The Apprentice.

Day 4 of our current Solace trip.  We continued up the Caldon taking advantage of how quiet it was to give Katkatkat more chances to prefect/improve her helming techniques.  Her she is manoeuvring into Flint Mill lock the last lock on the Caldon.  (Technically the Caldon is the Caldon branch of the Trent & Mersey Canal but it is never referred to by that long winded title.

Towards the top of the canal there is a restriction on navigation a tunnel of incredibly small dimensions.  Boats with an "air draft" of over 4 feet and a cabin with greater than 5 feet won't fit.  We knew we wouldn't fit but just to rub it in as you leave the lock there is a curtain of red and white plastic strips marking the profile.

With no where else to go we turned at the last winding hole before the tunnel and made our way back down the canal.  The Caldon is a very pretty winding narrow canal.  Katkatkat and G decided they needed more exercise so walked on ahead of Solace.  As we were passing down the section where the canal is actually the river as well they were lucky enough to see an Otter - sadly they didn't have their cameras.