Canal Cruising Customers Continuing.

 As planned we walked up to Canal Cruisers to see if they could slot us in for replacing the isolation switch. They said they could so we legged it back and set off, just before two or three others from the moorings.

We didn't stop for water and were straight into Star Lock. I haven't been into the pub, but it has been there for around 200 years before the canal was dug. It had stables for 15 horses. There were plenty of botanicals on the lock gates and walls. I'm not sure whether that is a sign of pure water, or that the locks need maintaining.

Just by the lock on the towpath side is this white pole that I don't think I have noticed before, maybe I have been trying to avoid hitting something or other before. It has been there since 2016 so it is not new. It is one of approximately 250,000 in 180 countries. They are peace poles and they all have the same message 'May peace prevail on Earth'. It is in several languages and in Stone it is in Polish, Urdu, Russian, Chinese, Spanish, Hebrew, Arabic and Braille. The idea was pushed forward by the Stone Quakers and was erected just over five years ago.

Plenty of growth on Yard Lock too, as well as loads of water coming down too.

Plenty of water coming in the top gate too. We just moored up alongside four of their hire boats that were just being turned round ready for the next hirers. They only have three more weeks of hiring it seems and they have been very busy this year.

Helen got dressed in her glad rags and was off into town for some wool and paperbacks, basically a Charity Shop run! I was soon asked to move once a hire boat had left from the dry dock, I slotted in there so they could spread their other boats about a little better. The 'leccy was just finishing off a starter motor problem of one of their boats and then came to me. I was a little worried as they had told me he was away in the afternoon. He soon had the bolt off and had a new switch lined up. It was not the same so had to drill mounting holes, but it was soon done and all before 12pm. We settled up and were soon away. Thank you Canal Cruisers for slotting us in.

There was somebody on the water point below Newcastle Road Lock so we went straight up. After Limekiln Lock we did something that we don't usually, stop for lunch. We were both in our 'go ashore' so we stopped and had lunch too.

One we got underway again and just by Bridge 96 is this garden with the signal box, signals etc. It says it is 'Stoneycombe Sidings Signal Box'. I would be mightily impressed if this was the actual signal box from the quarries near Newton Abbot. 

The quarries are still working but it doesn't look like the sidings are active as the signal box is all sealed up now. This was the original GWR box from around 1894. It has a concrete rough to repel an stone debris thrown up by blasting at the quarry behind. The stone strip, where the white name board is now, looks long enough to fit the stone name board on though!

We were soon up Meaford Locks. It was the first time I can remember that the road bridge wall at the top lock has been in one piece. I wonder how long it lasts? You wouldn't know that there was a large power station just here would you. Nature soon reclaims the land.

Bridge 100 is Turnover Bridge and it does what it says on the tin, although not with quite the panache of those on the Macclesfield Canal. 

A little further on there is a stone block in the parapet of the bridge that obviously had the cast iron bridge number, or some other sign that was fixed into the stone. I haven't noticed this in the other bridges so far, so may this just marks a different sub contractor building the bridges.

This looks very much like the stone I saw by Hoo Mill Lock, but less eroded. I saw it but by the time I had grabbed the camera and found a gap in the vegetation we were well past. There seemed to be a lot of writing on it below the G/B. I will have to remember to step of and read it on the way back.

This swan family seemed to be waiting to be fed by the householder here. It is no wonder the cygnets are so large, and still hanging about too!

As we passed through Barlaston and the Plume of Feathers pub you get to some open land on the off side. I love the roots and twisted and knobbly tree trunks. We passed the winding hole and moored up with open views to port and st'bd. It has been warm enough today but we haven't had a glimpse of the sun, and it is all about damp, so Helen insists the fire is lit one again.