Bartimaeus

We started back from Froghall by reversing back just past the winding hole so that we could push the nose in to turn round.  It would have felt more natural to reverse in and drive out, but taking the propeller in to a winding hole isn't advisable.

We got back to Consall in time for lunch.  I'd got some bread rising before we set off and it was ready to come out of the oven just as we'd finished mooring up in the spot we'd occupied on the way down.  We went for a circular walk through the nearby RSPB reserve.  It was a pleasant way to spend the afternoon, but we were unimpressed by the way marking and saw no specially interesting birds.

The next morning we were held up for a while waiting for a charity trip boat that was moored at the water point. Sea shanties were being sung in the pub, and once they stopped a group of people emerged and got on the boat which then set off.

We filled the tank (very quickly again) but Clare lost control of the hose at one point, splashing me and soaking herself.  We moored for lunch at Cheddleton Station and then continued on.  The last mile or so felt very sluggish, but I didn't bother to check the weed hatch until we were moored up for the night.  I should have checked earlier as there was a large sheet of plastic packaging wrapped on the propeller.

The moorings outside the pub were occupied, but we found an excellent spot just before the bridge.  It was an easy walk to the pub for our evening meal.

This morning as we set off, we passed the charity trip boat which was on the last of the pub moorings with the engine running.  I wasn't surprised to see them behind us as I worked us through the locks.

The locks all had a side pond that was no longer being operated.  At the lower lock, the side pond seemed to be partially connected to the lock, filling as the lock did.  The middle lock pond made ominous booming noises but the level didn't change.  The top lock pond appeared to have vegetation growing in it.

The exit from the top lock is immediately on to Hazelhurst Junction.  Clare executed the U-turn on to the Leek Branch without any difficulty.  It wasn't far to the Hazelhurst Aqueduct.  We'd come straight under it earlier on, but the higher approach involves a right angle turn under a bridge, more awkward than the junction.

Clare got through at a suitably slow pace and we emerged on to the aqueduct itself.  This is not the elegant slender trough we have seen elsewhere.

The canal is very pretty along here with woodland along most of its length.  It is very shallow in places though - we ran aground unexpectedly several times.

It was after midday before we arrived at the Leek Tunnel Pool.  Some folk turn back here rather than go through the tunnel.  We wanted to go through if we fit.  On approach it was very hard to tell.

Once we had the nose in, it was clear that there was plenty of headroom, and enough width.  There was a wooden board at water level on our starboard side, presumably to keep our paintwork clear of the sloping stonework above.  We glided through with no trouble.

At the other side of the tunnel it was a short distance to a winding hole.  A sign instructed boats longer than 45 feet to turn here, so we did.  We then reversed back as far as we could towards the end of the canal.  This is immediately before another large but filled-in aqueduct - another Silver Propeller location.

Having recorded our arrival, we headed back to the remaining mooring spot.  Unfortunately a group of girls were trying to use it for fishing.  We did our best to allow them a gap between us and the next boat, but they decided to fish elsewhere.

We had some lunch on board before walking in to Leek for a look around and to restock the fridge.