The Four Counties Ring trip

[Philip]

I've talked about it long enough in the build up to this, so I thought I'd give you a reasonably brief trip report, with a few images added which were taken along the way - actually I took hundreds, but I can't show them all on here. I've just about used the same report as in the virtual pub, but thought it wasn't the best place to put it.

 

The weather wasn't perfect, but a nice last few days, Wednesday was the worst.

 

Surprised to see how busy it was, even allowing for the Easter holidays - especially on the Shroppie - many boats heading the other way towards Nantwich on Tuesday - Audlem got busy on Tuesday morning - 7 or 8 boats going down in the top half of the flight. Tyrley was busy later on, again with boats going down, but at least we didn't have to wait going up the locks and they were set in our favour.

 

Wednesday was a wet one from Norbury to Acton Trussell, still enjoyed it much and a few boats on the move on the Staffs and Worcester - no queues at the locks, but most were set for us.

 

Passed a good few boats heading the other way on the Trent and Mersey on Thursday, when going from Acton Trussell to Stone, we still had to empty Hoo Mill and Sandon.

 

Had a safe passage through Stoke on Friday morning - very overcast, but brightened up in the afternoon. The original line of the canal into Stoke bottom lock had been restored, the temporary tunnel gone. Harecastle Tunnel as awe-inspiring as ever and it extremely wet.

 

A relaxing day on Saturday from Hassall Green to Middlewich, including a trip up the beautiful Dane Valley - the weather was good and a nice last day on Sunday up the branch, again with good weather, turning right at Barbridge.

 

Quite a few new gates on the Staffs and Worcs and Trent and Mersey, although still a few of the good old creaky, ragged wooden gates remaining on the Cheshire Locks.

 

Very enjoyable and active trip on the Four Counties - more traffic this time than when we did it two years ago. Would like to do the southern Staffs and Worcs next, although I'd really like to do this again next Easter - too much choice!

 

Images:

 

Monday:

 

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y272/pd123/868ef587.jpg - Baddington Bridge

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y272/pd123/f866c0cc.jpg - leaving Hack Green locks, with threatening skies overhead.

 

Tuesday:

 

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y272/pd123/P1010124.jpg - on the Audlem flight, approaching lock 12.

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y272/pd123/c21184ee.jpg[/url] - Tyrley bottom lock.

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y272/pd123/86b6ea20.jpg - Double Culvert Bridge, Grub Street Cutting.

 

Wednesday:

 

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y272/pd123/b2b31efe.jpg - approaching Wheaton Aston lock, in the wet.

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y272/pd123/371eedea.jpg - turning off the Shroppie and onto the northern Staffs and Worcs at Autherley Junction.

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y272/pd123/c0127332.jpg - leaving Filance lock, Penkridge.

 

Thursday:

 

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y272/pd123/507b0b78.jpg - leaving Deptmore lock.

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y272/pd123/03e82063.jpg - Weston lock.

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y272/pd123/943d5d0f.jpg - Sandon lock, with new back gates.

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y272/pd123/80f2f4be.jpg - Sandon lock, with top gate paddle up - everything safe and under control, the boat was short enough.

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y272/pd123/b291dbdc.jpg - The very deep Yard lock, Stone.

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y272/pd123/75171910.jpg - leaving Lime Kiln lock, Stone.

 

Friday:

 

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y272/pd123/16aefdf6.jpg - leaving Trentham lock.

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y272/pd123/cc8831dc.jpg - the new/original line of the canal into Stoke bottom lock.

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y272/pd123/f78cfedb.jpg - plunging into the darkness of Harecastle tunnel, at the south end.

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y272/pd123/f0bd5e54.jpg - leaving Harecastle tunnel, at the north end - wow it was wet in there that day!

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y272/pd123/c8f5e6ad.jpg - half way down the Cheshire locks, leaving Thurlwood lock.

 

Saturday:

 

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y272/pd123/4ce63d13.jpg - leaving Wheelock bottom lock.

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y272/pd123/55fbdcbf.jpg - Rumps lock

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y272/pd123/131a1316.jpg - Andersen Boats, Middlewich

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y272/pd123/897ccd87.jpg - a bit of action near Croxton Aqueduct.

 

Sunday:

 

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y272/pd123/9bcae8a7.jpg - Cholmondeston lock

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y272/pd123/83489ce6.jpg - Bunbury locks - that sad feeling that you're near the end, with only 5 locks and 2 miles left of the trip.

 

I hope you enjoyed reading of my trip and with a bit of luck, the image links will be working. Next year will be the Staffs and Worcs all being well, but I can't wait to do this again and perhaps in 2008 we will do it again.

Edited April 29, 2006 by Philip