Stone to Barlaston - Trent & Mersey Canal

Monday 16^th August

We have enjoyed our stay in Stone and meeting up with friends, but today we are on the move to Barlaston which is four locks and about three miles away.

We set off along the canal, past several moored boats, under a bridge and past some canal side houses an then came to Meaford bottom lock, this is a flight of four locks.

                                                             

The present Meaford locks replaced an earlier staircase of three, the remains of which can be seen by the third lock, we missed this so will be having a look on the way back.

Unfortunately the lock was full so I emptied the lock and opened the gates for Kev to bring the boat in.  The next lock is really close by so it didn’t take long to do both locks and then we were on our way again.

                                                   

It was a dry day but not very warm and quite windy.  We went under another bridge and then was approaching the next lock.

There was a boat coming out of the lock so I went up to the lock and shut the gates once Kev was in the lock.

                                                              

We had one more lock to do so Kev shut the gate on the lock we had just come up and I walked on to the next one.  The bridge just before the lock was being worked on and had all scaffolding on it and the towpath was closed off, so I walked up the lane and onto the canal that way.

I emptied the lock and opened the gates and Kev came in.

I opened the paddles and filled the lock.  A boat came along as we were going up the lock so we went out and left the gate open for them.

                                                            

We went on along the canal and under a few bridges, we passed a few boats coming the other way.

After another couple of miles, we were approaching Barlaston.  We past a pub called the Plume of Feathers which is owned by Neil Morrissey and chugged on a bit further to the winding hole where we turned around as this is as far as we are going and reversed back into the moorings.  There were many geese here and all in the winding hole, but they got out of the way when Kev turned.

                                                   

 It is a really nice place to moor as it’s very open and opposite a big field where the geese gather as well as several moor hens and even a heron.

In the afternoon, we walked up to the pub and the small row of shops behind the pub, we were going to go to the butcher’s there but it is shut on a Monday so we went into the pub for a drink instead.

It is a nice pub and although we didn’t eat, the food coming out looked really good. We then walked back to the boat.

                                                        

                                                                                

We are staying here for a few days now as on Wednesday we are off to the World of Wedgewood which is near where we are moored.  We are meeting Jane and going around the museum then having afternoon tea in their tea room as a belated birthday treat for me so really looking forward to that, then on Thursday we will start heading back to Stone.

Bottom of Stone to the Top of Stone - Trent & Mersey Canal

 Friday 13^th August

We didn’t move on Wednesday in the end as we had to get the train to Penkridge to pick up a testing kit from the doctors for me which Stoke hospital had sent there, then on Thursday we went to Trentham Shopping village and met our friend Jane.  It’s a great place with all the shops in wooden huts.  There is a big garden centre there as well and we had lunch in the Italian restaurant in the garden centre and it was really good.

                                     

So today (Friday) we are finally on the move just up four locks to the top of Stone.

We decided to set off quite early as we wanted to stop at the water point.  We untied and moved along to the water point.

Only one boat came past as we were filling up with water so that was good.  Once the tank was full, I walked up to the lock and emptied it ready for us.  This lock is right by The Star pub.

                                                     

There was a boat waiting to come down, so we left the gates open for him and went on to the next one.  There was a boat coming down so once they were out Kev came into the lock and up we went.

We passed the new Joules Brewery pub which is right on the canal and also passed the old Joules Brewery.

                                                

We stopped at the services to empty the loo and get rid of rubbish.  The next lock is right by the services so I walked up and opened the gates for Kev to bring the boat in.

Most of these locks fill quite quickly so we were soon through there and onto our last lock for today.

                                                     

The railway goes over the bridge just before this lock and as Kev was coming into the lock, a train went over.

Once through the lock, I shut the gate and Kev went on to the moorings which are just past the boat yard and there was a nice space right at the start of the moorings.   

                                                           

We tied up and then at lunchtime we walked down to The Star pub to meet our friends Steve, Sue and Monty the dog. We had a lovely afternoon together and also went for a drink in the new Joules pub which is really nice.  It was great to see the three of them and will look forward to meeting up again.

We are staying put now for the weekend as tomorrow (Saturday), we are meeting our Audlem family for a meal in the evening and hopefully do some trading during the day, then on Monday we will move on.

Sandon to Stone - Trent & Mersey Canal

 

Sunday 8^th August

We are moving to the small town of Stone today as there is a train station and buses to Stafford so easy to get to the hospital.

It was dry but very overcast as we set off from our mooring.  Unfortunately the dry weather didn’t last long and it started raining, quite heavy at times, I was okay as I was inside but poor Kev got rather wet!

                                                        

 

We went under a few bridges and passed a few boats coming the other way.  We passed Aston marina and then was approaching the lock.

We have one lock to do today, Aston lock and I was hoping the rain would ease off so I wouldn’t get wet and guess what, it did, the rain stopped and the sun came out just as we got to the lock, oooh someone up there likes me!

There was a boat in the lock coming down and a couple of boats waiting as well.  Once the boat was out of the lock, Kev came in, there was a lady from the first boat waiting so she helped me shut the gates.

We walked up the other end to open the paddles, on this lock there was a ground paddle and a gate paddle.  The gate paddles can be quite fierce so we usually open the ground paddles first, then when the boat is up half way or so, we open the gate paddle.  I went to the ground paddle and started to open it a few turns, we do this one slowly as well as if you do it too quick, it can make the boat lunge forward and crash into the gate.

                                                       

The lady went to the gate paddle and was going to open it straight away, so I asked her to wait.  She then said to me you can open that paddle a lot more than that, so I said yes but we do it slowly so the boat doesn’t surge forward, she stood there for a minute then said okay I’ll leave you to do it yourself then and walked back to her boat, which was fine by me. 

                                                 

I think they were in a rush and wanted to get through the lock quickly, but the canal and especially locks are not the places to rush.  Another lady came down from the second boat and she was very friendly and helped me, she told me that lady had bossed her about as well and told her how to do the paddles and therefore she wasn’t going to help them through the lock, I don’t blame her and I was glad it wasn’t just me she was funny to, mind you that other lady did herself no favours as she ended up working the lock on her own instead of having help, nowt so strange as folk!

                                            

                                                                                           

Once through the lock we chugged on under a couple more bridges then was approaching Stone and the moorings where hopefully there would be a space for us.

We were just getting to the moorings and the heavens opened, so poor Kev who had just dried off in the sun got wet again!

There were quite a few spaces so we moored up easily.

                                               

In the afternoon, we went for a walk up into the town and to Morrisons.  Just as we came out of there, we had torrential rain again, luckily we had our umbrellas.  There is a nice M&S Food Hall by the canal, so we popped in there and had a coffee in the cafe, well I had tea as that’s all I was allowed and Kev had a toasted teacake and coffee, I just watched him eat it but he did say I could pick the butter dish as I was allowed that, he’s so kind to me!!

When we got back, Jane’s cousin Sue who lives in Stone came to see us while she was out walking with her lovely collie Bryn, he is lovely and so handsome.  It was lovely to see her and have a good catch-up.

We are staying here for a few days now while we get the hospital scan out of the way, then on Wednesday we will move up the locks to the top of Stone and stay there for a few days and have a trip to Trentham Shopping village and a meal out on Saturday with our Audlem family, so looking forward to that.