Day 12 Thursday 2 October - Leek to Stoke-on-Trent

Oh wow....what a beautiful day today has been!  Although it started off a little chilly the sun came out & once again we were just in t-shirts, how lucky we are.

We set off this morning from Leek back along the Caldon Canal which was re-tracing our steps back to the T&M canal.

The end of the Leek Branch Caldon Canal

We left last nights mooring (pictured above) & shortly reached the narrow Leek Tunnel, this tunnel is only 130 yards long & is only wide enough for a single boat so you need to check nobody is coming towards you before you enter.  Narrowboats have a tunnel light on the front & you can see ours reflected on the tunnel walls on the picture below

Leek Tunnel Caldon Canal

The canal then winds around through woodland & fields

Mist on the Staffordshire Countryside

We shortly reached the Hazelhurst Aqueduct where the Leek branch crossed over the mainline of the Caldon Canal

Crossing the Hazelhurst Aqueduct Leek Branch, Caldon Canal

Narrow section is the Hazelhurst Aqueduct, Leek Branch of Caldon Canal

If you've ever wondered what a narrowboat looks like when out of the water then have a look at the picture below.  These boats have a shallow hull as canals are not very deep; usually 3-4' - boaters would always say that if you ever fell into a canal the first thing you should do is to stand up!

After 6.5 hours, 9 locks & 3 lift bridges we reached the bottom of the Caldon Canal where there is a statue of James Brindley, the engineer credited with the construction of many canals
To learn more about James Brindley click here

James Brindley

At the bottom of the Caldon Canal we turned right back onto the T&M canal to head north.  We have stopped at the Black Prince marina at Stoke-on-Trent as we needed to have our waste tank pumped out & we are currently moored in their marina.  As I was concerned by the wet weather that's due from Saturday onwards & having forgotten my waterproof coat we walked along the road to Sports Direct so I could buy myself a coat so now I am sorted for whatever wet weather is in store!