Traipsing along by the Trent.

What a lovely evening last night. The sun went down behind the skyline and the silhouette was lovely. Straight away the mist rose from the River Trent running through the adjacent pasture and swirled up and over the hedge. There was hardly a light to be seen and the stars were brilliant. It was beautifully quiet all through the night too.

When we woke up it was cold but the heating soon made it time to get out and make the tea, a little later than normal as it is Sunday. After breakfast I walked into Great Haywood and bough the paper and once back we got ready for the off. The fog had lifted somewhat and I could see a good distance. Of course as soon as we got going it came down again. It was quite interesting getting to Haywood Lock as three other boats had got going too, heading our way, and we didn't get much time for avoidance. Fortunately we were all going nice and slowly.

The Shugborough Hall Coach Bridge in the mist.

We had never seen the moorings around Great Haywood so empty and were very surprised to find the water point vacant as it is normally quite a scrum here as it is right on the junction with the Staffordshire and Worcestershire Canal. We stopped and filled up and dumped the garbage and then were off again. There are long intervals between locks and the mist was slowly lifting but the atmosphere was quiet and brooding and we felt like we should only speak in low tones. 

Hoo Mill Lock. I wonder how many bioats have passed through here since the canal opened in 1777.

I also wonder how many feet and fetlocks have passed this way to Hoo Mill Lock.

As we approached a moored boat I slowed down and saw a kingfisher on a tall pole by the stern of it. I got my camera ready as it was in plain view and the right height. As I checked the focus I saw that there was also a great tit. I decided that they were both models and looked away! Just then the kingfisher swiveled it head. I quickly tried to re-frame and focus but it dived into the water. Having missed it's lunch it flew to another pole and from a distance this is the best I could do. I could really kick myself, but it was a beautiful sight.

Every mile, without fail, there is a mile post along the Trent and Mersey Canal. This is a new one that was placed by the Trent and Mersey Canal Society in 1977.

This is an original as the small plaque says R&D, Stone, 1819. It was made in Stone which was the HQ of the Canal Company. This one is a bit special as it is the half way marker by Aston Lock, near to Stone.

Helen in the sun at Sandon Lock.

We decided that as the forecast for tomorrow is not good we would get four of the Stone Locks under our belt today and headed through Star Lock and past the classic Canal Cruisers dry docks and workshops. We met boats at every lock so making it a little easier on everybody.

The original Joule's Brewery that is a great building. I am hoping to get reacquainted with a pint of Joules tonight even though it is now brewed in Market Drayton.

We moored up between the Stone and Meaford Locks and may eat out tonight to give us strength for a long day tomorrow.