Réinitialiser la recherche
Rainboat
  • Vicky 'n' Will's Travels
  • Vicky 'n' Will's Travels

Rainboat

Life continuously cruising the canals and rivers of England and Wales. En savoir plus
S’abonnerAperçuAperçuCalendrierCalendrierPhotosPhotosPartagerPartagerListe de choses à faire
Les plus récents en premier
  • Vicky 'n' Will's TravelsRainboatVicky 'n' Will's Travels
    Leaving Stoke-on-Trent; a characteristic scene of a brick factory and bottle kilns.
    An old factory gutted by fire.Getting out into the countrysideBeautiful carpet of English bluebells3Someone is not happy to be confined after 6 weeks of freedomView of our mooring from the bridgeLovely to see the babies with their mum

    Milton and a call from a vet...

    30 avril 2025, Angleterre ⋅ ☀️ 23 °C

    Travelling today was HOT! With a forecast of 25°C we slathered the suncream on Leo and ourselves and Vicky used an umbrella to shade the dogs as we cruised. She needed to lower it for every bridge and for some of the steeper bends after Will's vision was obscured, causing him to scrape Rainboat against the bank 🙈

    It wasn't long after leaving the built up outskirts of Stoke that we were surrounded by a hundred different shades of green with speckles of white from apple and cherry blossom, cow parsley and cuckoo flowers.

    Just as we were mooring out in the middle of nowhere, Vicky got a phone call. The engine was loud and the reception poor so she didn't get what the caller was on about until she heard them say "Whiskers"! Grasping that it was a vet calling to say Whiskers had been brought into them fit and well, Vicky began babbling with excitement.

    Over lunch we checked where the vet was (42 miles away on the outskirts of Lichfield) and what public transport was available (5 different buses/trains over the course of 3 hours). It was also a long way to walk to any road from where we were so we moved Rainboat to the village of Milton and Vicky called a taxi to pick her up at Millrace, the nearby pub.

    It was an hour's drive to Pool House Veterinary Hospital but the taxi mercifully had aircon so it was comfortable. Vicky gave her name, address and showed a photo of Whiskers to confirm that she was the owner registered on his microchip. She waited with anxious excitement while they fetched him and melted with relief when she saw his familiar face scowling out from inside the carrier 😍

    The journey back took 90 minutes because of traffic and the whole trip cost £134 but Mr Whiskers was HOME! He waltzed out as if he'd never been away and began tucking in to his kibble and dreamies. For about a day Rainboat felt a bit crowded. May 1st was the hottest day of the year so the furries were a bit cranky and Whiskers took to laying on the floor blocking the passageway. After this we all settled in well. We were both so happy to have the little toerag back. We'll keep him inside or on his harness and lead for a few weeks to build up his connection to the boat before letting him out again with his tracker.

    We stayed a couple more days and visited the Millrace for a drink. The pregnant bartender perched on a stool at the bar and began to vape while her toddler sat on her lap so we didn't stay for another.    En savoir plus

    Voir la traduction
  • Vicky 'n' Will's TravelsRainboatVicky 'n' Will's Travels
    Will and his former pupil John, reunited after 44 years
    John was a natural at the tillerLocks are so much quicker with threeMamma goose incubating her eggs on an unusual nestStaffordshire based wall installation by the lockOperating the lift bridgeThese geese had taken their young brood to graze on someone's back garden.Leo took a shine to JohnEnjoying some English beer outside The SportsmanLittle and Large. Leo making friends with Kika, the Great Dane outside The Sportsman2A great day was had by allA lovely place to moor, although the peacocks could be quite loud 🙉2You don't often see a keep left sign in the middle of the canal; boats normally keep rightRemaking the bridge wallFriendly horses near our mooringPeacocks next to RainboatA white peacock too. The netting is likely there to protect them from bird fluOne man and his err... cat. In matching rainbow jackets ❤️🧡💛💚💙🩵💜Whiskers has learned to walk surprisingly well on the lead

    Cruising with John to Stockton Brook

    3 mai 2025, Angleterre ⋅ ⛅ 15 °C

    A long, long time ago Will began his teaching career at a school called Wards Bridge High School. One of the pupils he taught here was John Evans. Through the wonders of Facebook John made contact with Will and they've been messaging too and fro for some time. John lives in Brazil now but returns to the UK to visit his parents in the Wirral. He'd been talking about meeting up with Will for a while and on 3rd May their plans came together! Mark got the train from Liverpool to Stoke-on-Trent, then a taxi to Milton, where Will met him outside The Millrace! Not having seen each other for 44 years, the conversation could have been somewhat stilted, but the atmosphere was relaxed as they reminisced on Rainboat and brought each other up to date with their lives.

    We walked the dogs, then John and Will visited the nearby Foxley pub for lunch while Vicky rested. After this we untied Rainboat and set off to tackle 6 locks and a lift bridge. The Caldon is particularly wiggly but before long there was a straight bit, so in a teacherly way, Will handed the tiller over to John without giving any guidance, just asking him to 'get a feel for it' 🙈 Luckily John picked up the knack of steering quickly and took us to the first lock. Vicky took over at the stern while he and Will worked Rainboat through the locks. We saw lots of tiny ducklings, bluebells, a swathe of wild garlic in flower and even our first ducklings of the season. There are some rather expensive looking homes along this stretch and the last lock was opposite a golf course.

    We moored as soon as we could after this and went for a last drink at a nearby pub; The Sportsman. Vicky took Leo in the chair while Tiger stayed back to sleep off the journey. We settled ourselves in at a picnic table outside and Leo made friends with Kika, a 9.5 stone Great Dane! Time really had flown by with the fun we'd had and after eeking out a second pint John reluctantly called a taxi back to the station. We'd had a wonderful time and do hope he visits again the next time he's in the UK!

    The mooring we'd taken was on an awkward bend and had a steep slope of nettles up the the towpath so the next day we shuffled up the canal a little way and moored near a field with bird enclosures. There were a range of birds but the enclosure nearest us had peacocks in it! Beautiful but rather noisy!    En savoir plus

    Voir la traduction
  • Vicky 'n' Will's TravelsRainboatVicky 'n' Will's Travels
    1Anybody spot the heron? It stayed for ages, just perching, watching.
    Will helping the cyclists with their punctureTurning left at Hazelhurst to stay on Caldon Canal, not right on to the Leek BranchLooking back on the previous lock while descending the nextHazelhurst Aqueduct where the Leek Branch passes over Caldon CanalA totally wooden structure straddling the canal at Cheddleton Flint MillWater wheel at Cheddleton Flint MillGorgeous cottage at the flint mill2Look closely to see the chamfered edge of this cottage at the flint millTiger is a sun worshiper, enjoying just sitting out on the towpath2Ducklings darting up and down the canal catching fliesA herd of cows, calves and a bull came carreering down the bank opposite us to drink from the canalLeo is really enjoying these warm Spring daysA signpost on the way up the hill to The Old School Tea Rooms, CheddletonVE decorations at LeekLeek indoor marketWe stopped to chat with this mental health charity, helping local people through gardening and craftLeek clock towerA golden post box painted to celebrate local rower Anna Watkins winning gold at the 2012 OlympicsLeek vintage market1These may just be the most elaborate benches we've ever seen

    Cheddleton Flint Mill and Leek

    7 mai 2025, Angleterre ⋅ ☁️ 16 °C

    The journey to Cheddleton began with Vicky trundling along the gravel towpath in her chair while the dogs trotted alongside. We didn't know what kind of surfaces it would be able to handle but have been impressed. It's opening up so many opportunities to get out and do things. Soon after setting off Vicky came accross two cyclists dunking a bike wheel in the canal. When she found out they hadn't got the equipment they needed to fix the puncture, she radioed Will, who moored near them and lent them the bike toolbox we have onboard. Unfortunately there was something wrong with the wheel meaning that even with the right equipment they couldn't fix it on the towpath. They appreciated the offer of help all the same.

    Vicky met up again with Will at a stretch of moorings with services. Here we spotted a number of familiar boats we'd seen on the Trent and Mersey and Caldon canals. After filling and emptying we carried on, taking a left at Hazelhurst Junction, staying on the Caldon Canal instead of turning on to the Leek Branch.

    Four locks later we were very happy to find a mooring space at Cheddleton Flint Mill. If we'd had to carry on it would have meant 2 more locks, which would have been pretty exhausting in this heat. The moorings were only for 48 hours but we cheekily hauled Rainboat back into a spot just before the limit began and stayed longer.

    Unfortunately the flint mill was closed while we were there so we didn't get a tour, but one of the two wooden water wheels above the nearby River Churnet was running which was nice to see.

    The next day, with Vicky's chair, we set out for a drink at The Red Lion. It was off the towpath and up the hill a short way. Unfortunately it didn't open 'til 4pm. It was a nice day so we decided to make our way up an even steeper hill with no pavement, to Cheddleton Old School Tea Rooms for a cuppa instead. On our arrival we were disappointed to find it had closed at 15:30, just 10 minutes ago 😪 Determined to get that drink we pinned our hopes on The Black Lion a little way down the hill. (Apparently the Churnet Valley is referred to as Little Switzerland as a result of these hills!) It was third time lucky when we found the pub was not only open but a really nice place to visit. It was accessible, had a great selection of alcohol free drinks for Vicky, a delicious hoppy ale called Flower Power on tap for Will, gravey bones for the dogs and a choice of bar nibbles in large kilner jars for us both. We'll definitely be making a return visit on our way back up the Caldon.

    There wasn't a pharmacy nearby so the following day we took the Number 16 bus into Leek for Vicky'sprescription. It was 'an experience' getting the chair onto and off of the buses, the drivers weren't particularly pleased to see Vicky as it meant they had to get up and get the ramp into place, but we did ok in the end. It was amazing being able to trundle around Leek without becoming exhausted. A lot of shops had little steps making them inaccessible but there were plenty that had ramps. Vicky's prescription wasn't in Boots but we were happy enough to repeat our trip the next day to pick it up. Leek seems to be a thriving town, with many independent shops. It's centre is mostly pedestrianised, although the lack of drop curbs was a little frustrating. Vicky and the chair nearly went head over wheels when the front wheels hit a curb and the back wheels lifted up!

    There was an indoor market made up of booths, where Will bought a pork pie and delicious blue cheese while Vicky chatted to a pair of women who had complimented her tattoo. They worked for a local mental health charity getting people involved in allotment gardening and crafts. We took some rabbit ears and dreamies back to Rainboat for the furries and loaded up Vicky's lap with 30l of cat litter from a great pet shop. There was also a handy Aldi for groceries and some accessible charity shops to peruse. There was even a Vintage Market being held on the Saturday! To cap off our trips to Leek the last bus driver was very friendly and even refused to let Vicky pay for her journey. It more than made up for the grumpiness of the others.    En savoir plus

    Voir la traduction
  • Vicky 'n' Will's TravelsRainboatVicky 'n' Will's Travels
    We saw a brood of newly hatched goslings when leaving Cheddleton
    Horse Chestnut candles in full bloomPassing by the railway yard.A lift bridge made entirely of woodChoo choo! Filmed from Rainboat's side hatch.Lime kilns 100m away from our mooringThe base of the kiln. Lime would be burned with coal at the top then fall here to be removed.He wants to be free! Whiskers' outside time has been lead time while he readjusts to boat life.Setting off from our mooring.

    Consall, River Churnet

    11 mai 2025, Angleterre ⋅ ☀️ 22 °C

    Rainboat descended four more locks today. Exiting the final one she found herself travelling downstream on the River Churnet. There wasn't much of a flow so if we hadn't been looking at the map we wouldn't have realised.

    It was another energy sapping 25°C day and we'd managed to loose our boat washing brush overboard where it promptly sunk, so we were looking forward to tying up for a relaxing afternoon. The river began to widen where several boats were moored near the water point at Consall. One was already filling and there was no space to moor so Will put Rainboat into reverse and let Vicky and the dogs off on to the bank. We scouted out a good mooring spot about 100m behind us, so Vicky hung on to the bow and centre lines while Will carried on backing up. He switched between forward and reverse to keep a straight course but suddenly, when pulling the throttle backwards, Rainboat surged forwards instead. Something was seriously wrong. He cut the engine and Vicky was able to haul them upstream and in to the mooring.

    It was too hot to work outside that afternoon but the next morning, before Vicky had even got out of bed, Will was down in the engine bay. He found that a nut had become unscrewed and fallen off the gearbox. Luckily we had a spare and it was a relatively simple job of replacing it. Well done Will!

    Consall is in a small, tree lined valley which had cooled refreshingly overnight. Apart from the background of birdsong and the occasional toot and clickety clack of the steam engine whose rails run adjacent to the river, it was beautifully peaceful.
    Along by the water point were some old lime kilns and some RSPB signs. There was no internet or phone connection but on a map downloaded on Maps.Me we found out we were in the Consall Wood RSPB site, apparently a good place to spot Redstarts and Pied Flycatchers.    En savoir plus

    Voir la traduction
  • Vicky 'n' Will's TravelsRainboatVicky 'n' Will's Travels
    Never have a canal and a railway run so close together. A tight squeeze!
    Erm, no, Rainboat won't fit through Froghall Tunnel. Glad we found out with this profile beforehand.Carpets of ransom covered the woodland floorCherryeye BridgeMore narrow stretches only one boat wideSitting out at the mooring with the furriesFroghall Tunnel entrance. We definitely wouldn't fit through there!Dimensions of the tunnel and a sign to Hetty's Tea Shop which was unfortunately closed on Mon / TueAn almost empty Froghall BasinThe return journey through the beautiful woodlandIdyllicOne of the RSPB's designated walksWaiting for Flint Lock to emptyProof that we visited Flint Lock for the IWA Silver Propeller Challenge

    Froghall Tunnel moorings

    13 mai 2025, Angleterre ⋅ ☀️ 22 °C

    After two peaceful nights at Consall we set off on the last leg of our journey to the end of Caldon Canal. Straight ahead of us the River Churnet flowed under a footbridge. The way was barred with two large tree trunks hanging horizontally under the bridge. We took the sharp left where the course of Caldon Canal resumed. We squeezed through a tight, low tunnel under the rail tracks, then took a sharp right to cruise adjacent to them, along a channel only one boat wide.

    After a while we descended Flint Lock. At the exit hung a flexible cut out profile of Froghall Tunnel. Boats passing underneath could guage whether they would fit through the real thing, which lay in between us and Froghall Basin at the canal terminus. At 4'4" high and 5'6" wide the tunnel was definitely too small for Rainboat. We were disappointed, but very glad to have found this out before we reached the real thing!

    From the map we knew there was a winding hole we could turn in before Froghall Tunnel, so we took Rainboat as far as we could. The Inland Waterways Association had designated Froghall Basin a Silver Propeller Site, encouraging boaters to visit, but for boats like ours who couldn't physically do it, a photo at Flint Lock would suffice.

    Though our course was narrow, shallow and winding, the woodland scenes left us awestruck. Swathes of white flowering ransom tickled at our noses, the last of the bluebells glowed in dappled light and the towpath was bounded by buttercups, speedwell, forget-me-nots and cow parsley. The canopy of native tree leaves cast green hues over everything and kept the corridor pleasantly cool. We felt so lucky to be on this journey.

    The winding hole was less than 0.5km from Froghall Basin and Hetty's Tea Room, so when we'd turned and moored, we took Vicky's chair and set off for a bit of lunch. The path crossed a road and took us over the top of Froghall Tunnel. It wasn't long before we reached the basin, which was empty apart from a moored trip boat. Sadly the Tea Room was closed but we had food back on board and spent some of the afternoon sitting outside in the shade with the furries.    En savoir plus

    Voir la traduction
  • Vicky 'n' Will's TravelsRainboatVicky 'n' Will's Travels
    Lunch at the Black Lion. A temporary change in hair colour for Vicky before dying it green
    An unusual canvas on the pub wall 🤔We got used to seeing these three ducks near the boat. Perhaps they were part of the same brood?Mr Whiskers enjoyed sitting outside. He'd rather not have been on a lead but seemed content enoughNot the best picture, but we watched a mayfly hatchingBird Cherry Ermine caterpillarsA young couple and their daughter lived on the neighbouring boat but avoided contact at all costsThere were several bird spotting walks nearby but the terrain was too steep for VickyAl along the Caldon are mile posts from when the canal extended to Uttoxeter

    Back to Consall, River Churnet

    14 mai 2025, Angleterre ⋅ ☁️ 18 °C

    Though still stunningly beautiful, the return cruise from Froghall Tunnel to Consall was somewhat stressful. To add to the complications of narrow channels and tight turns were gusts of wind and several oncoming boats to squeeze past. Whiskers is becoming increasingly stir crazy being kept inside or on a lead, making it more difficult to get in and out of the boat to fetch things whilst traveling.

    Boats were moored where we'd planned to stay so we decided to carry on, fill with water and see if our previous mooring was free. A dozen or so walkers were picnicking on the grass by the waterpoint where we needed pull in for water. They were happy to move but it took time to gather their things and in the meantime Will was trying to avoid bumping into them or catching them with the centre line. Thank goodness our previous spot was free, even if we did return to the same grumpy young neighbours as before.

    The nearby Black Lion (a popular name round here!) had been closed on our last visit but was open now, so on our second day we sat in their beer garden overlooking the canal and railway station while munching on burgers and sipping our drinks. The rest of the afternoon was whiled away sitting on the stern with the furries listening to bird song and using the Merlin app to see if it identified any unusual species. It didn't, but it was a joy to listen all the same. On the morning we left, Will caught sight of a Blackcap, which made his day 😊.    En savoir plus

    Voir la traduction
  • Vicky 'n' Will's TravelsRainboatVicky 'n' Will's Travels
    A threesome of geese. You can just see their goslings by the white one.
    Leaving the River Churnet, turning into the lock to take us back on the Caldon CanalWill nipped up to the Black Lion again 🍺Sorry bout the gosling spam but they are irresistibleLunch at The Old School Tea Rooms. Vicky coordinating her hair with Will's quiche 🍊Coffee cake and banana bread for desert4A cute idea of hiding books for children to find, read and re-hideView from the towpath of cows in a meadow of buttercupsIn the millhouse4A canoe paddle and wheelchair trundle to The Holly Bush for steak pie with local beefThe paths are covered in willow seed

    Cheddleton, 2nd time round

    16 mai 2025, Angleterre ⋅ ☀️ 19 °C

    We rose reasonably early to leave Consall but poor Tiger had a fit. After she'd recovered Vicky took her and Leo along the towpath while Will set off on Rainboat. He'd warned Vicky that the first part of the journey would be on the River Churnet so there wouldn't be many suitable places to pull in and pick her up. Vicky wished she'd listened when Tiger began to have another fit on the walk. After a little way Will managed to leap off and Vicky leapt on with Tiger, but by this point the boat had drifted out and got stuck in tree roots on the opposite bank. Will and Leo were forced to walk on to the lock while Vicky freed Rainboat and cruised on to meet them.

    Needing to get to suitable moorings but not wanting to stress Tiger any further, Vicky worked the 3 locks with Tiger so she didn't have to go through them in the boat. Vicky was exhausted by the time we got to Cheddleton and went straight to bed.

    Happily things got better from there. On Saturday Vicky rested while Will revisited Cheddleton's Black Lion then took the bus to Leek.

    On Sunday morning Will woke Vicky in a bit of a panic. An email from the CRT said the canal was closing on Monday due to water shortages! After significant stressing and strategising he re-read the email and discovered it was the following Monday; plenty of time to do what we wanted to and leave. To celebrate, we trundled up the hill for lunch at The Old School Tea Rooms. It was warm enough to sit outside and the food was good and homely. In the evening we watched newly emerged Mayflies darting too and fro in the dappled golden light outside the window.

    When walking the dogs on Monday morning we noticed the Flint Mill Museum was open. Volunteers were sorting out items in a garage to get ready for an upcoming music event. They were giving away earthenware plant pots they no longer needed, but we left them for people with a proper garden. Peter asked whether we'd like to look around on our own or have him show us round. He spent over an hour sharing his considerable knowledge of the history of the small site. The miller's daughter Reene had lived in the small cottage until she died 4 years ago at the age of 101 and told him many tales about her childhood when the mill was operational. Her father had died of emphysema at the age of 47 due to the lime dust. Peter really brought the place to life for us.

    On Tuesday we had a special delivery (see next post) and took a canoe paddle and wheelchair trundle to the The Holly Bush about a mile away where Will enjoyed a steak and ale pie with local, native or rare breed Dunwood beef sold only to a few pubs. The weather may not have been great for the water levels but we've enjoyed so many warm sunny days eating or drinking outside.    En savoir plus

    Voir la traduction
  • Vicky 'n' Will's TravelsRainboatVicky 'n' Will's Travels
    Steve sent Will photos of Little Rainboat in her mold in the factory
    Eagerly awaiting Little Rainboat's arrivalWayne dropping her off before continuing his journey to Penrith and on to Northern ScotlandUnwrapping his new presentProud new owner1Don't tip over!First paddleThe cow keeps a wary eye on the strange, multicoloured contraptionPaddling back from The Holly Bush

    🌈Little Rainboat Arrives!🌈

    20 mai 2025, Angleterre ⋅ ☀️ 14 °C

    When we sold our Little Green canoe at Etruria, Will got straight online to find a replacement. We ideally wanted something shorter and lighter so it would be easier for Will to handle by himself.

    He found a company called Silverbirch Canoes that handmakes each canoe in their Norfolk workshop and delivers them countrywide. They are a small team with a focus on sustainability and the customer. Will called them up and spoke to Steve, one of the founders. They had an indepth discussion about what the canoe was to be used for and by who, which ended with Steve recommending the Broadland 15. We really liked the sound of this company and their canoes, but one of the most exciting things was that we got the chance to choose a bespoke colour scheme of up to 7 different colours! It had to be done. We went for a rainbow boat, but swapped the end colour to black as the pink looked a bit funny.

    On Tuesday 20th Will got his paddle and we walked along to where Cheddleton Flint Mill met the road. Wayne the driver pulled in with 13 canoes and we immediately spotted ours on top. Silverbirch had given us free full length lacing and flotation blocks. Brimming with excitement Will took the off the plastic sleeve and we carried Little Rainboat up the bank to the canal, launching her at a handily placed canoe launch point. She is a foot shorter than Little Green and the position of the main seat is a lot better for single handed paddling. While her seats may not be as comfortable as Little Green's padded ones, you are able to sit forwards or backwards on them, making the setup more flexible. They are lower, making her more stable and the base is smooth, making it easier to kneel if you want to.

    We are really, really happy with Little Rainboat and Will is using her every opportunity he gets.    En savoir plus

    Voir la traduction
  • Vicky 'n' Will's TravelsRainboatVicky 'n' Will's Travels
    We loved the hare carved into the tree stump 😍
    A pipe bridge taken over by meadow plantsWater levels are well below normalThe skies looked stormy on our journey but thankfully held on to their rainAt Hazelhurst JunctionTurning on to Leek BranchCrossing the Caldon on the Hazelhurst Aqueduct2A lovely open mooring before the tunnel but unfortunately the shelf was rubbing against our hullMoored in sight of Leek TunnelAt the end of Leek BranchThe winding hole at the end of Leek Branch with the River Churnet flowing in on the left1These two snuggle pups had a busy dayAs far as we could get on the Leek CanalViews of horses on the hillOur Silver Propeller shot showing we travelled as far as we could on the Leek Canal2Four bullocks got loose on the towpath

    Leek Branch, Caldon Canal

    21 mai 2025, Angleterre ⋅ ☀️ 19 °C

    The Leek Canal is a short arm branching off the Caldon Canal, which itself branches off the more substantial Trent and Mersey Canal. Retracing our passage along the Caldon, we cruised under Hazelhurst Aqueduct and ascended the three Hazelhurst locks. Will did a nifty 160° turn at Hazelhurst Junction and we started out towards Leek, our route taking us over the Hazelhurst Aqueduct. We'd now passed point from which the waterway would close in a few days but water levels were still exceedingly low.

    The Leek Branch was just as beautiful as the Caldon, with verdant green woodlands climbing up the slopes either side. It was hot again and as we'd already done some locks, we stopped just before Leek Tunnel for Vicky and Tiger to take a rest. This area was technically a winding hole but it was so wide that boats could easily turn without us being in the way. It was a lovely open mooring spot, but an underwater ledge at the bank kept scraping Rainboat's hull, so after Vicky's nap we decided to go through the tunnel. Vicky set off in the chair with the dogs, planning to take them over the hill and meet Will on the other side. The steep steps ahead put a dampner on that plan but Vicky didn't want Tiger getting stressed and she still thinks of the chair as an aid opposed to something she needs, so she went ahead and climbed the steps. Not her best decision. She was trembling when Will emerged from the other side of the tunnel after an uneventful passage through. Getting into the side was difficult because of the collapsing bank and low water, but we managed to swap places and Will walked the dogs along to the final winding hole for boats our length while Vicky sat and steered Rainboat. It was a popular spot and we only just squeezed in.

    A few hundred yards ahead was the end of the Leek Canal; a Silver Propeller site with a 45ft winding hole. The Inland Waterways Association allows boats like Rainboat who are over 45ft to submit a photo from the larger winding hole as evidence of our attempt to reach the end. This is our 12th Silver Propeller location; only 8 more to go before we visit the 20 sites required for the commemorative silver propeller.

    We only stayed for one night but Will managed to cycle to Morrisons and then set out again to Leek for more groceries. We saw a few groups of pupils from a special school hiking for their Bronze Duke of Edinburgh award and saw them again the next morning returning from their night of camping. The second group was lured towards the boat by Abby, who was sitting on the step, basking in their adoration. They then spent 10 minutes fussing Tiger and Leo until they saw the third group had almost caught them up 😂    En savoir plus

    Voir la traduction
  • Vicky 'n' Will's TravelsRainboatVicky 'n' Will's Travels
    Emerging from Leek Tunnel
    Leaving Leek Canal and rejoining the main Caldon CanalA tiny replica canal boat that looked as if it was used as a caravanWe spent some of the warm evening watching these ducklingsSo did Whiskers 🫣Whiskers giving some cuddlesA jealous Leo asserting his exclusive cuddle rights 😬This lone goose was still sitting on her eggs. We hope she'll not suffer if they don't hatch.Leo enjoyed this woodland walk adjacent to the towpath.We think this is a Common Reed Beetle. Dozens were munching the reed tips and mating.We were grateful for the much needed rain at this point

    The peacock paddock, Endon

    24 mai 2025, Angleterre ⋅ ☁️ 19 °C

    It was a lock free journey between the end of Leek Canal and the peacock paddock; woo hoo! Vicky was feeling more sprightly and managed to slowly walk the dogs up and over Leek Tunnel while Will took Rainboat through. A cluster of cows were gathered by the large winding hole on the other side, watching as we all piled back aboard.

    Low water levels continued to hamper cruising; we grounded a few times and had to use the long wooden pole to free ourselves. We rejoined the main Caldon Canal at Hazelhurst Junction and filled with water at Park Lane services before mooring beside the peacock paddock we'd stayed at on the way up.

    The evening was warm and we postponed tea just to sit out and make the most of the sun's rays. Leo poddled up and down, Tiger sunbathed on the path and Whiskers slinked along the hedgerow. He must have stepped too close to crow nests because they started up an almighty cacophony and half a dozen began mobbing him. Thankfully he came bounding back to the boat for safety and waited for things to calm down before amusing himself watching a clutch of ducklings swimming nearby.

    Later that evening the first spots of rain began to fall, dampening the dusty towpath. Overnight there was a downpour, which continued as sporadic showers the following day. Will dodged them when visiting the coop and later the pub. He returned in a jolly mood 'complaining' that the locals were far too friendly, buying him a pint and convincing him to stay longer. Poor Will 😂    En savoir plus

    Voir la traduction
  • Vicky 'n' Will's TravelsRainboatVicky 'n' Will's Travels
    Yellow irises began to bloom in great numbers over the course of a few days
    22Banksy style art on this canalside garden shedNot impressed with getting wetLeo had the right idea, keeping dry under his blanket

    Milton

    26 mai 2025, Angleterre ⋅ 🌧 13 °C

    They say bad things come in threes... well we both got our share today!

    1. It started as Will was getting things ready to cruise. He put Whiskers on his harness and lead so we could keep him around, but something fell off the bench at the stern and made a big bang, spooking Whiskers, who flew off, lead in tow. We used the PitPat to track Whiskers. He hadn't gone far and came trotting out of the peacock paddock when we called, but his harness and lead were nowhere to be seen 😪

    2. We'd bargained for four locks, but must have missed some symbols on the map because it turned out to be six locks and two lift bridges.

    3. Vicky had a touch of brain fog, making it difficult for her to concentrate. She managed to break the safety string attached to the canoe's towing rope. Will did a temporary fix with the towing rope, planning to rig another length of safety string when we moored.

    4. Tiger had a fit while we were approaching a lift bridge. She's not had one while we've been on the move before.

    5. We knew there would be a chance of rain but it was rather heavy when it came and the gusts of wind were strong, making maneuvering through narrow bridge holes and into locks pretty tricky.

    6. The last was the worst. Coming out of the final lock, a wooden board sticking out of the bank caught the nose of the canoe. There was no safety string to break so it skewed accross the canal and somehow got trapped between the bank and Rainboat. Little Rainboat's nose got squished out of shape, splitting some of the high density polyurethane before she capsized.

    We righted her and bailed a lot of water out before reattaching her and carrying on. After a minute, Vicky who was facing backwards, spotted one of the buoyancy blocks floating by itself about 20m behind Rainboat. The canoe was almost completely underwater 😭 Up on the roof it went. We thankfully didn't have too much further to go until the moorings at Milton.

    Will cooked up a pizza for tea and we watched a movie to cheer ourselves up. The much needed rain was heavy the following day. Vicky rested while Will made some repairs to Little Rainboat and popped out to the supermarket, the butchers and the bakers, returning with steak and a custard tart for himself and a punnet of strawberries for Vicky 😋 Things may not have gone as planned on our cruise, but there are too many good things in our lives to feel down for long.    En savoir plus

    Voir la traduction
  • Vicky 'n' Will's TravelsRainboatVicky 'n' Will's Travels
    Beautiful green start to the journey
    A contrast to the rural surrounds we started off inEach bit of reject pottery is thrown separately into the skip to make sure it breaks4Happy Vicky at the Emma Bridgewater café. Her hair was supposed to be green but came out blue 🫤4Indulgent trillionaires tart and a pot of tea each 😋The factory store.

    Emma Bridgewater Factory, Hanley

    28 mai 2025, Angleterre ⋅ ⛅ 17 °C

    There's been buckets of rain, meaning the water is lapping at vegetation hanging low over the canal banks. Levels have certainly risen but from such a low baseline that it's misleading. Rainboat is still grounding in unusual places, making travel tricky.

    There were no locks on today's short cruise, the sun shone and the rain held off which was lovely.

    We moored outside the Emma Bridgewater factory so once again sounds of metal shutters being rolled up at 5am, music and reject pottery items being smashed one by one in a skip drifted to our ears. They weren't intrusive and only added to our experience of staying in 'The Potteries'.

    With Whiskers' lovely rainbow harness lost somewhere in the peacock paddock and the maker no longer using that fabric, Vicky did a map search for a haberdashery. To her delight she saw there was an Abakhan in Stoke city centre so we headed up there the next morning. With all the fabrics, yarns and crafting equipment Vicky felt like a kid in a sweetshop! She was almost disappointed when the assistant found a suitable cotton print and she no longer had an excuse to trawl the aisles!

    When we last visited Emma Bridgewater Vicky had treated herself to a new bluebell mug and tea towel. Since then she'd been looking forward to visiting the café. By chance we arrived in between tour groups, so most tables were free for the next 45 minutes. Lunch was 'country kitchen' done well and we followed it up with a slice of rich trillionaires tart and a large pot of tea each. What a treat! Afterwards we had a mooch around the red brick courtyard garden which grew apple trees, small shrubs, flowers and aromatic herbs in raised beds and silver metal dustbins. We peered through the windows of the decorating studio where a few visitors were deep in concentration, then went out via the factory shop, where 'imperfectly perfect' items were sold at a small discount.

    Will whiled away the afternoon fishing and Vicky rested before leaving the dogs in his capable hands and taking the wheelchair to the Jolley's pet store. It over a mile along a main road that seemed to be a linear retail park. At was rush hour the cars pumped out exhaust fumes and seemed noisier down at chair level. We feel lucky to live and travel in the relative quiet of the canal system. She returned with a replacement, cat carrier balanced on her lap, a replacement flexi lead, treats for the dogs and a present for Abby and Leo, whose birthday and adoptiversary are coming up. Will resolved not to let her loose by herself in a pet shop for some time when he saw the receipt 😬    En savoir plus

    Voir la traduction
  • Vicky 'n' Will's TravelsRainboatVicky 'n' Will's Travels
    Back on the Trent and Mersey Canal
    The Etruria Festival was popular all weekend long.2Leo enjoyed riding in styleThe collaborative mural, open to all festival goers to contributeA lot of artists were in attendance2The obligatory Morris DancersOne of many performancesEnjoying the entertainmentA collection of traditional and working boats lined the towpathChico the cat stole the show at the Holy Inadequate1Our little guy was tired out from greeting his admirers1Will's Sunday lunchThe lock gates came in handy as a place to sit and eatWashed down with an ale from the local Lymestone Brewery

    Etruria Festival

    30 mai 2025, Angleterre ⋅ ☁️ 19 °C

    What better way to wrap up our time on the Caldon Canal than with a festival at Etruria Junction?

    We descended the final three locks on Friday afternoon. Historic boats lined the banks but we were especially happy to see Kat on Bargus; a Juels Fuels boat! We tied up alongside and Kat (ably assisted by Teddy; her gorgeous young cocker spaniel) pumped 175l of diesel into Rainboat. We were extra happy when she told us it was only 98p a litre! Another stop at the services meant we had a full water tank too. With this, we turned right onto the Trent and Mersey and were relieved to find nearby moorings easily.

    On Saturday we walked the dogs, then left Tiger at home with a licky mat. Leo came with us as we joined the crowds flowing towards the sound of music. Some festivals can be a bit generic but Etruria festival was anything but! Local makers displayed creations made to celebrate their local area. Stoke's famous bottle kilns were represented in paint, paper quills, wood, ceramic, coloured foil and even had their likeness printed using Staffordshire oat cakes!

    Lots of free activities were available for children and adults; ukelele lessons, pot throwing, peg painting pirate style, clay and willow nest making. A collaborative mural drawing attention to the importance of wildlife came together as more of the festival's younger visitors contributed. Live music played from 11am - 5pm and a host of food stalls and beer tent kept everyone happy.

    The onsite forge was fired up with its artist smith creating garden and home decorations, next door to the flint museum whose famous steam engine was unfortunately out of action due to a boiler malfunction. The weather remained good and a steady stream of visitors passed Rainboat, making their way to and from the site over the two days. From his isolated life on the farm, Whiskers' naturally gregarious side is beginning to overcome his nerves around strangers. He was seen popping in and out of the towpath hedge to get strokes from a privileged few!

    We really enjoyed the festival on Saturday morning and buoyed by our experience we headed off to The Holy Inadequate for a drink with the dogs in the afternoon. The beer garden was packed and for once Leo and Tiger weren't the centre of attention. The show was stolen by Chico the cat, who we'd seen riding on his owner's shoulders earlier at Etruria!

    After the busy Saturday, Vicky spent Sunday resting but Will returned to the festival for a spot of lunch, noting that it was just as popular on the second day as it had been on the first.    En savoir plus

    Voir la traduction
  • Vicky 'n' Will's TravelsRainboatVicky 'n' Will's Travels
    We've noted this place down as somewhere to visit when we're next on the Trent and Mersey
    South Portal of the Harecastle TunnelGetting ready to go. Note the rust coloured water.About to emerge at the north end2Such intense colourJunction with the Middlewich CanalTake your pick from these twin locks1Happy 3rd Adoptiversary little lad 🥰They worked the puzzle feeder out pretty quicklyWe threw frozen peas out the side hatch for these two, whose 3 babies had just hatched.The big willow Whiskers had set up base in and the path Will forged through brambles and nettlesThe other side of the island where Will waded through ferns to get to WhiskersThis path is a bit too 'off road' for Vicky's chair!Spot Leo 🧐 He'd taken a shine to this woman while her poor Scottie Ted watched onAbby is still enjoying life despite the discovery of a heart murmerOur mooring at KidsgroveBoat emerging from the north portalNorth portal, the tunnel keeper's hut and the old tunnel entrance beyondReed beds have been planted to help filter the water leeching from the now closed Brindley TunnelWe thought the purple of this building coordinated quite well with the rust coloured water!

    Harecastle Tunnel and Kidsgrove

    2 juin 2025, Angleterre ⋅ ⛅ 18 °C

    Back on the Trent and Mersey the channel was wider, straighter and deeper, making navigation a lot easier as we made our way towards the notorious Harecastle Tunnel.

    On the way we passed Middleport Pottery which had free day-moorings for visitors. We made a mental note to take a tour the next time we travelled this canal but right now, both our sights were set on the journey ahead, through the fourth longest, self navigable tunnel in the UK.

    Harecastle has an interesting history. In response to the need for coal in the potteries, James Brindley engineered a low, narrow tunnel stretching 2630m through Goldenhill. It opened in 1777, allowing navvies to leg their boats through. The trip would take about 3 hours while boat children led the horses overground, along Boathorse Road and met up at the other end. The industrial revolution meant that almost as soon as the Brindley tunnel opened it was insufficient for the vastly increased demand for coal. Also, it had been dug out of soft earth and millstone grit. There were major problems with subsidence and flooding.

    Brindley had died before his tunnel opened so Thomas Telford was brought in to engineer a second, parallel tunnel. Though still only wide enough for one boat, the new tunnel incorporated a towpath, meaning horses could pull vessels through, reducing journey times to 40 minutes. Offshoot tunnels linked directly to nearby mines, where coal was loaded on to small craft and taken back to the main tunnel. This eliminated the need to haul coal to the top of the mine shafts and proved a far more efficient method of extraction.

    From 1827, when the Telford Tunnel opened, the two worked alongside each other, meaning boats could travel both directions at the same time. In 1914 the older Brindley tunnel finally collapsed. Its legacy is the intense orange hue leached into the canal from iron ore disturbed as the ground slowly shifts and subsides.

    We moored for water just before the southern entrance and were given a safety talk by the tunnel keeper. Will shifted all the plants off the roof, turned on the navigation and headlights and tested the horn. Since parts of the towpath collapsed, there was no option to walk Tiger through. The keeper noted the two adults, two dogs and two cats on board and advised us that if there was a problem, we should sound the horn every 30 seconds until we hear the rescue boat giving three blasts in return. Only one of us was allowed to be outside, while any crew and all pets needed to be shut indoors. Life jackets were advisablebut not mandatory. As we were towing Little Rainboat, we'd go through by ourselves, not in convoy. We set off just before our booked time of 1pm. The keeper opened the barrier and tunnel door, then closed it behind us. Once inside, noisy fans started up, ventilating the 2676m length. They removed the smell of diesel but a sulfurous odour intensified the deeper we got. Vicky camped out on the bed with the two dogs and Whiskers. She'd prepped calming music, a calming spray, cheese treats, honey and peanut butter licky mats as well as Tiger's snuggly bed to try and keep her calm. Thankfully she coped reasonably well and Will did a super job of keeping to the middle so there weren't any loud bangs. The only scrape came when he tried to avoid a massive hunk of rock sticking out into the water. We reached the north portal in just under 40 minutes but had to travel through a lock before we found a suitable place to moor near Kidsgrove.

    We made a big fuss of Leo that evening as it was his 3 year adoptiversary. He and Tiger enjoyed his new puzzle feeder, but figured it out pretty quickly!

    Whiskers obviously approved of the location. He went off the next day and when we checked in the evening he was 400m away on a long island between the Trent and Mersey and the Middlewich Canal that ran parallel. Will galantly set off and returned 45 minutes later with a disgruntled ball of black fluff struggling in his arms. He'd been in a large Willow, protected by steep banks of bracken, brambles and nettles. Will really wished he'd worn thicker trousers!

    The forecast showed gusty winds and heavy downpours so we stayed for six days. Will found Amigo's, a nearby kebab takeaway and we both enjoyed it so much we visited twice! Abby's annual booster was due and Beechwood Vets was only 13 minutes walk away. Conveniently they were able to fit us in the same day. Abby is nearly 16 but sprung out of her box in the consultation room and rubbed herself against the vet. It helped that she had dreamies. On her health check the vet detected a heart murmer. We decided to do some further checks included in a 'geriatric package'. Her BP was good and none of the results from her blood test were anything to worry about. She seemed as well as an older cat could be in herself so it's just a case of being vigilant and keeping it in mind. She's still happy and enjoying life, which is what matters.    En savoir plus

    Voir la traduction
  • Vicky 'n' Will's TravelsRainboatVicky 'n' Will's Travels
    Opposite the cow field
    Beautiful array of wildflowers and grasses at the towpath edgeTime for the orchids to bloom. I think this one is a Common Spotted Orchid.2Making use of vertical space with a macrame fruit hammock

    Near Church Lawton

    6 juin 2025, Angleterre ⋅ ☁️ 15 °C

    It seemed the locks were never ending on today's cruise. Blustery conditions made navigation tricky and Tiger Lilly seemed particularly stressed so we were a little fraught when we pulled in to the ring moorings opposite a large dairy farm. We'd developed a good system where Tiger would walk alongside Vicky and Leo would ride in his pouch as Vicky operated the locks and Will did a combination of steering and locking. It was efficient and both dogs were happy. Vicky hasn't had the energy to do this since Christmas which leaves Tiger with the option of being on the bank away from Vicky or being on board with her as she steers through the locks. Tiger gets stressed by both of these things which has been leading to her fitting. We've been wracking our brains about how to make things better for her but it isn't easy.

    Thankfully these moorings close to Church Lawton were in peaceful surroundings. They even had 'real country smells' wafting over from the farm 💩😂 The edge of the towpath had been left to nature and was rich with wildflowers and grass seed heads; beautiful to look out on to. We hunkered down and tried to dodge the heavy showers for the next few days. Will took the bike shopping and Vicky finished making a macrame fruit hammock to make use of a bit of space under a shelf. We felt a lot more relaxed at the end of our stay.    En savoir plus

    Voir la traduction
  • Vicky 'n' Will's TravelsRainboatVicky 'n' Will's Travels
    Just one of the twin locks operational now.
    2Leo did want to be in two places at once!Twin bridges too!Twin lock gatesWill coped really well single handing through the locks and we all found it less stressfulNice to see the CRT mowing a strip for walking between the gates but leaving the rest to meadowWill stocked up on chocolate. Not sure Vicky's diet will stay on track... 🤔The Broughton ArmsWhat a privilege to have these cuties right outside our window 😍2Mr Whiskers was not impressed with his new harness 😳2Abby enjoying the evening sunshine on her 16th birthday 🤎🖤1

    Rode Heath

    9 juin 2025, Angleterre ⋅ ☁️ 16 °C

    With six locks ahead of us on today's cruise we knew we had to do something different with Tiger to lower her stress levels. Will galantly volunteered to single handedly steer the boat and work the locks while Vicky took her chair and the dogs on the towpath. She was able to go ahead and open a paddle so the lock was filled and the gate ready to open by the time Will arrived. She then opened the downstream paddle once Rainboat was in and Will had closed the top gate.

    Will worked hard and managed very well. Leo behaved beautifully and enjoyed riding on Vicky's lap, exploring the area around the locks and hopping on to Rainboat when there was a longer distance between the locks. And Tiger? She enjoyed herself too! She stuck to Vicky's side while at locks, trotted behind on the towpath and rode on her lap when the locks were further apart. We may not be able to do this all the time but we were so relieved that it worked well today 😊

    We pulled in just past the Broughton Arms in Rode Heath. The ring moorings were at the top of a hill meadow, with lots of narrow tracks weaving through the tall grass. It was very popular with dog walkers and a certain boat cat!

    Tuesday was Abby the Tabby's 16th birthday. She enjoyed a spot of sunbathing on the stern and we fed her forkfuls of a special 'gourmet' wet cat food while Mr Whiskers was away in the meadow. Will took the bike to a nearby Asda to stock up (mostly on chocolate for Vicky), then we treated ourselves to a pub lunch. The Broughton Arms is a Marstons pub so the food was average but the drinks were good 😋

    The afternoon was spent enjoying the sunshine, fishing and making a new harness for Mr Whiskers to replace the one he lost at the peacock paddock. He was less than impressed with it but it should do the job.    En savoir plus

    Voir la traduction
  • Vicky 'n' Will's TravelsRainboatVicky 'n' Will's Travels
    Yet another lock
    Beautiful stone planter with fragrant lavender at this lockLast lock of the day just before the M6 flyoverIdyllic english farmland so close to the M62Cinebar moth outside the boatOrchids (of which there were many) had been marked for protection

    Hassall Green

    11 juin 2025, Angleterre ⋅ ⛅ 24 °C

    Yet six more locks and hot weather meant today's journey was slow progress. The last lock was close to a flyover of the M6 so we carried on until we felt the traffic noise was at a tolerable level before mooring. At odds with the distant roar of the road, our surroundings were idyllic english farmland with bullocks grazing the adjacent field.En savoir plus

    Voir la traduction
  • Vicky 'n' Will's TravelsRainboatVicky 'n' Will's Travels
    Not often the headroom is displayed for canal bridges
    One of these parallel locks had been opened and landscaped to allow water to flow downstreamThese orchids between the twin locks had escaped the strimmerOne lock for boat passage, the other for water flow and perhaps fish?Exiting the twin locks3Tiny moth on a buttercup. I don't know what kind it is 🤔Another set of twin locks with a pretty lock cottage2Surrounded by greenery 😊With this heat it was time to clip Tiger. Clippers today & scissor work after a break of a few days

    Ettiley Heath

    15 juin 2025, Angleterre ⋅ ☁️ 18 °C

    Today's cruise was very similar to our previous one; six locks in hot weather. There were lots of lovely wildflowers in the verges and pleasant rural views. High speed swallows scooped water from the canal before returning to catching bugs for their young. The trees and hedges hid songbirds that filled the air with their tuneful chirps. We're feeling so happy to be on this journey. The Trent and Mersey really is a gorgeous place to be this time of year.En savoir plus

    Voir la traduction
  • Vicky 'n' Will's TravelsRainboatVicky 'n' Will's Travels
    British Salt plant
    2Salt mountain!Boats, towpath, verge, road. But needs must.Will took a trip to the nearby Kings Lock pub which had a very unusual barAn area left to grow wild2We treated ourselves to delicious fish and chips from here

    Kings Lock, Middlewich

    17 juin 2025, Angleterre ⋅ ☁️ 22 °C

    Two locks close together, then another three farther apart took us into Middlewich. On the way we passed the British Salt plant and saw thousands of tonnes of salt piled high behind their warehouse.

    The canal widened out and began running parallel to a busy road. We carried on hoping we might find somewhere to moor away from the noise and danger but there was nowhere before the next lock, which Vicky was too hot and tired to manage. We slotted into a space between other boats and kept a very close eye on the dogs when walking them so they didn't stray towards the cars. The cat flap remained closed, much to Mr Whiskers' annoyance. Vicky gave him a walk on his harness and lead when things had quietened down in the evening but he didn't like the sound of cars roaring by. We only stayed the one night as he really is happier when he can come and go.    En savoir plus

    Voir la traduction
  • Vicky 'n' Will's TravelsRainboatVicky 'n' Will's Travels
    Turning off the Trent and Mersey, onto Middlewich Branch, approaching Wardle Lock
    Very little shade on a hot, hot day.At least our rooftop strawberries are loving the heat!

    Middlewich, NHS and a hot, hot sun

    18 juin 2025, Angleterre ⋅ ☀️ 24 °C

    Keen to get away from the busy road, we descended Kings Lock, filled with water, then turned left, off the Trent and Mersey on to the Middlewich Branch of the Shropshire Union Canal. Vicky was feeling stronger today and was pleased to be able to work Rainboat up through Wardle Lock.

    We were now retracing our steps from November 2023 when it was cold and bucketing down with rain; a huge contrast to this week's heatwave! We moored soon after Wardle Lock in between other boats at the town's ring moorings.

    Middlewich doesn't have a huge number of shops but it's the largest town we've come accross in a while. Pretty much as soon as we'd moored Will was off with his wallet in hand. As well as happily spending time in the angling superstore, the Middlewich DIY store and picking up our prescriptions, he visited a dentist. He's currently registered with an NHS dentist in Rowlands Gill near Vicky's parents. We'd get checkups and treatment when we visited in the van, but now we have the cats, only one of us can leave the boat. The cost, time and organisation required to get up there are a major disadvantage. We believe in the NHS and want to keep using it but he'd been having problems with his wisdom tooth for some time so made the decision his teeth were more important than his principles and booked in for a private appointment the next day. The clinician diagnosed an infection under the tooth, advised swilling with salt water, prescribed antibiotics in case it worsened and booked him in for an extraction in September when we'd be passing back through Middlewich. All very efficient!

    On a roll, he called a nearby GP surgery, hoping to get his overdue second shingles vaccination. The NHS states you have a right to register with any GP without needing an address and you should be able to get a temporary registration for treatments such as this. Unfortunately the receptionist was having none of it. The surgery didn't have enough space for any temporary patients and insisted on a local address for permanent registration. Listening to other boaters, it seems this is par for the course. Changing tack, he registered online at the Doctors Surgery near his sister Sue's house and was pleased to get a welcome back message shortly after. It will be an extra bonus to spend time with the family.

    Rainboat was facing west, with back gardens bordering the canal on both sides. There was a hedge on Rainboat's starboard but her port side was facing the full strength of the sun on a 29° day 🥵 Will paddled Little Rainboat to under the shade of a tree and spent a few hours fishing while Vicky stayed on board, opening and closing windows, doors and blinds as the sun moved round, eating ice cream and putting frozen peas in the dogs' puzzle feeder. It had been a productive 48 hours in town but we vowed to move on and seek shade the next day when the forecast was even hotter.    En savoir plus

    Voir la traduction
  • Vicky 'n' Will's TravelsRainboatVicky 'n' Will's Travels
    1Vicky tried to make elderflower squash. It was drinkable but not as delicious as she'd hoped.
    Enjoying the cool of Stanthorne WoodsWhiskers looking confident in his new domain2We were so grateful for the woodland's cooling effectTiger 'helping' with the gardeningLeo being a good boy staying close byHe actually layed down outside for a minute! Big progress for Leo.Chilled out in the hammockThis is the life!

    Stanthorne Wood beyond Middlewich

    20 juin 2025, Angleterre ⋅ ☁️ 29 °C

    With a temperature of 30°C forecast we rose at 7am and were on the move in search of shade by 8am. We found it amongst Stanthorne Woods; a short stretch of mature woodland through which the canal ran. We were very happy to be moored up by 9am, with the relavent doors and windows open and the relevant blinds closed.

    Even when the trees didn't directly shade Rainboat, there was a noticeable cooling effect in their proximity. Whiskers hopped off almost immediately and went down the bank to explore. He spent most of the next two days on the woodland floor, popping back from time to time for fuss, water and food.

    After a while, Will took our hammock and kobo and joined Whiskers, swinging gently too and fro between the boughs.

    A boat will cool faster than a house, for which we are grateful on hot nights, but we found ourselves having to close all the windows to try and muffle the kee-wick calls of Tawny Owls. Leo is not a fan! This, together with the sporadic car horns blaring from the nearby beeping bridge meant we didn't get much sleep.

    The next day Will cycled to Middlewich in search of lunch. The Cheshire Cheese pub didn't do food, nor did the Kings Lock, but the latter was happy for Will to buy something from the next door Kings Lock chippy and eat it while having a pint, so that's what he did.

    That afternoon the clouds had thickened and there were sporadic downpours. We enjoyed a dry few hours with Will fishing off the stern and Vicky sitting out with the dogs on the towpath, weeding, planting seeds and flowers in our rooftop troughs. She even spotted a Goldcrest just 3m away! We were so proud of the dogs, especially Leo who stayed nearby and came back when called. He even lay down towards the end; something he's not previously felt comfortable doing outside.

    We're now enjoying french marigolds, fuscia, geranium, lavender and self seeded viola and marigold flowers. We'll keep our eyes open for sprouts of chard, courgette, salad leaves, wildflowers, marigold and cultivated bindweed. Keep your fingers crossed for us! 🤞    En savoir plus

    Voir la traduction
  • Vicky 'n' Will's TravelsRainboatVicky 'n' Will's Travels
    Passing Aqueduct Marina
    Benches and BBQ stands provided in a mini meadow areaSpeckled Wood butterflyRinglet ButterflyCoffee and walnut cake at Venetian Marina1st BBQ of the year2

    Sykes Hollow

    22 juin 2025, Angleterre ⋅ 🌬 18 °C

    We cruised a bit further than we usually would, taking a break and restarting in order to reach Sykes Hollow; a beautiful recreation area specifically for boaters. Much of the stretch of ring moorings has a broad towpath, backed by a bank of shrubs and trees. We got lucky though, when we found space at the small hollow dug into the bank. There were 3 wooden picnic tables with bbq stands and the ground was covered in meadow grass and wildflowers; white and purple clover, yellow trefoil, buttercups and vetch. It was alive with the buzz of pollinating insects and several different types of butterfly busily flittered from flower to flower- heaven!

    The next morning it was clear Vicky needed a duvet day so Will got in the canoe and paddled on to Venetian Marina. Richard and Ruth Chamberlain who used to run a fuel boat have taken over the chandlery there and Ruth paints and sells traditional 'castles and roses' canalware in the shop. We'd visited Venetian once before, when a guy who also lived on a boat built by Cain Narrowboats flagged us down. We'd learned over tea and cake in the café that they were moored permanently at Venetian but hoping to get out exploring when health allowed. The café had been taken over by someone new but the extra large slice of coffee and walnut cake was very enjoyable.

    There was a mooring limit of 48 hours at Sykes Hollow but there were hardly any other boats around. Knowing we wouldn't be preventing others from tying up we cheekily decided to stay a third night. Will set and lit our BBQ and cooked vegetable skewers to go with the pitta bread he had made from scratch on the skillet earlier in the day. It was a perfect evening!    En savoir plus

    Voir la traduction
  • Vicky 'n' Will's TravelsRainboatVicky 'n' Will's Travels
    Passing by Venetian Marina
    Leaving the Middlewich Branch for the Shropshire Union CanalPeekaboo!The furries were a bit conked with the heat.

    Tilstone, Shropshire Union Canal

    25 juin 2025, Angleterre ⋅ ☁️ 23 °C

    The Middlewich Branch had served us well, taking us from the Trent and Mersey to the Shropshire Union Canal. Today we turned right at Barbridge Junction and began our passage north towards Chester.

    It was hot again and pretty busy, with a mix of owners, share boaters and hirers making the most of the sunshine. We pulled in at Calverley services to fill the water tank and get rid of our rubbish, which was once again overflowing and beginning to smell in the heat. We were pleased to be able to use the new Food Waste bin as it would reduce the pressure on our limited on-board composting capacity. They've been mandatory since April so we should start seeing more of them. It was disappointing to see there were only two recycling bins though, as they were overflowing. We guess it takes time for contractors to adapt to demand.

    The Shropshire Union is a heavy duty, wide canal, designed for lots of traffic. Vicky was very pleased to see a shower at the services and nipped in for a cool down while our tank was filling.

    It's been ages since we've encountered double width locks and the two Bunbury staircase locks were a bit of a shock to the system. There was a boat already in the lower lock as we cruised into the upstream one with another boat. There were plenty of crew to work the paddles and gates. Happily, too many cooks did not spoil the broth and we progressed to the lower lock without a hitch. Will nipped into the small Anglo Welsh hire boat office while we were descending and came out with a couple of Magnums; a glorious sight for Vicky in her overheated state!

    We moored just before the next lock near Tilstone; near where we'd stayed the last time we travelled this canal. It was frosty then, so it was nice to see it in a different season. Giant Hogweed towered over us as we walked the dogs along the towpath and honeysuckle climbed 10m up trees on the opposite bank. Vicky was lucky enough to see a Kingfisher close up as it dived towards her for a fish, then spun round, flying away and meeting with it's mate further down the canal. Happy days!    En savoir plus

    Voir la traduction
  • Vicky 'n' Will's TravelsRainboatVicky 'n' Will's Travels
    Beautiful sentiment on this memorial rose. Shed no tear..
    A bit of maintenance required at Tilstone LockCute Lengthsman's hutDescending Beeston Stone Lock with companyMoored in sight of The ShadySeafood platter, asparagus with humus and Smashed alcohol free ciderHappy Vicky 😋Ladybird trying to blend inBeeston CastleA wonderful mix of grasses on the sandstone ridgeNever spotted this tiny gossamer winged butterfly before; a Small CopperA well earned ice cream after the hike up to Beeston CastleSaved for later 😋

    Return to The Shady

    27 juin 2025, Angleterre ⋅ 🌬 23 °C

    We had four double locks ahead today but as we were entering the first, we were happy to spot another boat coming up behind us. It's always easier with two and the extra crew takes the strain off working the larger gates. As an extra bonus, the other boaters were accompanied by 3 dogs! Vicky was feeling a little stronger so helped with the paddles while keeping a close eye on Leo and Tiger. Leo has made good progress lately, staying closer to Vicky and coming back more consistently so he no longer needs to be carried in the Pom Pouch. He had the time of his life following the other dogs around and watching all the activity while his big sister stuck loyally to Vicky's side.

    We descended Tilstone and Beeston Stone Locks together, had to go through the distorted Beeston Iron lock one by one, but then completed the final lock side by side, before mooring in sight of The Shady. We'd been looking forward to this particular pub; remembering it fondly from the last time we travelled the Shropshire Union.

    Vicky had a rest and settled the dogs while Will went ahead and ordered her lunch and got her favourite alcohol free cider (Smashed). The food was so delicious that Will returned the following morning for a Full English.

    The last time we'd moored here we'd walked accross the fields and up the lanes to English Heritage's Beeston Castle, perched high on a sandstone ridge. Unfortunately it was closed on that occasion but it was now Sunday and the castle's gates were open. Will cycled with Leo in a rucksack and Vicky took the chair with Tiger on her lap. The staff were very helpful, pointing out the best routes through the grounds, which were a mix of natural grassland and mature native woodland. It was a beautiful and relaxing environment but the closer we got to the castle, the steeper the terrain became. Will had to haul the chair up a narrow flight of steps while Vicky took the dogs. We've been really impressed with how the chair copes but it finally met its match on a particularly steep section, where it toppled backwards, pitching Vicky feet over head into a backward roll. Shocked but with only a couple of bruises she continued on foot, using the chair for support. Some time later we finally made it through the arched gateway and turned to look back on the land layed out below us for miles on end. It was a very impressive view and we both felt proud for having reached this point. We rewarded ourselves with Magnums from the gift shop back at the bottom and Will bought a bottle of Cheshire vodka distilled with English wheat (not to be consumed alongside the icecream).    En savoir plus

    Voir la traduction
  • Vicky 'n' Will's TravelsRainboatVicky 'n' Will's Travels
    Perfect place to see out a scorcher

    Shady towpath near Newton by Tattenhall

    29 juin 2025, Angleterre ⋅ ☁️ 24 °C

    With yet another 30°C day forecast we left The Shady pub mooring in search of a different kind of shade. We'd planned to cover a decent distance but when we came accross overhanging trees near Newton- by-Tattenhall we knew it was a good spot.

    The neglected path meant we needed to duck to walk under the trees and watch where we put our feet on the uneaven ground. It had the advantage that few people passed by and we could leave the windows open to ventilate the boat without Leo going bananas. It was perfect for a scorcher of a day and had the added advantage of being right beside a 5g mast, giving us excellent reception.    En savoir plus

    Voir la traduction