Up Hill and Down Dale.

 Well they predicted sunshine and showers and that is what we got. However we set off in sun

We weren't going long before we stopped before the Flint Mill at Cheddleton as we had a letter to post and decided to walk to the shop to get some milk. It seemed a long walk up the hill but much quicker coming back down! The stone buildings of Flint Mill make a lovely setting.

At the locks we met a C&RT push tug and butty coming up on their way to Trentham. There were no movements on the Churnet Valley Railway to day, but they have plenty of rolling stock.

Helen was getting ready to lift the bridge but wasn't disappointed we we found it in the raised position.

Very soon we were at Oak Meadow Lock where the canal joins the river for a short time. I had been hoping that despite all the rain over the last few days that the river wouldn't be in the red zone as the land had been so dry much of what had fallen recently would just have been soaked up. And so it was. Green was good to go, and the flow was gentle too.

Consall Lime Kilns are right next to the water point just before the weir where the canal leaves the river again. They were built to utilise locally mined coal and quarried limestone to make quicklime for mortar and soil conditioner. The tap is very strong here and we barely had time to finish our cup of tea before we were once again full.

I am always a little worried that just as we go under the waiting room at Consall Forge Station somebody will get caught short and use the long drop loo! I'm pretty sure they don't have a loo, but doesn't stop me thinking about it.

Along the route are the similar mile posts to on the Trent and Mersey. Most are replacements from 1981 and provided by the Caldon Canal Society in 1981. The originals were cast by R & D in stone, and I'm sure I have seen dates of 1819 and 1820! Next to the iron one is the original original stone one. This one was found at Stoke Bruene Museum, and nobody knew what it was.

Close to Froghall we came across Rothern Engineering doing a little dredging and back filling new Armco. They didn't hear us for a while but pulled up stumps and moved enough for us to pass them.

We got to the winding hole and turned. I was even thinking about trying through the tunnel as I'm sure we won't fit. It would be painful to think that even if they re-opened the Uttoxeter Canal we wouldn't be able to go because of the tunnel. I wondered if they had a little hand worked crane at each end and a load of weights that could be put on each end of your boat to sink it sufficiently to get your boat through, and then remove them when through?  We had a bite to eat and decided we had to go for a walk so boots were donned and jackets zipped. The little old lady who'se served tea and ice cream has gone a bit up market at Hetty's tea rooms. It is a lovely setting with the canal warehouse and bridge.

This looks like a bus shelter but I think it may be where the plateway that went steeply up the hill terminated. Maybe they unhooked them and pushed them and hitched on the empties. You can see the ascent going up the hill behind with the hand rails. It just about did for Helen.

No sooner had we got to the top than we were coming down steeply down again through beautiful Ochre Woods, back down to the River Churnet.

Helen was not amused when, after crossing the very end of the railway line with track and Whiston Bridge over the river, I told her we then had to climb back up the other side to Kingsley. The view back to the valley where we were moored and the old Thomas Bolton's cooper works chimney went some way to mollify her though.

The views were great especially when the sun broke through. We were walking on the Staffordshire Way at this point and then later joined the Staffordshire Moorlands Way. There were a couple of spots were farmers had put up electric fences and it wasn't at all obvious where we were supposed to go. I'm sure the farmers would be the first to complain if folk were wandering about over their land, so I never understand why they don't make the footpath routes across their land clear. After all it is in their interest. We showed what townies we are as I mentioned to a worker on the farm that we had seen a very young calf in a hedge bottom on its own., and as we approached it didn't get up. He said it is okay as its mum had just gone to be milked and would be back soon!

The route descends from Bank Top down to the railway, river and canal again. Passing the Kingsley Bird and Falconry Centre with very exotic noises coming from it. The view across the valley to Ruelow Woods was very nice too.

Back on the tow path we were soon back at the boat with the fire lit and the oven on and a bottle Plum Porter from Titanic to dull the aches and pains. We must be getting old as it was only around 5 miles! I nice day despite a couple of showers of sleet on the way down