With the weather forecast not been very clement for later we got away by 0900, and even then it looked like it may chuck it down at any moment. We worked our way the Meaford lock crossing with a few boats heading south that were also trying to outrun the rain. We were soon at Barlaston and passing the private dock in the garden of what used to be a boat building yard.
These cottages were close to the boat builders so I am assuming that they were for the workers.
We passed the Wedgewood Factory that had scaffolding all round the offices near to the canal. The Wedgewood sign has gone. They were going to knock a lot of the factory down and make a new one. It looks like they are refurbishing these offices so may be they are renting out. I believe that Wedgewood is owned by an American concern now. I was relieved to hear recently that the museum contents have been saved for the nation and not to be sold off to offset the pension fund deficit. The museum is well worth a visit.
The wind was gusting as we went past Hem Heath and past sites of past industry. The new industries in their place seem to be the football stadium, the waste incinerator and the largest warehouse I have ever seen that is the Sainsbury distribution centre! The have taken over from the Michelin factory, and the Ker Stuart Locomotive works and the North Staffordshire railway works. The area must have been very different in the past.
This is the fledgling River Trent and is a much different animal to that which we traveled down in April and May.
Just before the first Stoke lock there was some dredging going on. I stopped with two boats ahead of me. Just as I was pulling over a boat came in the opposite direction so I thought we would be off. The boats ahead seemed to dither about but eventually got going at a glacial pace. The first was a single hander and the second weren't very experienced at all. In the end it took over two hours to get through the five locks!
I am fascinated by these stone masons marks. I assume that there is a register of them somewhere as they were used to ensure that the right person got paid for their work. This mark is so elaborate that it must have taken almost as long to etch in as the cutting off the block. Well not really but you know what I mean. Maybe the apprentice did this work to get his eye in.
The 'Lindsay' outside the Etruscan Bone and Fling Mill thgat was built in 1857. I still haven't been inside to see it in steam.
The top lock at Etruria seems to be really deep but probably isn't that much deeper than many others.
By the time we had passed the Festival Park Marina the rain was falling softly but felt cold in the wind. There were some lucky hirers getting aboard a Black Prince hire boat as we passed. I hope they have a great holiday. The boats ahead of us at the locks had all fallen by the way side so we were able to crack on which was good as we didn't want to get wet.
As the canal rounds the old site of the Shelton Bar Steel works that closed in 2000 the show of trees that have grown up on the now derelict site added some colour to the drab day.
It is a shame that another use couldn't be found for the old Anderton Boat Company warehouse and the Mersey and Newport Pottery the other side of the bridge.
There was plenty of room overlooking Westport Lake so we were soon moored up and the fire lit. We had beaten the heavier rain so all in all a good days boating.
2 comments:
It's lovely to read about where you two are travelling - all very familiar to us now. Westport Lake moorings are nice, eh? We stayed there but moored at the north end - good plan as on hot days the smell of the lake is overpowering further down! If you're planning to walk into Tunstall to Aldi or other shops, I'd suggest going across the bridge at the north end - takes much less time and is a nicer less urban walk. M&D
Hi There, we are planning to go for a few bits and pieces when we get through the tunnel tomorrow, but I will remember for next time. The lake isn't smelling today I can assure you, far too cold. Cheers for now, Tony.
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