Sunday 14th June
7.5 miles, 7 locks
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| Along the Leek branch |
Dry and a little brighter still fairly muggy. Set off back to Hazelhurst junction. The way back seemed quicker and there appeared to be more water making steering easier. We didn't meet any boats either which helped.
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| Beautiful gardens on the Leek branch |
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| Approaching the aquaduct |
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| Hazelhurst locks |
At Hazelhurst it was a tight right turn to enter the locks down towards Froghall. There were canoeists at the junction - school children out for the first time being controlled by a teacher in a canoe and another on a bike.
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| Cruising under the aquaduct |
The locks were deep and very leaky the countryside beautiful. Our first stop was Cheddleton where we had lunch and visited the flint mill which was running both water wheels. There was also a miller's cottage to look around all for a donation!
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| Consall Forge flint mill |
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| Flint mill |
Started to walk towards the train station (steam and diesel) but it was further than we thought so we turned around and had a cup of tea on the boat before setting off down the next two locks.
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| Mooring at Consall Forge |
We eventually passed the railway moorings which did not look very attractive so we cruised on. Another two locks later we came to Consall Forge having met the River Churnett. We made good time as there was plenty of water. We took the last mooring here. We have no signal on phones, no internet and no TV - we are rural - it is stunning and living up to all the reports that we heard on the way here. However, there is a pub.
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| Consall Forge station |
The Black Lion - quite small but in a beautiful situation with views of weir, canal, railway line (which you cross to get into the pub), sinal box and semaphore signals. There were also chickens running around the garden and goats in the garden of the cottage next door. Paul is very happy with the mooring. We had a pint of Black Lion bitter as you do only to find out later that it was in fact 6X only the landlord couldn't find the pump label! Cheeky. Paul then went on to the Dark Ruby mild from the Consall brewery in the cottage next door which he enjoyed. Back to boat for dinner and episode of Cold Feet.
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