As the sun set there was quite a nice sunset for us, and the rays of light illuminated the sheep in the field opposite.
Several boats had passed us in both directions before we set off about 0930 and were soon at Sandon Lock.
I was surprised that there was a bit of a queue. I went to the lock to help down the next boat that was a single hander. He was a bit fed up with the boat that had just cleared the lock going our way. It seems he pulled out in front of him just before the lock and promptly let the wind get him across the cut and took time to get sorted and then managed to go as slowly as possible again. Helen dropped the boat into the lock and there were two waiting to come up.
At Weston Lock we caught up with him again but he moored up below the lock. I was struck by the structure built to protect the stop planks, and even named them. I sort of realised that for many years now BW and C&RT have not really built structures that are for 'industrial' use and specific. I don't suppose it will become a Listed building in the future, but it is good to see them doing it.
'Tamburo' is a beautiful wooden craft that we passed. You could be forgiven in thinking it is one of the classic craft that was built by Taylor's of Chester as it is apparently built by Charles Martin of Rock Ferry to one of Taylor's plans. Who ever built it, it is in great nick and must take some dedication to keep it in this condition.
It seems that paddle boarders have moved on to the canals in a big way, and I can't remember seeing one yet though. On rivers I have, but not the canals. Today as we approached Hoo Mill Lock these two canoeists/kayaks came passed us. Still no paddle boarders though.
As we approached Hoo Mill Lock, passing the permanent moorings I spotted a great pile of old lock gates. I'm not sure if there was a BW/C&RT wharf here in the past and they have just stayed in place. You would think that the timber would go for good quality logs, at the least. Can't they reuse the ironmongery on them? At Great Haywood Marina we met 'Lurcher', the Willow Cruises boat. It was full of folk tucking into their fish and chip lunch. It seems that they head up through Hoo Mill Lock and wind at Shirleywich. If they are pointing the opposite was they turn into the Staffs. and Worcs. and Tixall Wide, up through Tixall Lock and then wind and back again. The cost is £23-25 and they do cream tea cruises too. Helen was looking on enviously. The fish and chips come from a shop in Stafford.
We have noticed that there are more and more campers in the field opposite Haywood Junction. There is a port a loo and I think there is now a shower. Not exactly all mod cons., but what a great place to watch the chaos that must occur at the junction sometimes!
C&RT have erected a new signpost at the junction. Not quite as striking as the big white junction sign. This one is for the gongoozlers though.
There was a batch of about 6 or 8 mallard ducklings. Somebody out there must know what the odds are that one will be the yellow colour seen here.
This row of cottages is just before Colwich Lock. The white painted one is called Stonemason's Cottage and it has all sorts of signs and equipment outside it. I'm not sure if any of it is related to the trade named. I can find no references to stonemason at Colwich and Little Hayward in a rapid search, but the cottages were there in 1880 and opposite was a short arm, that had more or less disappeared by 1900.
This building has always made me think that it had a bit of history. It is the fact that it is next to the canal, there is a wooden structure near it and what could have been a wharf area by it too. I have now got round to looking it up and have found that it was known as the Wolseley Corn Warehouse. I can see it on the map in 1881 but it seems that it had been there before 1838 as a John Yates was advertising rape cake for sale as fertilizer. I think a quick check has found that John Yates was born in 1780, In 1842 he also had guano for sale. I think that in 1848 John died as the warehouse was put up for auction. There were several heavy and light carts, along with horses and a boat! There was all sorts of equipment for producing feed and fertilizer cake. By 1870 the place was up for auction once again under the ownership of Walter Yates and John Hulme.
Looking at the maps the warehouse seems to have butted up to the canal and there was some set back from the water a bit. Looking at the current building it doesn't seem as if this was the original buildings that have been adapted. I expect that they have demolished after 1961, the last time I can see the old configuration. It was a shame they couldn't be saved.
We stopped in Rugeley for a bit of shopping at Tesco and were soon on our way again. We stopped for water at the Spode moorings, just after the bridge by the Ash Tree pub and boat club. There was no waiting at the 'tunnel' and we were soon mooring up just after the winding hole at Handsacre. This stile is just by the mooring and I love the path leading off through the field, tempting us to follow it.
#However we followed a more beaten path to the Olde Peculiar pub just up the road. They did have Olde Peculiar on tap, but I had a pint from Exmoor brewery. The chips hope was open as we passed on the way back so we stopped for a bag to have with our salad tea. I was shocked when Helen said it was £4, but then I saw the size of it! It will does us two meals easily, so not too bad.
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