A hot day in Sandon

Well, an epic voyage today, all of 5 miles from Stone to Sandon. We were going to get down to Great Haywood but with the temperature going up we didn't fancy working locks and travelling in the heat.

Some of the locks are overgrown with weeds, well, not exactly weeds but you know what I mean.

In the middle of Stone is a well established boat hire company and Joules have built a waterside pub right alongside. Each time we go past the outside tables have been fully occupied. 

Below one of the locks is this statue of a woman who was murdered on a narrowboat back in the day. I've tried to find the story of her demise but will have to look back through some of my old blogs to find it again. Never mind.

We have various notes from previous journeys as to how pretty this stretch of the canal is. Once again photos do not do it justice.

But they do give you an idea.

Having stopped at Sandon it was too hot to do any painting or cooking so we walked up to the village. Unfortunately we had to walk along a busy road with no footpath. Not a pleasant experience.

Above is the entrance to Sandon Hall.

After a slow walk (mainly uphill) we came to All Saints Church. 

And on the way back (mainly downhill) we passed this house which is undergoing a major rebuild. They have already started on the roof and chimneys but there is a lot to do.

In the afternoon I went up to the winding hole to help a boat turn round. He'd got himself in a right pickle having reversed into the winding hole, a thing you should never do. After a bit of heaving on the bow rope I managed to get him sorted and a most relieved wife handed over a bottle of champagne for getting them out of the jam. 

Rump steak for supper, a perfect end to the day.