canal when it was first built.  A feeder from the other side of the valley was planned, but there were objections - overcome by building part of the feeder as a canal to Leek.  This doubled the length of the summit pound.

We are now beyond the watershed for the Head of Trent.  The water alongside us is the Endon Brook.  It eventually drains in to the Trent to the east of Burton-on-Trent as the River Dove, running through the Trent and Mersey Canal first.

We met another boat in the middle lock and two more just after we exited the bottom one.  Shortage of water has meant these canals have been shut most of the summer.  As luck would have it our passage through these locks didn't use up any additional water.

A short distance further on we passed under the Hazelhurst Aqueduct which carries the Leek Canal over the Caldon Canal at the height of the summit pound.

Around another corner we found one day moorings with a view across a sunny field and decided to moor up for the day.

It was only after we'd moored that we discovered the reason for the restrictions - the Holly Bush Inn is alongside the canal.  I cycled in to Leek along the canal in the afternoon sunshine and found some bread flour in a supermarket (other supermarkets are available).  I came back thirsty, so we had a pre-dinner drink in the Inn.