Heading north: Day 10

We were up early this morning, as we had an appointment.  Tim Tyler, who’s building the shell of our new boat, Kingley Vale, had contacted us to say they’d be starting to paint it with primer this afternoon, so if we wanted to see it in bare metal, this morning would be the day to do it.  So it was about 6.30 when I got the boat ready to set off.  It was very cold and frosty, there was mist rising off the water, and the sun was showing promise.

Adrian had got up a bit after me, but came out to help with Trentham Lock, which was just round the corner.  It’s a pretty deep one.

We travelled through Hem Heath as dogs were taken for morning walks, joggers were out, and people were going to work.  Bridge 108, near the football stadium, has seen better days.

Soon the incinerator comes into view.  It’s a familiar sight not only from the canal, but from the A500 through Stoke.

Some things always need their photo taking, and the sign of eclectic offerings at Dolphin boat yard is one of them

Adrian said he’d work Stoke Locks, on the basis it was early, they’d probably all have drained empty so would be ready for us, and there would be no-one else around.  The first one was empty, but all the others weren’t, and a boat was coming down the middle one.  The second lock is surrounded by railways.

Below the penultimate lock is the chimney of the Etruscan Bone Mill.

The top lock is by far the deepest.

We carried on past lots of new warehouse buildings on the site of the old steel works, and past Middleport Pottery.  We moored up at Westport Lake, our boating for the day done by 10.15!  Tim Tyler came and picked us up from the car park, and took us back to his workshop, where we could have a good look at the new shell.  It made us both a bit emotional!  It looks really good, with lots of details, and we really like our combination of portholes and side doors.  There’s much more on the visit in the latest post over on the Kingley Vale blog.

We decided to walk back to the boat, and Tim showed us a short cut for the first part of the trip, and then we went under the A500 and over the railway line.  This afternoon we’ve been catching up with various things, and enjoying the sunshine.

7 miles, 6 locks.  (115 miles, 60 locks)