The end is nigh.

We went to the pub, Clifford Arms, for a meal last night. On the way we stopped for a look at the Essex Pack Horse Bridge.

It was a very dull start to the day, meteorologicaly speaking that is, but we were underway by 1000.  Hayward Lock, the first of the day, seemed to set the tone for the day a small queue at the bottom, and a larger one at the top, so everybody going one up one down. We didn't need to stop at the services, which was a shame as there was room at the junction with the Staffs and Worcester.

The Trent and Mersey meanders along the floor of the Trent Valley and the scenery is pretty splendid even on a drab day like today.

Weston Lock was no exception to the waiting as we continued the one up one down routine. There was a C&RT work boat that followed us into the lock heading south.

When the canal arrived it meant that coal dropped in price and the brine of the region could be extracted and boiled to produce salt that was then shifted by canal. Near Weston on Trent is the village of Salt and Shirleywich which had a small arm for the works. In the Weston arm we saw this old butty, and there is definitely no need for false rivets in this build. 

The rich countryside of the Trent Valley attracted lots of the rich and famous and Sandon Hall. It was bought by the 1st Baron Harrowby in 1776. The house was damaged by fire in 1848 and rebuilt. The current owners are the 8th Earl and Countess of Harrowby. This must be a garden feature that maybe used as a wedding venue as part of the house and grounds has been given over to that venture.

Also in the grounds, peeping over the top of the trees of the parkland is a monument to William Pitt the Younger that was erected in 1806 who did in that year.

On the other side of the valley is Weston Hall that started out as A Dower House in 1550. It was extended in 1660 it was extended to a three gable building with three pitched roofs. In 19th century it was purchased by Shrewsbury Settled Estates and the fourth pitched roof added as is seen today. In 1950 the Godwin Family bought it and converted it to flats. It became very run down and in 1992 a local businessman bought it and spent 9 years in restoring it and changing it to a restaurant, venue and with rooms.

This ornate bridge was built for the Sandon Hall Estate. They also got their own station!

Sandon Lock has some nice buildings by it as well as a lime kiln. Helen calls these mini locks after all the wide locks we have been doing this years.

The geese seem to be in the same mood as myself. The weather being gloomy suits my mood as our cruising for another draws to a close. Hopefully we will be able to get down to the boat for a short cruise or two, and to do a bit of work too.

The couple in the boat ahead of us that we helped through Sandon Lock were 88 and 85. They were an example to us all, and I hope that I am as fit as them at that age. A few bends later we found them stuck on the tow path side. We stopped and gave them a tug off to get them underway. They have a Russel Newby engine and a deepish draft.

Not far before Aston Marina the reflection of the bridge bode well for no wind as we found our way to our berth.

And that then is that for another year.