Back on the road south

Tuesday we set off from Hanley toward the junction with the Trent & Mersey canal. 

A last look at the overnight mooring. And, you see the boat just along the canal from us, this boat belongs to a single handed chap who has been joined by his son for the summer. Well, our paths have been crossing for much of our trip round the system. He's an odd character, but then, so am I! 

A last farewell to the pottery we visited yesterday. 

And just before the junction, a statue of James Brindley, one of the 'greats' in canal architecture. 

We spun round the corner onto the Trent & Mersey only to find a queue of 7 boats for the lock. 7 boats! It's not even Bank Holiday weekend - what's going on? So, a bit of reversing along the cut until we got to the back. Almost 2 hours later we just started to enter the top lock! 

You know, the thing that gets me going - alright, I know, grumpy old man - is that nobody goes forward to help others through the locks. They stand and watch as elderly couples (no need to include us in that category just yet!) struggle through on their own. One chap went forward, chatted to the lady working the lock and as soon as the gates started opening went back to his own boat without lifting a finger to help. I may have been a tad rude but I moved past him, apologising as I did so, so that I could open the second gate, lower the paddles and help the next boat work into the lock. Oh, and sorry to many hire boaters, they often DO come and help out with locks. 

Enough of that, let's move on. 

At last, going down the first lock of the day. 

As you come out of the lock there is a steam powered flint and bone mill which still operates on specified days. Once when we passed before it was in steam and it is quite an impressive sight and sound. 

Another of the iconic bottle kilns. 

A slow old day as we caught up with 3 of the queue at the 5th and last lock of the day. This lock took an age to empty, possibly something blocking one of the paddles. 

Shortly after it looked as if the canal went right under this recycling plant. 

But, no, the canal tweaked to one side at the last moment. 

Stopped for the night at Trentham with doors and windows open late into the evening. Supper of beef in red wine with walnuts and celery accompanied by mashed potatoes and cabbage. This was followed by a game of crib. Thanks Brian for the loan of the crib board.