Leaving the Harecastle we proceeded onwards towards Stoke where we had planned to spend the night near Festival Park near the junction of the Caldon canal. We had made good time and realized that it might be better to work through the locks in the centre of Stoke. Mooring later in the day near more pleasant open country surroundings near Barlston - home of Wedgwood Pottery factory and visitor centre some five miles further on.
Barlston was certainly a good choice as we found an idyllic mooring near a family of Swans with a beautiful views over farm land with several horses coming to check us out over the nearby hedge.
Current weather forecasts have had an unusual slant to them recently.....they are suggesting that we might be due for a few sunny hot days. Whatever next ? Anybody would think it was the middle of summer!.......I think I will buy a few lottery tickets on the strength of this ........we are obviously on a roll!!!!!!
Our next stop was sunny Stone.......birth place of the Trent and Mersey canal in 1771.
It was apparently a sunny day also when the canal was opened with great celebrations which included the continual firing of cannons!! These cannons put a damper on the proceedings by causing the lock walls to collapse - perhaps the gunners should have used blanks !!!!!!!
Entering the famous 'Star' lock where those military percussions delayed the opening of the Trent and Mersey canal, we were greeted by a gaggle of 'gongoozlers' boat watching and enjoying a few beers in the sunshine outside the lockside 'Star Inn'
Finding a rare mooring in this popular stopping place for boat crews, we decided to have an early finish for the day and enjoy the sunshine watching boats outside the 'Star Inn' with everybody else.
An overnight in Stone enabled us to do some shopping in the High Street. Our West Highland terrier Suzy was taken for a walk down near the river Trent on the recommendation of a local resident. A slalom course for canoeists had been built there and is certainly a 'secret' dog walk I would have not noticed from the confines of the canal.
One of the other best kept 'secrets' of the canal in the centre of Stone is the whereabouts of the all-important refuse point for boaters. I only found this a few years ago by accident when taking Suzy the Westy for a walk - it is half down the short term moorings, behind a hedge with no sign to indicate it is there. Even the 'Nicholson's' canal guide has knowledge of this with the spot remaining unmarked on their maps.
Perhaps it is a cunning ruse by Canal and River Trust to cut down on the amount of times it has to be emptied........I can just see the suggestions in a meeting now..........
" I have a good idea to cut costs.......let us hide the refuse points. It will save on collection and signage at the same time. Simples !"
Well le sun est arrivee' ....... I got up very early at 5.30am at 'Tixall Wides' to greet it !!
Tixell wides is a beautiful part of the Staffordshire and Worcester canal about a mile from it's junction with the Trent and Mersey canal at Great Haywood.
A glimpse through the boat window showed a sunset heralded by a low mist - a sure sign of a hot day. Pesty Westy Suzy got an early morning walk and I got some ( if I may say so) some nice photographs for the blog.
More to follow........we are moored on Tixall wides in blazing sunshine on the Staffordshire and Worcester canal :)
There is a glitch with the Google blog software....click on 'no comments' to comment !!
Confusing but it works.....keep up that man!!!!!!
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| Nearing Etruria lock. Stoke on Trent. |
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| Almost gone......one of the few remaining pottery kiln chimneys in Stoke-on-Trent. |
Barlston was certainly a good choice as we found an idyllic mooring near a family of Swans with a beautiful views over farm land with several horses coming to check us out over the nearby hedge.
 |
| Suzy makes friends with the 'locals' |
Current weather forecasts have had an unusual slant to them recently.....they are suggesting that we might be due for a few sunny hot days. Whatever next ? Anybody would think it was the middle of summer!.......I think I will buy a few lottery tickets on the strength of this ........we are obviously on a roll!!!!!!
Our next stop was sunny Stone.......birth place of the Trent and Mersey canal in 1771.
It was apparently a sunny day also when the canal was opened with great celebrations which included the continual firing of cannons!! These cannons put a damper on the proceedings by causing the lock walls to collapse - perhaps the gunners should have used blanks !!!!!!!
Entering the famous 'Star' lock where those military percussions delayed the opening of the Trent and Mersey canal, we were greeted by a gaggle of 'gongoozlers' boat watching and enjoying a few beers in the sunshine outside the lockside 'Star Inn'
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| Happy days! ...... enjoying a few beers watching boat crews work through the 'Star' lock. Trent and Mersey canal. Stone. |
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| A canal floral display in the centre of Stone - birthplace of the Trent and Mersey canal. |
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| Stopping for water in Stone....... |
An overnight in Stone enabled us to do some shopping in the High Street. Our West Highland terrier Suzy was taken for a walk down near the river Trent on the recommendation of a local resident. A slalom course for canoeists had been built there and is certainly a 'secret' dog walk I would have not noticed from the confines of the canal.
One of the other best kept 'secrets' of the canal in the centre of Stone is the whereabouts of the all-important refuse point for boaters. I only found this a few years ago by accident when taking Suzy the Westy for a walk - it is half down the short term moorings, behind a hedge with no sign to indicate it is there. Even the 'Nicholson's' canal guide has knowledge of this with the spot remaining unmarked on their maps.
Perhaps it is a cunning ruse by Canal and River Trust to cut down on the amount of times it has to be emptied........I can just see the suggestions in a meeting now..........
" I have a good idea to cut costs.......let us hide the refuse points. It will save on collection and signage at the same time. Simples !"
Well le sun est arrivee' ....... I got up very early at 5.30am at 'Tixall Wides' to greet it !!
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| Here comes the sun.......sunrise at Tixall wides. |
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| Early morning mist - Tixall wides. |
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| Cattle find shade from the sun near Great Haywood. |
A glimpse through the boat window showed a sunset heralded by a low mist - a sure sign of a hot day. Pesty Westy Suzy got an early morning walk and I got some ( if I may say so) some nice photographs for the blog.
 |
| Another form of transport almost as slow as a Narrowboat - a Romany caravan spotted in a field near Great Haywood |
More to follow........we are moored on Tixall wides in blazing sunshine on the Staffordshire and Worcester canal :)
There is a glitch with the Google blog software....click on 'no comments' to comment !!
Confusing but it works.....keep up that man!!!!!!
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