Up the Caldon Canal.

It wasn't quite as windy as yesterday when we set off but it was bitterly cold and with frequent hail showers. Just round the corned from our overnight spot is the staircase lock. The Caldon Canal acts as a feeder for the Trent and Mersey so water coming down is not a problem and the top lock is larger than the bottom one so that extra goes down.

Bedford Street Staircase Lock. High and mighty!

The route is very narrow and at the beginning quite industrial, or would have been in times past as they are mainly empty now. It does past through Hanley Park which brings some green to the cut. We came this way a few years ago and the demolition in many places has been replaced by new housing. We finally run out into more rural areas but the canal remains narrow and with very tight bends in places. Of course we started to meet boats coming down, and just about always at a bridge, on a bend! No damage done though. We were aiming to stop at Milton but carried on a little further.

Only the second time I have had my coat on, but I was still nithered by the time we moored. Nice to see the bluebells though.

Bridge 20 and Engine Lock. With a rare bit of sun.

Once we had had lunch we decided to brave the hail showers and go for a walk. I like this sort of country that has had several periods of varying occupation as there are relics of the industrial past and before. Old wall, ancient track ways and nice old houses in strange places for today. We crossed an old railway line a couple of times and we were surprised to see that it still had the track down. It seems that it has been left in case the Cauldon Low stone quarry resumes production. Mind you the track is so over grown it would take a lot of work to reinstate it. I am also surprised that the scrap thieves haven't targeted it yet!

Dandelion field. Glad my lawn is close to this!

The Head of Trent.

This is the young River Trent. It's source is on the flanks of Biddulph Moor which is not far away. The full length of the river is 185 miles to Trent falls where it joins with the Ouse to form the Humber. It's average discharge is 84 cu metres per second with a minimum of 15 and a maximum of 1018 cu. metres per second. So now you know.