First thing this morning Helen went into Penkridge to buy some milk. I set to continuing to polish the port side of the boat. We were off about 10:15 and straight into a slight queue by the services.
Once again it was the hull of this boat that made me look twice. It was an old iron joey boay built in 1896 by Eli Aston at Tipton. It eventually went to Stewarts and Lloyds. In 1976 it was sold out of the company and was lengthened to 69' for cargo carrying. Again in 2009/10 it was sold again and shortened to 57'4" and a Lister installed. It looks lovely, especially the hull.
At Broom lock there was a little hold up as a boat finished going down and one came up. The boat behind just sat there waiting. Nobody got of the boat to assist or chat, and the same happened at the next look too. There does seem to be much more of this happening with people only coming to the lock when they are actually about to enter the lock!
This is the M6 and the bridge is much longer than some of the tunnels further south on this canal.
At Park Gate Lock the trip boat was just loading up with a set of well dressed passengers. The old Midland Chandlers chandlers has re-opened, but under another name. I didn't go in so can't say what the stock or prices are like.
At Shutt Hill Lock just after the lock and before the road bridge is this painted stump. I think it is the central pivot of a small crane.
The church of St. James' is outside the place it serves, Acton Trussell. The was a church here from about 12 12, and the tower and inset spire date from the mid 1500's.
Deptmore Lock is quite scenic. The green trees stand out against the scorched fields, and even the trees are definitely loosing their lustre.
Once again it was very pleasant to [ass between the trees and be out of the sun. There wasn't too much moving today, everybody had either gone early or was waiting for later/
I wonder how many bridges we have been under on this trip away? Baswick Bridge is only really remarkable for it being the 100th on the Staffs. and Worcs. Although that wont be true as there will be a few extra for new road bridges etc. I don't suppose too many are knocked down though.
The Stafford Link seems to be progressing. Nobody there today but there does seem to be some of the basin walls in place. I also see that one of my favourite breweries is sponsoring them, Titanic.
That quite rare animal that isn't on the Macclesfield Canal, a turnover bridge where the animal towing the boats of old could cross when the tow path changed sides without unhitching. I think this maybe the only one on the Staffs & Worcs.
The view down towards Stafford down the Sow Aqueduct was still pretty despite the dryness. The river was still flowing quite well.
As usual there were boats everywhere before on and after Tixall Wide., or on old maps, The Broad Water'. Some say the wide was to placate those from the nearby Tixall Hall so as to make the canal lock more natural. Others say that it was a natural feature and was where Izaak Walton, the noted early angler, learned to fish. The canal builders utilised the existing water to assist in their work. The hall was knocked down long ago. (I didn't take a picture of the gatehouse but you can rent it from the Landmark Trust and stay there.
Although the hall has gone the Tixall home farm is still there to the east of the site of the Hall. Just off the left of this picture is also a bottle lodge that is a small round house with a central chimney. Similar to those found on the canal towards Chester.
Great Hayward Mill seems to be isolated between new tin industrial units. It doesn't seem to be used much now.
We turned easily at the junction and headed to the lock. A boat had just left the water point ahead of us but they moored up just before the lock. There was even one coming up and this gave us just enough time to go to the ice cream boat next to the lock landing, and for me to eat it before the other boat had left the lock. Just a tad longer for Helen. In fact there was another ice cream boat below the lock, but we didn't stop. We carried closer to Little Haywood to find a bit of tow path suitable for me to do a bit of sanding and painting.
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