Staying in Barlaston (Trent & Mersey Canal)

Inside the Plume of Feathers

One of the Signs in the Pub

It was another sunny day when we got up and very warm.  We just chilled out in the morning and moved the boat back into a sunnier spot so we can get the most out of the solar panels.  We then went for a walk back along the canal to where there is a shop/post office and also the Plume of Feathers which is part owned by Neil Morrissey of Men Behaving Badly fame.

Me and Neil!

We went in the shop as I needed some stamps, it's a good corner shop and the staff were very friendly.  We then went over to the pub to have a look as last time we were here it was very shabby and run down and so we wanted to see what Neil Morrissey had done to it.

Mum and Ducklings

Well what a transformation, it's nothing like it was, it is now very classy, inviting and very clean.  Also there is lots of memorabilia on the walls and pictures of the old Wedgewood factory.  We got a drink and sat outside for a bit but it was very hot so we went in and had a couple more drinks.  They had a nice selection of Gins and I had Warner Edwards Elderflower Gin and very nice it was too.  We didn't have anything to eat but the food that we saw looked really good, so we are going to come back on Wednesday and have lunch then. 

Heavy Rain and Cows Sheltering

We then walked back to the boat and we passed a duck with really small ducklings and usually they are call over the canal but these were all huddled together and following their mum really closely, it looked quite funny, like she had a tail!  We think they must have only been a couple of days old.

 In the afternoon we had an almighty rain storm, it was bouncing off the water and there was two claps of thunder but mostly heavy rain.  There was some cows in the field opposite and they ran for cover under the trees when the heavy rain started, once it had passed, they all came out again and the sun came back out.  We are staying here again tonight as tomorrow we are off to the Wedgewood Museum and Factory so looking forward to that.

Stone to Barlaston - Trent & Mersey Canal

Market at Newcastle Under Lyme

In Lock by Star pub

In Yard Lock

Friday we caught the bus to Newcastle under Lyme as there was a general market and a Farmer's market but it was all a bit of a disappointment as the town itself is quite run down, quite a lot of empty shops and the market was very small, the only consolation was that the lady that sells Scotch Eggs which we saw at the market in Stafford was there, the scotch eggs are really good and all different flavours, our favourite is Eastern Spice and we also bought Chilli and Lime.  Friday evening our friends from Audlem, Jane, Dave and Anthea came over for a meal and we went to a nice Italian restaurant called Pasta Di Piazzo.  Unfortunately Jane’s hubby Malcolm was working so couldn’t make it.  The food was really good and we had a lovely evening catching up and lots of laughs as always.  After our meal, they came back to the boat and we had Gin, Wine and Ginger Cake, Dave’s favourite, the ginger cake that is, not the Gin, that’s mine and Jane’s favourite!  Saturday, we did some shopping, watched the Royal Wedding and then went for a walk.

Cruising through Stone

I can see you!

Today, Sunday we are on the move at last, we have been in Stone for a week and it has been really good as it is such a nice place to moor, but it is time to go now.

Passing the Old Brewery

Coming to another lock

The sun was shining and it was already warm as we set off along the canal, we left early this morning, well early for us, 8.30am as we have 8 locks to do and it does get busy.

The first lock we came to was not far away and it is by the Star pub, when it is open there are many people sat outside watching you through the lock, but fortunately as the pub was shut, we went through with no onlookers!.

This Lock's Deep

Nice Canalside Cottages

Turnover Bridge

The next lock is very deep and I had to empty it first as there was a boat in front of us, but it didn’t take long and soon we were off along the canal and stopped at the services to fill up with water, get rid of rubbish, etc.  A couple of boats came down the lock as we were doing this and one went up, so unfortunately when it was our turn, we had to empty the lock first but that was fine and Kev brought the boat in and I filled the lock.  There was one more lock in this flight and we went up that one and then on along the canal.

Lovely Blossom by the Canal

Working up the locks

We passed a couple of boats but the canal seemed very quiet today.  We then came to the Meaford flight of locks, there are four in this flight as well and we worked our way through them.  There were a couple of boats coming down so that made life easier and then we were at the last lock for today.

We then went on for a mile or so and came to Barlaston.  We went past the Plume and Feathers pub which is now owned by Neil Morrissey, it looks really nice now as before it was very run down and not very inviting.

Our Barbie

We turned at the winding hole as this is as far as we are going on this canal and moored up.

Plume of Feathers

We did a few jobs around the boat then chilled out.  This evening we had a BBQ, although it wasn’t brilliant sunshine, it was still very warm, our second one of the year, let’s hope this nice weather stays and we can have many more!

We are staying here now for a couple of days.  The Wedgewood museum and factory is nearby and we are off there on Tuesday so looking forward to that and then we are heading back down to Great Haywood where we are going to meet up with John, Sharon and Smuggler so looking forward to seeing them.

Moored at Barlaston

Trentham Gardens

 Thursday 17^th May

Today we are off to Trentham Gardens which is part of the Trentham Estate.  There is also a shopping village and a Garden Centre and Monkey World.

Lovely Lakeside View

Remains of Trentham House

We walked up to the main road and got the bus.  After about 15 minutes we were there.  We walked down to the main entrance and walked through the shops which are in log cabins and to the entrance of the gardens and in we went.

Amazing View of Trentham Gardens

The gardens are magnificent and really big and there is a huge lake which was designed by Capability Brown.  There is a walk all around the lake and it is about 2 miles.

Lovely View From Here

The remains of the house are in the grounds so we walked up to see them and then followed the path along one side of the lake.  When we got to the bottom of the lake, we stopped off at the coffee shop and sat by the lake.

Steep Path up to Monument

There is a monument up on a hill so we decided to walk up to it.  You actually go out of the grounds to walk to it so off we went.  

George Granville

The walk was flat first then we had to go uphill and it was very steep but we made it and it was well worth the climb as the views at the top were magnificant.  The monument was someone called George Granville, Duke of Sutherland and Marquess of Stafford in 1803.

Fairy at Trentham

We had brought a picnic with us so we sat by the monument looking down at Trentham gardens and ate our lunch.  We then headed back down the hill and back into the gardens and walked around the other side of the lake.

Another Fairy

The Hares are big here!

There is a children's play area and a maze this side of the lake.  We went into the talk and speak maze and managed to get to the centre, around the maze they have special pipes that you can shout into to find your way.  It was good fun.

Italian Gardens

They say that there are Fairies at Trentham Gardens and they were right as we saw quite a few!

Lovely Gardens

Nice Spring Border

Sculptures in Gardens

We then had a walk around the Italian Gardens which are spectacular and are at one end of the lake nearest the ruins of the house. We then made our way to the exit and then had a wander around the shops.  There is a deli/farm shop called Brown and Green, its a lovely shop and they have a great drink selection including many Gins.  The other day in the Star pub I tried Whitney Neill Quince gin and they were selling it here so needless to say I had to buy a bottle, also they had Peaky Blinders Rum which we tasted at Wolverhampton Christmas market and it was really nice so we bought a bottle of that as well together with some nice cheeses from their extensive cheese counter.

Speaking pipe in maze

The Maze

We had a wander around all the other shops and then got the bus back to Stone and walked back to the boat.  We walked over six miles today and so I shall be resting in my chair this evening, but we had such a lovely day at Trentham Gardens.  It is a really lovely place to visit and we shall definitely go there again when we are next in this area, it is well worth a visit and you can easily spend a day there, 

The Lake

Shopping Village

Around Stone, Eccleshall and Hanley

We have stayed put in Stone this week and have spent the days mooching around Stone and taking a few bus trips.  We are staying here until the end of the week then moving on along the canal to Barlaston.

Monday 14^th May

Slalom Course

Lovely Old Bridge in Stone

We just had a lazy day and had a walk around the town and in the afternoon we went to the Star pub by the lock and sat in the sunshine drinking Gin.  I had Whitley Neill Quince Gin which was so nice, quite sweet for a gin but tasty and also Whitley Neill Raspberry Gin which was not so sweet but really smelt and tasted of raspberries.  They have a good gin selection so we will be calling there again sometime to try a few more!  

Early evening as the sun was still shining, we went for another walk along by the River Trent.  The Stone Rowing club is here and they have a canoe slalom course on the river, where the 2016 gold medalist Joe Clarke trained, but unfortunately when we walked by no-one was using it. We walked back to the boat and chilled out.

Tuesday 15^th May

Today we caught the bus to Eccleshall which is a very old large village and is mentioned in the Dooms Day book.  It has several independent shops and cafes, pubs and bars.

Church at Eccleshall

Royal Oak at Stone

There is lots of old buildings including a pub called The Royal Oak and there is a plaque on the wall outside telling the history of the place.  We then walked up to the church and it was open so we went in and had a look around, it's a big church. We walked back to the shops and had a coffee in one of the cafes and then got the bus and went to Hanley which is the shopping centre in Stoke on Trent.

Plaque at Royal Oak

There are plenty of shops to look around and also an Intu shopping centre and in there is a really nice Buffet Restaurant called Bon Pan Asian.  The food is really good and there is Indian, Thai, Chinese, Italian and English so lots to choose from.  After lunch, we had another wander around the shops then got the bus back and walked back to the boat.

Wednesday 16th May

We had another day of just mooching around Stone.  We are off on the bus again tomorrow, this time to Trentham Gardens.

Salt to Stone (Trent & Mersey Canal)

Yesterday (Saturday) We stayed put and went for a walk in the afternoon and did a couple of caches. 

Salt Church

Salt Church

One took us to the Church in Salt which was very nice from the outside but unfortunately it was locked, so we couldn’t look inside.  In the evening we had our first BBQ of the year and very nice it was too, let’s hope the weather stays nice and we can have a few more this year.

Today (Sunday) we are on the move, the sun was shining as we left our mooring and set off along the canal, the canal was quite busy this morning and we passed a few boats.

Going under Salt Bridge

Coming into Sandon Lock

After a bit we came to Sandon lock, there was a boat in front of us so we waited for them to go through then emptied the lock and Kev brought the boat in and I filled the lock.  Another boat came behind us so the man from that boat helped me with the gates.  We then went on our way.

Coming to Another Bridge

Lovely Countryside

Passing Aston Marina

Mile Marker

This is a lovely stretch of canal with nice views and fields both sides.  We then went past Aston marina which is quite a big marina and has an entrance and an exit.  Just past there is Aston lock.  The boat in front of us had gone so we had to empty the lock first and then in we went.  At this lock there is a mile marker and this point is the half way point on this canal, 46 miles to Shardlow and 46 miles to Preston Brook.

The boat behind us caught us up and the lady came up and helped.  We were soon through there and on our way again along the canal and after a mile of so, we were at Stone.

Waiting below Aston Lock

Stone is a very popular mooring spot but we were lucky and got a space below the locks.  We moored up then had our lunch.

After lunch, we went for a walk up the locks and sat by the canal for a bit watching the world go by, then we wandered into the town and went to the Morrisons for a few supplies.

We are now staying here for a few days and getting the bus to Hanley and Newcastle Under Lyme and then heading up to Barlaston where one of the pubs is owned by Neil Morrissey, so we will keep a look out for him!

Moored at Stone