Thursday and still in Stone

 

We popped back into town to stock up the larder again. On the way back we passed this information board which tells the story of the planning and building of the canal. The original proposal was dropped until Josiah Wedgewood and his partner Thomas Bentley revised it all in 1764. Wedgwood would have been keen to develop canal transport for the protection of the delicate pottery that was being produced. Transport by road would have been by horse and cart and breakages would have been high. The canal offered a smoother mode of transport for his precious cargo. 

Just before Star Lock is a fine looking retirement home on the edge of the canal. What a lovely way to spend the day watching all the boating antics.

And here's the Star at Stone. A tad run down since three years ago with weeds  along its frontage. 

We have just left Workhouse Lock, so named because the road next to the lock led to the village Workhouse. (We spent much of Friday morning trying to work out exactly which lock was Workhouse Lock. We had seen a reference to it on a walking map but couldn't place it.) 

The lock just after the services, water and loo, there is a tunnel under the road for the horses to go through. Getting in and out of the locks was quite interesting as there was a strong crosswind. The captain unanimously decided, especially after another boat was seen to be broadside above the last lock, that we should stop for the afternoon and night and not even think of trying to attempt the next four locks to get to Barlaston. This motion was unanimously supported by the crew. 

I made the mistake of thinking that it would be a good idea to check the weed hatch. There's been a lot of floating grass and foliage lately and I felt that things might be clagged up in the propeller department. 

Unfortunately, no-one had told me that I wasn't as young as I used to be. Perhaps I missed the memo. It was OK crawling into the back of the boat, but getting out wasn't so easy. I think I rediscovered muscles that had been put on the shelf years ago. 

The gratifying/annoying bit was that the propeller was clean as a whistle. In reality that's good. 

A last look at our mooring before bed.