Thursday 28 July 2011

Consall Forge to Cheddleton, via Froghall

Today we travelled to the end of navigation at Froghall and then re-traced our route to moor just before Cheddleton.

The last section of canal has a very low tunnel and very few boats can get through. We decided to fill up with water before we set off and to take the flowers off the roof to make the boat as low as possible. Below Flint Mill Lock there is a profile of the tunnel suspended from the bridge and unfortunately we just touched it as we came through, therefore we would have to turn before Froghall Tunnel.

For boats that are unable to pass through the tunnel you have to moor alongside a lovely site where a large factory has been demolished and then walk on to the end of the canal.

A lot of money has been spent on restoring a lock that leads down into a basin with lovely mooring pontoons, boaters facilities etc, but most  boats are unable to reach this.

There is a visitors centre (that was shut) and a little shop, where you are not allowed in, but you can ring on the bell or bang on the window to get the little old lady's attention and she has a list of the items she sells on display! All in all Froghall is a missed opportunity and a disappointment for such a wonderful canal.

On the return journey we passed a boat who warned us about a snake that had taken up residence in the next locks paddle gear. Sure enough there was a small grass snake trying to hide in a crack in the concrete but his last meal was too big and he couldn't get all his body in!