Today we awoke to a difference - the sky was cloudy! However, the rest of the day continued much as before although not quite as chilly.
We had a possible appointment with the engineer at Marine Services, Etruria so we set off in very good time, a little before 8:30, expecting to arrive at our target between 2 and 3. Shortly after leaving, Christine was able to call the engineer and to make a definite arrangement and he did confirm that he is able to look at our type of heating system.
This was welcome news as the heater stopped altogether this morning after a short burst during which it made a little tepid water!
By the time we reached the 'obstruction' (the former swing bridge) some sunny patches had arrived.
This looks as if it was once going to be someone's 'project' boat but since its last licence was about ten years ago, it is perhaps taking longer than anticipated - or perhaps there is another story . . .
We arrived at the top of the Stockton Brook locks at 8:56 and with only one lock empty we made excellent progress, emerging out of the bottom lock at 9:34, under 8 minutes a lock but this time we did not meet any other boats on the move.
At the middle lock, Christine was quite taken by the pattern of these trees alongside.
We could see another boat just ahead of us - would they hold us up at the next lift bridges and locks? By now the weather was rather pleasant and we had hopes for the rest of the day - silly us!
At the second lift bridge we found that the preceding boat was just passing through. What you need to know, dear reader, is that the automated mechanisms 'capture' the Watermate keys w1hjich boaters use to operate the system. Until the bridge is properly back in its place it is not possible to remove the key. This often means that the bridge has to be closed between boats just so that keys are not lost. However, in this case the boat ahead kindly waved us through and also allowed us to take the next lock which was just a short distance on.
We moored temporarily at Milton Bridge so that Mike could walk to the shops for a few items that we wanted, we may not have another chance today. As he was waiting in the queue for the till in the Co-op, a sudden hailstorm arrived - fortunately the queue was slow (the lottery terminal was playing up!) and by the time he came out of the the worst was over. However, we did have quite a soaking along the next stretch and at one point even a loud thunder clap.
A lot of new housing has been built along both sides of this canal, much of it blocks of flats or very small houses. Some looks better than others. This estate has at least retained a couple of old bottle kilns as a reminder of past times. The general layout of this estate did not impress but it was good to see that one former factory building has been retained and converted. The frontage reads, "Johnson Bros (Hanley) Limited Sanitary Works Erect 1896"
Sunshine returned for the run through Hanley Park. This 'decoration' of a footbridge is supposed to be a work of art. Um!
At least it was dry as we came down through the last two locks, the staircase, and out to Etruria Junction.
From here it was just a few minutes to Festival Marina where we tied up just before 1 o'clock. Christine quickly found the engineer who made an immediate start on looking at the problem. He had a diagnostic from Eberspacher which told him that the blower motor (a very small unit it seems) was at fault. This is also an expensive replacement £170 plus fitting but we could so little alternative but to give the go ahead. So he removed the heater and took kit into his workshop to examine.
He returned a little while later saying that he had found the inside full of dirt and general gunge. When he had cleaned it out it seemed to run properly in a benchtest. He re-installed the heater and started it up. He left to have a cup of tea to see how it would run. We also had our lunch.
After about half an hour, the radiators were lukewarm but not as they should be. Then the heater stopped altogether and white smoke came out of the exhaust (probably vapourised but unignited diesel). We waited to see what might happen. As Mike went for a stroll along the towpath he saw a large cloud of blue-grey smoke come out and by the time he returned to the boat the heater had restarted. When the engineer returned a few minutes later he was pleased that it was still working! Oh no it didn't, we explained.
We spotted a rather out-of-place round house just beside the previous road bridge and Christine discovered that it was once part of the original Wedgewood factory. However, whilst there are many possibilities for its purpose - there were once two, one at either end of the factory - there is now no reliable evidence for why it was built. Today it seems to be a nursery for the bet365 office in whose car park it now stands.
By now the water seemed to be properly hot but we were advised to give it some time to see what happened. After about an hour with nothing untoward we all felt that there was little more but to settle the bill and keep our fingers crossed! Thanks Marine Services!
We opted to moor overnight at Westport Park, a good spot as it is just shirt of the Harecastle Tunnel. We were, in any case, by now too late to get through today.
Alongside the canal a new dry ski slope is being constructed.
The Burslem Canal, a short length, perhaps half a mile or less, once connected to more potteries away from the main line. It is shown clearly on the 1945 OS map so it must have been abandoned since then. Apart from the sign, there is little evidence as we passed the former junction.
A succession of potteries and flint mills once lined the canal along the next section after the place where the Shelton Steel Works once stood (long since reduced to a few piles of rubble). Some have found new uses, others stand in ruins waiting for something to happen. One, Middleport, is still in use producing Burleigh ware.
By the time we arrived at Westport Lake the sun had come out quite brightly and, once moored, we enjoyed a pleasant evening.
We have not yet found an explanation for how this lake came to be. On the 1876 map the area is shown as fields but within 20 years it appears as a lake, much as it is today.
11.2 Miles - 9 Locks
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