Saturday 15/10. Bridge 53 to Hollybush Inn, Denford

A late start again this morning. With Tim and Mike on board we now sit down to a civilised breakfast. With no real plan for the day, other than to get to Hollybush Inn for dinner we headed off.

I don't know if you can see this stony ridge going up the hill, looking like the back of a dragon

It's. Itching as fanciful, but it is intriguing. The locals call it 'Tickle Ridge' and it is a layer of limestone created by liquid lime deposits running down the hillside over centuries.

Going back past Comsall railway station

Definitely one way working through here

We pulled up opposite this interesting tree trunk for a waterfill

Limekilns and Tim at the waterpoint at Consall Forge

Leaving the River Churnett at Oakmeadow Ford Lock. What a treat, I got to be a passenger. Waiting for the lock to drain

Tim and Mike doing the lock work

Mike opening a top gate ground paddle

As we cruised through Cheddleton we saw that the Old Flint Mill was open and that one of the water wheels was turning. We moored up to go and have a look. Lawrence who was still grumpy from having missed seeing the steam train go by cheered up as he looked around the mill.

Which runs the main gears

Which, among other things, ran the Flint grinding pan

A water mill has been recorded on this site since 1253. Ca 1756 the. Roth mill was built specially to grind flintstone for the Staffordshire pottery industries and ca 1780 the existing south mill,mused to grind corn was strengthened and converted to grind flintstone also.

The mill was closed in 1963 and purchased by a Trust made up of volunteers in 1967, who ate still running it and are doing an amazing job.

In this little cottage lives the 97 yo daughter of the last mill owner.

She grew up in the cottage on left, in the next pic, and moved into the cottage with the red door upon her marriage and has lived there ever since.

After the very interesting visit to the mill and and an informative tour by a volunteer, we returned to the boat for a sanga and some more of Jean's scones before proceeding forth once more.

Nearing the Hollybush Inn, our intended overnight mooring

We moored up at 3.30 in glorious sunshine. Lawrnece had a nana nap, Tim went to talk to the cows in the field across the canal, Mike did the crossword puzzle and I caught up on the blog and the. Went to the pub to send it. Met Tim near the pub and he joined me for a convivial 3/4 hour that it took the blog to go.

A very pleasant evening was spent in the pub.

6miles, 5 locks in 51/2 hours