Busy day.

It is a beautiful calm evening with the sun just setting in an almost cloudless sky. Totally different to last night and this morning. I got on with a few inside jobs like sanding and varnishing the battens that hold my bed extension/extension and adding a little stop to prevent it moving. We have a cross bed that must be about just 6 foot. I am a little taller so when stretched out I can't fit! I have added an extension so that I can swing my legs to the side and it works well. It is easy to put up and take down and I sleep very well. Whilst I was between coats of varnish I heard a funny noise and realised that it was the contractors coming along the towpath cutting the grass. I caught myself hoping that the rain would become heavier to wash all the cuttings that would be inevitably sprayed all over the boat. However they missed the length of our boat so saved me a job.

Being sat alongside I have had more time to study passing boats. When I first got aboard I was a little indignant at the speed that boats pass us. Our 'tick over speed' seems to be very low and others may not be so I have really just accepted it. I suppose that if our pins are pulled out I may have a resigned shrug in the direction of the offender. It is funny to watch the helmsmen when I appear at the deck or window. It seems that they are banking on the nobody being aboard sometimes. The speed that you pass is down to the speed you set on the controls but also how soon before passing the boat you actually slow down. It doesn't seem to be just people trying to dash round the Four Counties Ring in a week either. In fact they seems to be better than most. It can be very boring passing lines of moored boats but that is one of those things a little like not doing more than 30mph down the High Street.

When the rain stopped I set off into town to pick up the belt that I had ordered the day before. I also picked a few supplies to sustain me until Helen gets back aboard. When I got back it had turned nice and bright so decided to finish off lining the seat locker. It is now lined out so hopefully the paint work will be protected. I don't expect that it will last too long as it is chipboard so will not take much damp and the locker is not water tight. Still it has kept me out of trouble for a day or so, and was another job to cross off the list.

There are no photos today. I have been unable to find the charger for the camera battery. I'm sure that when Helen gets back she will go straight to it, but as she has been the one that has stowed things, she is the one who will know where everything is. I don't really want to be turfing cupboards out.

Shopping List.

It was lovely at 0630 in the morning but had clouded over by about 1000. I had made a list of stuff to get to enable me to carry out some of the jobs on my list. I left the boat about 0930 and wandered down the towpath with the rubbish to deposit at the facilities by Stone Boat Builders. I then walked over to Morrison's to see if they had a bit of an hardware section. Where is a Wilkinson's store when you need one? I then called at Bailey's DIY in the High Street to see what they had.

Tiled sign at bridge 93 moorings as a welcome to Stone.

I like the idea of everybody having a chance to make a plaque/tile as it makes for a great variety of  facets of the town.

The detail is for Helen and her girls and Guides and Scouts all over.

At Bailey's I found a co-axial aerial connector and a plaster board cutter. I really wanted a keyhole saw but this should do but will be a bit rough. I then went to Autocare shop and got a belt for the 45 Kw alternator at a very good price. It was then back to the Chandler at Stone boat builders to see what vents they had. The bed in built on a wooden box and in the mornings the base of the mattress is damp. I am going to put vents in the top and sides to assist the air flow and hopefully sort it out. I got a couple of chromed vents but decided to go back to Bailey's to get plastic ones for the top as they wont be seen. I noticed that the Chandler had Hempel paints. The boat has been painted using Hempel and it seems they have been taken over by Blakes and a lot of the colours have been discontinued. I am now debating with myself how much paint I will need to touch up over 5 to 7 years which I think would be a reasonable time before a re-paint. It will only for touch up but who knows! It is £20 a tin which means I wont be buying much.  There weren't many stalls at the market today so I hope that there are a few more on Saturday when Helen wants to have a look round.

When back at Bailey's I bought some wood too to get the seat locker done.

The Joules Brewery opened in Stone in 1758 and lasted until 1974 after being taken over by Bass Charington. The sign has the faint outline of a previous painting. I think this are caused ghost signs and appear more often than you think.

When I got back to the boat I finished making the solar panel 'props and they seem to work well. I then continued with the seat locker until the signs of rain hastened me inside again. It gave me the opportunity to cut out the holes in the bed and fit the vents. I hope that it works and another problem is solved.

Home Alone.

It is a weird feeling saying good bye to Helen and her leaving! For too many years I have been saying goodbye and me leaving for weeks or months. I'm missing her, and not just as I have to get all the grub ready myself now either. Mind you all my tools are out and scattered about where I can find them so it does have some compensations. It will all be spick and span by the time she gets back though.

Stone Railway Station.

We left early for the station and ambled along still getting there in good time. The station wouldn't look amiss in Amsterdam. It was not required by the railway companies but it was refurbished by the council and is now used by the local community. When I was there there was a craft workshop going on. I found the footpath that leads down to Lock 30 that you have to cross the railway line on so walked back down the towpath. I then crossed back into town to see what was about near Morrison's. The rain and hail has come with regular bursts. It was nice when I turfed out the seat locker outside. When at Debdale Wharf I recovered some boards that I am going to line out the locker to save all the paint getting chipped. I had to keep stopping and starting as the rain came but I have got the base done and I am just thinking of the best way to line the sides now. I also made a template for a 'prop' for the solar panels. The screw bolts that hold them at one height works loose as you adjust the tilt of them through the day. I thought I would make a prop that holds them up and still allows them to be tightened up at a set angle. Worth a try. I must crack on as I have about 17 jobs on the list to do before Helen gets back. It doesn't look like the weather will be on my side but later in the week I think the showers will be less.

Lovely evening light from our offside windows.

Stone.

I missed posting yesterday as we were back so late from the beer festival in Weston and the band. More later.



We had a nice mooring at Weston on Trent and it was quiet enough for Macy to explore. She has steadily been getting accustomed to her life a float. She no longer runs and hides as soon as the engine starts and just sleeps through going through locks etc. We have been bringing her out on the deck when we are underway but she hasn't wanted to stay. In Weston she followed me out and sniffed about on the back then jumped down and just pottered close by and then later did the same again and went a bit further so with luck I wont have to take her for a walk so much.

Macy exploring (Named Macy after Macy Grey the singer who was in the charts at the time we got her).

We went to the Beer Festival that was in aid of the Weston on Trent Village Hall at just the right time as the face painting and Punch and Judy man had just finished. There were nine beers and three ciders on with names such as 'Rule Britannia', 'Side Pocket for a Toad', 'Top Totty' and Plum Porter which I had to try of course. In fact by the time we went home I had tried all but one of them. There was a real mix of ages but we must have been well up in the top 5%. Later in the afternoon was am open mike time and there were a couple of good singers. At eight o'clock the main band came on and they were excellent. They were called 'The Formula' and they were gents of a certain age. They played a really good mix of music with a little 60/70's but mostly from more recently. It was great and their second period had everybody on the floor, including me, and we had a really great time. For an impromptu night it was as good as it gets. We had nothing to eat as had crackers and cheese, and jam when we got back and to bed. If you are anywhere in the area and need a band I would highly recommend 'The Formula'.

We set of early for us, and without breakfast, at 0845'ish and enjoyed the trip. There was traffic moving but no delays at the two locks we passed through. There must have been some money round here as there are lots of lovely big houses and halls.

Bridge at Sandon Hall to be smart enough to pass muster to allow the canal to be built through the Hall lands.

The cows were laying down which I understand is a sign of rain, but it held off for us.

Helen dressed for the summer weather!

The halfway point of the Trent and Mersey at Aston Lock.

The fact that the mid point of the Trent and Mersey canal is near Stone explains why it was chosen as the Company Headquarters for it. It stayed that way until it was bought out by the railway company. It will also explain why the mile post where cast here in Stone. Unfortunately the company went bust not too many years later.

We moored up where there were no trees and not too far from the official moorings as we will be here for the best part of a week. We walked into town to get the paper and some milk and have a preliminary look around. I found the pub where one of the beers from yesterday's beers was brewed and they have jazz nights so may a wander there later this week when I am on my own.

The cow's prophecy comes true just after we get back. 

With the Sunday Paper, two bacon and sausage butties inside and the stove lit the girls take it easy for the rest of Sunday.

Congratulations to Wigan, another fairy story. I wonder if it will continue on Tuesday?

Rain avoidance

The day started overcast and with showers but once we set off we managed to miss all the rain. There seemed to be a lot of hire boats moving today. It was less windy and I suppose that they have to be where they have to be on Friday night mostly. We went up the Haywood lock and past the junction and took water as we were doing a wash.

There were slight queues at all three locks today, Haywood, Hoo Mill and Weston Locks but no great delays. The sun and warmth of the weekend combined with the rain seems to have really caused the trees to green up and it is all get set for summer. Fingers crossed.

Our mooring.

We carried on and were aiming for Weston upon Trent. There was just a spot with a few feet either end for us. The sun came out to great us and we put the washing out to dry. We then went out for a walk round the village. The first thing I spotted on a lamp post was a sticker saying that there was a beer festival in the village hall tomorrow. We were wondering whether to move on a bit tomorrow but we are now likely to stay put. After locating the Hall we crossed the extensive green and entered the Woolpack for a drink. I only banged my head twice on the low beams. We were tempted by the two meals for £10 but as we had eaten late saved out money. As we sat there the heavens opened and that was the washing soaked again. When we got back it was enough of an excuse to lit the fire again! The showers continued and some were very heavy. I always liked being in a tent when it was raining as it makes you feel snug and safe from the tumult outside. In the boat it is the same feeling but even better as it is nice and warm too.

Bucketing it down.

Shugborough Hall.

It has turned out to be a quite nasty day with showers but a very strong cutting wind so it was a good job that we are staying put and having the day round Shugborough Hall. The Hall is owned by the National Trust but run by Staffordshire County Council so we go reduced entrance too. We are moored just looking over the parkland so it was only a short walk to the entrance via the towpath and then over the Essex Pack Horse Bridge. The bridge originally had 40 arches to span the very wide River Trent at the confluence with the River Sow. It is now only 14 arches as the rivers have been constrained and the land drained since 1550 when it was built by the Earl of Essex. It is the longest original pack horse bridge in the country.

Essex Pack Horse Bridge. The parapets are low to allow for the panniers on the horses backs.

Shugborough Hall

In the 1690's Shugborough was bought by the Anson family. After several generations George Anson was the second son. As he knew he wouldn't inherit he went to sea at 14. He rose to be First Lord of the Admiralty. On the way he made a fortune and gave some of it to his brother Thomas to make Shugborough the grand place it is today. By coincidence Admiral Lord Anson was an MP for Hedon 1744 to 1747. It was when Hedon returned two MP's as a 'Rotten Borough'. I seem to remember he had something to do with the Shakespeare pub and the Anson Villas in Paull are named after him. Small world isn't it.

Stable Block. The wisteria is about 140 years old and is just coming into bloom.

We had a quick look at the Hall and then went round the servants quarters where there were many displays of the workings of the house. There was also a museum of the district with lots of exhibits and information. It was like the Tardis and we were over 2 hours going round. We then went for a cup of tea before 'doing' the house properly. This took us another two hours. Shugborough was the home of the Earl of Lichfield, or Patrick Lichfield who was the famous photographer and when he died in 2005 his family did not require the apartments and so that have been restored to the 1960's to give a foil to the 1700's house. Again there was loads to see and learn from the guides. After the tour we didn't have long to look round the gardens etc so we had a quick walk around before closing time. There is still ots to see at the working farm and craft workshops, and various ruins and follies about the place.

Helen smiling on the bridge to the Cat Monument' despite the wind and cold.

Ruins at the bottom of the garden made up of bits of the old buildings.

We got back to the boat and the weather was calling out for the stove to be lit, so we did. I wonder how many times we will light it before we can rely on the weather.

Great Hayward

We had a visit to the garden centre but no luck with the cocoa shells so when we got back we completed pre-flight checks and then set off. The was only one lock at Colwich and there was a short wait there. We were heading for Great Hayward Junction and this is always a busy place. It was dull when we set off but quite soon the sun came out from the clouds occasionally. . On the way we saw a bunch of crows 'attacking' a horse. It looked like that they were pulling beak fulls of hair from the horse that was just laying there and letting them do it. I had never seen this before.

Crows getting bedding from a horse.

As we approached the  Junction there was a nice open aspect of the parkland so we thought we would moor here so that we weren't cooped up. Great Haywood is right next to Shugborough Hall. 

This is the pack horse bridge over the Trent from the village to the hall. Helen was busy baking so I washed down the port side of the boat ready for polishing. We then decided to go for a walk. We went down the towpath to the junction and then walked up to the village. From there we were going to walk to Little Haywood but saw a path through the National Trust land on the other side of the Trent. It was a nice couple of hours and give us an appetite.

Part of the walk was through a sandstone quarry.

The pack horse bridge was too narrow for the Lords of Lichfield to get their carriage over to go to church so they built their own bridge.

Helen watching the swans from the Coach Bridge.

 After tea we were visited by the swans that we had seen earlier. They were knocking at the window and asking for bread.