My 500th post on NB Rock 'n' Roll!
Saturday 17th March we took a walk ... not the quite a pack walk ...
... more of a team walk, me, George and Molly - that's the Wedgwood Visitor Centre ...
... and looking over the railway line to our mooring ...
... and that's Barlaston Hall (sold for £1) in the distance ...
... we walked to the top of the field and saw the cows - no, we thought, not going through there and so ended our very short walk!
Barlaston Halt at night - trains no longer stop here.
Sunday dawned bright and clear - and along came Victoria ...
... towing her butty.
We had visitors too - my brother Alan and sister-in-law Margaret came aboard - great to spend some time with them - see you again soon I hope!
We left Barlaston on Monday morning passing this compact and bijou boat - although these lovely cottages may be that too!
'The Boatyard' with it's own arm, crane and lock (well pretend lock!)
Meaford Top Lock the first of the day and there's someone waiting to enter - hopefully that will mean the the next lock will already be set in our favour.
Through the Meaford Flight of 4 locks descending 32.5 feet followed by Limekiln and Newcastle Road locks we arrive at the canal town of Stone - a very welcoming place indeed.
Looking back from Stone top lock at the Canal Cruising Hire boats which I like to refer to as the Stone's Ginger boats!
Memorial to Christina Collins who was born in Stone and brutally murdered on the Trent and Mersey Canal at Rugeley in 1839 on which Colin Dexter's novel The Wench was Dead was based and adapted for television as part of the Inspector Morse series staring John Thaw.
Last lock of the day - Star Lock and this afternoon we met up with George's brother Dave and wife Bev - we spent a lovely afternoon on the boat and evening with them in the Star Pub - great food in there!
Before leaving Stone on Tuesday we had yet more visitors - this time my sister Sandra and hubby Rugsa - caught up with family gossip over a cuppa and a cake!
It was a lovely cruise in the sunshine ...
... the new calves are not bothered by the trains or boats.
Passing Sandon Hall in the distance ...
... and arriving at Sandon lock and this line of interesting canal-side properties
Approaching the pretty Salt Bridge (no.82)
... and Pitt's Column dedicated to the English politician Will Pitt the Younger.
The Jacobean mansion Ingestre Hall is in a lovely setting
Hoo Mill Lock the last of just 4 today ...
... and Great Heywood Marina - we pulled over for water and moored on the visitor moorings past the junction.
So Mike Askin is on his way up the Trent & Mersey in Victoria - reckon he is on his way to Ellesmere Port Easter Show with Peter Boyce's Joey Boat in tow. There will some good pics and videos of the show on You Tube later, I expect.
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