Writing Again!

 

It's a very long time since I have written a post for my blog which is very silly of me, as I have been having so many lovely adventures and there is lots to tell you about.  But sometimes, that is the problem - so many things happen that it's hard for a Small Bear to know where to begin!

Polar says I should start with something short and simple, so here is a little post about what we did to celebrate human guardian Grizzly's birthday, back n March.

 

Grizzly loves steam railways so, when Polar saw that the Churnet Valley Railway were doing special trains going to their new station at Leek, she booked tickets for them.  Of course, we all love trains too, so we went with them - it was quite busy in the Bear Bag!  Before the train left the station, Grizzly had the chance for a look in the cab of the loco - and Hanley Bear went up with him.

Then we set off on our journey along the Churnet Valley.  We looked out for the Caldon Canal, as we have been along there on Uppie (our narrowboat, Uplander II) several times and know it well.

 

Soon after we left Kingsley and Froghall station, breakfast was served!

We went right up the line through the Staffordshire Moorlands to Ipstones, then the diesel loco on the back hauled us back down to Leekbrook Junction and then - the first time Polar and Grizzly had been that way - the steam locomotive hauled us into the little station near Leek.

 

The Chrurnet Valley Railway are hoping to build a proper station a little closer to the town one day - this one is on the outskirts, not far from the canal basin and country park.

After that, we had another surprise, as the train travelled a very short distance down the line that used to go all the way to Stoke-on-Trent. 

When we got back to Cheddleton Station, we had a guided tour of the locomotive sheds and the yard, then it was time for the last leg of our journey.  Hanley Bear and Grizzly enjoyed a pint of beer on the way back from there to Kingsley and Froghall!

We had hoped for afternoon tea at Hetty's Tearooms at Froghall Canal Basin when we got back, but they were just closing.  At least Hanley Bear was able to get a photograph with one of those Transport Trust signs that he looks out for.

We are hoping for another Churnet Valley Railway journey soon, but sadly won't be able to get to that part of the canal because there isn't enough water for the locks.  But we have been enjoying some little local canal journeys, and I will tell you about some of those soon.  Or maybe Hanley Bear will, because there have been celebrations for his home city's hundredth birthday and he want to share some of his photos and stories.