Victor on the Four Counties

AS MY regular readers will know we were thwarted from our intention of making it to Bugsworth Basin by our friends at CaRT deciding not to open the Peak Forest Canal as promised—but what's new, eh?

We thought, 'shall we risk it', but decided on the Four Counties Ring once again, and it was good we did, as we learn that the Peak Forest breach has caused it to be 'closed until further notice'.

It was some years since we last did the Shroppie, and this time we could manage it in easy stints by cutting down on the distance by picking up the boat at Fradley.

Tixall deserted

So on to the 'Ring' at Haywood Junction, clockwise, and an 'overnight' at Tixall Wide, with the difference that we had no need to carry on towards the lock to find a quiet—non engine/generator—mooring as the Wide was virtually deserted, with the picture showing the usually packed full of boats area, when we set off from there early one foggy morning.

So soon at the start of the season we really expected that the various problems would have been sorted, but alas, no such luck.  The very first lock still had the iniquitous yellow tape wrapped around the safety handle of one gate, as it was insecure, and I soon discovered it had been the same since last season.

Problem for newcomers

Approaching the lock it was obvious that the gates were still not properly balanced and swung open, as looking at the boat's log I see they have been for many a year. Not really a problem, as like many others we simply open a top paddle a little way to hold them closed once in the lock, but a problem for newcomers and particularly new hirers. But worse, I have seen newcomers who have cottoned-on but opened a paddle fully and have the gates crash shut, that is hardy conducive for a long life.

Perhaps the answer, if CaRT do not intend to do anything about such gates, as it obviously does not at Junction Lock at Fradley, is to install a couple of cheap struts to hold the bottom gates closed.

As we travelled the waterway we were surprised at the lack of moored boats—popular moorings completed deserted, as were those at Penkridge, shown in the picture.

It was also obvious that the waterways badly need dredging in parts, and even with our short draught we would suddenly be slowed right down, showing that as is now widely stated 'the bottom in getting nearer the top'.

Having an effect

It was exactly 22 years since we first cruised this part of the Staffs & Worcs and have done it many times since, remembering in fact when the fella who lived in the lock keepers cottage at Deptmore Lock had to carry diesel in a boat to power his generator, having no mains supply, yet as we carried on it was more and more obvious that CaRT's constant failure to keep up with its maintenance was having an effect.

One thing very much in its favour, is that the Staffs & Worcs boasts just about the easiest paddle gear on the system—no long handled windlasses needed here, and that certainly makes life a little easier for us older ones. And though alas, not always well balanced, when they are, the gates are also a doddle to move, all helping in working the canal.