Northern Exposure: Day 7

A much calmer day today, and there was bright sunshine when we woke up.  At 8am we moved the short distance to the water point, where we filled the tank and started a load of washing.  We were moving again at about half past, heading past the marina and onto Hoo Mill Lock, the first of the day.  That one was empty, but by the time we got to the next one we had another boat in front of us, so had to turn it and most of the rest.  Adrian worked the four individual locks up to Stone, then I took over for the Stone flight.  We’d had lunch on the approach to the flight; the bottom lock is next to the Star pub, where there was a strong smell of garlic bread.

There’s a lot of building going on at the Joules brewery site, with a community theatre and a pub going up.  The new building has been built to match the distinctive roof of the old one.

The boat in front of us had stopped for water below Newcastle Road lock, but we still had to turn it.  Above it, the school has a smart new building, and the kids seemed very excited when Adrian returned their waves.

The top lock had a couple of CRT volunteers greasing the paddles, so it was empty for us and they helped work us through.  It’s then just a mile to the Meaford flight of four more locks.  While we were in the second one up it started to rain, and it was quite heavy.  But at least the rain was gentle and vertical rather than hard and horizontal.

We moored a bit before Bridge 104 at Barlaston, as a rainbow appeared.

As the rain had stopped we walked up to the Wedgwood factory.  When we were here a good few years ago the whole place looked as if it was on its last legs, but now there’s a new museum, a shop, and upmarket tea rooms, and an outlet store.  There’s also a big new housing estate alongside.  The shop featured a sculpture made of plates and cups, which we think was probably supposed to be a bull in a china shop.

14 miles, 12 locks.  (109 miles, 54 locks)