Stone Down, Plotts and Parks.

 We had a bit of a lazy start, even putting the heating on to take the chill off as it said it was 3.3 deg outside, and may have been a bit of grass frost. We still managed to off and at 'em by 10 am. Today however we weren't heading off in the boat, instead we had our boots on and went for a walk.

We walked up the canal, no naked cyclists today, and to the top of the Meaford Locks before heading down the lane. Here we spied an old house, which is Grade II Listed and used to be an old corn mill that had a mill race running through it.

We continued on to the ford over the stream that fed the mill and that was when we realised we had been here before. We had walked to here from Barlaston previously! We walked up the Downs Banks valley with the many families and their small children dressed to splash in the stream and the hundreds of dogs too. This may be a little controversial, but are we at maximum dog levels now? I really hope so as there are just too many of them now, and many don't seem to be overly obedient. I wonder if this economically testing winter will mean that charities have many passed on to them. Maybe a time not to buy one for the massive prizes and wait to see if that happens as there may be just what you are looking for there.

What a great thing for John Joule the brewing man from Liverpool and Stone to give to the public to remember the heroes of WWII. I hope some of those passing this stone reflect on this a time or two.

We did the circuit of the Down Banks NT enclave and then back towards Stone and over the Common Plott. This 75 acres is all that is left of the land used by all the locals as common land and fields. This is all that is left of the 360 acres that was allocated to landowners in 1801. Since 1920 it has been administrated by a Charity and is grazed by cattle. Nice place to have on your doorstep.

Just down from the Common Plott is Stonefield Park. It is a very traditional park. This little pocket park was purchased by the Stone Council in 1920 from the Joule's Brewery. It was opened in 1928 as an adults only park with a bowling green and two tennis courts and formal beds. The layout is much the same with the bowling green and tennis courts still there along with an aviary. A rose garden has been removed and a children's playground added.

As we walked down the hill to the town I spotted this ghost sign writing as we crossed the railway. It is surprising how much of it can be seen around still. It wasn't too easy to read in the light of a dull day but seems to be a bakery on the left and the Co-op on the right.

We called in to the Royal Exchange as we were passing minutes after it opened the doors and I had a pint of Cherry Porter. One of my favourites is Titanic Plum Porter, bu the Cherry is up there too. We stopped in M&S for a couple of bits and then back to the boat for a bacon sandwich before heading off. We heading down to Star Lock and as nobody was on the water point we went and topped up before backing down back to the winding hole to turn and head off back to Aston, now that we have been stymied from heading north of Stoke, again!!

Only one lock today and it had to be filled. Helen did the honours. Although it wasn't very sunny there was little breeze so it wasn't too bad at all. We call this weather 'Hull Fair' weather in East Yorkshire, but really needs the smell of piles of leaves too to be really authentic. 

As we continued on we saw a kingfisher keep flying ahead of us. Helen grabbed the camera and we had fingers crossed that it would sit still long enough for a picture. I thought Helen had got distracted with this one, but no she swears that it is a kingfisher as indicated.

Helen assured me that she had a better picture of the dazzling blue and orange bird. I have indicated where it is just so you don't miss it!

Where did all the bridges go? Originally Bridge 90, now 85! I am used to seeing new bridges added since the canal was built and road transport increased so much since the canal was built so I was surprised to see that 5 have disappeared. Small farm accommodation bridges may have disappeared, but still.

There were no boats on our favourite spot in the area so we had the pick of spots. TV aerial up, fire lit and a glass of red. The perfect end to a pretty good day.