Hall Green to Gurnett Aqueduct, Macclesfield.

13.46 miles, 12 locks, 7hrs 15mins.

A pleasant if cool start to the day, at least no rain.

Passing through Congleton.

Aqueduct at Congleton.

Approaching Bosley Cloud.

Congleton railway viaduct.

Bosley Cloud in the clouds, as seen from Bosley locks.

An artistic view of Bosley Cloud. at the top of Bosley locks we came across Brian & Anne-Marie on nb Alton, we hope to meet up with them for a pint whilst we are up this way.

Royal Oak swingbridge. We had trouble at Broadhurst swingbridge, we could get the lifting bar to come up. I managed to get it up with our big crowbar. Then Jo couldn’t get the bridge to open, so I nudged it with the bow, then it wouldn’t swing shut again to release our key, so I had to reverse back and give Jo a hand. I feel a fault report to C&RT come on. Having cleared all the major obstacles which could have delayed us, I spoke to Kuranda as soon as we were moored up, and we have arranged to see them next Tuesday, so we have time to spare before arriving at Bugsworth basins. We may even pop into Macclesfield tomorrow if there is a bus from here.

Keith.

Stone to Hack Green

15.95 miles, 15 locks, 8hrs 20mins.

A dull but dry and almost warm day.

Cutter moored in Stone.

Roger Fuller busy lift a boat out.

Wedgwood factory.

Britannia stadium, home ground of Stoke City FC.

Etruria junction with the Caldon Canal.

Westport.

Harecastle tunnel, we needed to be here before 3:00pm, we arrived at 2:59pm, just made it in time! We would have been here sooner had we not had 12 of the 14 locks to get this far against us.

Keith.

Jo’s Birthday Treat

Not that it was planned but being in Stone for Jo’s Birthday today meant we could have a meal out in our favourite Thai Restaurant, Thai Lanna.

This was our plate of starters, which was followed by soup

This was the main course, and lots of it, Jo busy tucking in to it.

Mae Jem Set Meal (For TWO or more people)

Thai Lanna Platter
A beautiful selection of delicious Thai appetisers. Served with a selection of sauces.

Tom Yam Gung
A famous Thai spicy soup with prawns, lemon grass, galingale and lime leaves. We selected the mild version.

Nua Roul Dang
Stir-fried beef in a red wine sauce, sprinkled with cashew nuts.

Stir-fried prawns with fresh chilli and mushrooms.

Gang Keow Gai
Thai green chicken curry with a blend of green chillies lemon grass,kaffir lime leaf, herbs, spices and coconut milk.

Pud Chab Chai
Stir-fried mixed seasonal vegetables with black mushrooms, vermicelli and egg.

Nua Hoi
Stir-fried beef with broccoli and oyster sauce.

Kao Pud Kai    Egg fried rice

All washed down with a nice bottle of Cabernet Sauvignon Rosé Wine, and followed with a Crème de Menthe Ice Cream Bombe.

Keith.

Great Haywood to Stone

9.41 miles, 5 locks, 4hrs 25mins.

Definitely spring like weather, cool but increasing to warm by the time we moored up, blue skies, lots of sun.

Shugborough Hall in the morning sunshine, as we left our overnight mooring. We moored below Star lock in Stone, A quick walk into the town so I could get a new pair of trousers, as the zip on my only pair of thin summer trousers broke this morning. We even met a few friends in the town. I have booked a table in our favourite Thai restaurant for Jo’s birthday tomorrow and as the weather forecast looks to be wet, it is a short walk from this mooring to the restaurant.

Keith.

Hopwas to Great Haywood

20.39 miles, 4 locks, 1 swingbridge, 8hrs 10mins.

 

A chilly start, but turning warmer throughout the day, but no sign of the forecasted rain, fortunately.

Huddlesford junction.

There has been some more work on the new marina just south of Streethay Wharf, the entrnace has been opened to the canal, but still dammed off under the new bridge, there is now some water in the big hole.

First ducklings of the year.

Fradley junction.

Armitage tunnel cutting.

Rugeley power station.

Crossing the River Trent at Rugeley.

Colwich lock.

Keith.

Spring Haven Marina to Hopwas

16 miles, 13 locks, 8 hrs.

A very windy night, Jo didn’t get much sleep. A very windy start, which reduced throughout the day to just windy, but sunny.

Atherstone top lock.

Building a new towpath edge between locks 6 & 7 in the Atherstone flight. below Atherstone locks we came across nb Plum (Solar Afloat), so we pulled in and I bought some pieces of aluminium to construct the now thought about and planned framework for our solar panel, so we can easily tilt it.

Pooley Hall.

Pooley Country Park.

The Samuel Barlow at Alvecote Marina.

Fazeley junction, the new build on the corner is still unfinished and no further work on it for ages now.

Keith.

Rugby to North of Nuneaton

19.12 miles, 1 lock, 1 swingbridge, 6hrs 30mins.

Windy, chilly start which throughout the day changed to sunny, warm and very windy!

Work is progressing on the Elephant & Castle near Hawkesbury.

as is the Navigation in Bedworth.

Keith.

Braunston Top Lock, to Rugby.

11.18 miles, 9 locks, 6 hrs.

Having left our fridge/freezer to be repaired, and borrowed a temporary fridge we set off this morning to resume our journey to Whaley Bridge. We stopped briefly at the stop house and whilst Jo filled the water tank and dumped rubbish, I popped round to Tradline and pick up a pair of tipcats. Then we got as far as Midland Chandlers and whilst Jo emptied the 2 toilet cassettes, I popped in and bought some cable and bits to temporarily wire up the temporary fridge, as it is too wide to fit in the fridge/freezer space, it is having to sit in the saloon, and I have temporarily extended the power cables so they now reach. Everything is very temporary at the moment.

The crooked cottage which isn’t crooked any more since it has been straightened, should be renamed the not-crooked cottage!

Braunston church, and playful lambs in the foreground.

The now fully repaired bridge No. 80, looking very smart.

Rugby radio station near Hillmorton locks.

Having arrived at Rugby I wired up the temporary fridge whilst Jo went to get a sack of dog food, and then we did a food shop at Tescos, and filled the temporary fridge.

Did I mention this is a temporary arrangement?

It is so nice to be back on 3G for our internet, and full channels on our TV. Looking forward to our Indian meal f0r 2 which we treated ourselves to from Tescos.

Keith