Gassed and Stoned.

 We had a lazy start today. What's new I hear you say, but today we were going no where until lunch time as we were heading to Canal Cruisers to have our gas checked. Helen went off doing some shopping for wool and some fresh food and I got on with a few little jobs about the boat. First the bracket on the TV aerial was so stiff I couldn't tighten it up. I worked the nut and bolt and added a little spray of WD40 and it was fine. I then screwed the plaque for the fuel cocks and battery cut offs to the new deck boards.  I then gave my self a pedicure. (Okay too much information I'm sure).

About 11:30 we moved off and went to the water point at the foot of Star Lock to fill up. As we were waiting for it to fill a guy came down from the road and offered some COVID test kit sets. Helen has to do test for her inoculation work and I picked some up from our local chemist and take them when ever Helen does hers. We are both getting to the last few, so it was a timely gift for us both.

The Star Inn after, which the lock is named, was probably built around 200 years before the canal. It had been a butchers and a slaughter house. It could care for 15 horses during the early canal era up until the 1950's. When the canal was opened in Stone cannons were set off with such abandon that the new Stone lock was badly damaged and had to be rebuilt. It became a pub in 1829

The next lock is named Yard Lock for obvious reason. When the canal was built Stone, which is almost half way between either end, became the HQ of the Grand Trunk Canal Co. They also had yards in this area too. The engineer didn't get round to us until after 14:00 and we were on our way just after 16:00. They are ordering a new regulator, hoses, and a thermo couple for the grill. Whilst they are at it I said to fit a bubble tester in the system too. We are booked in for a week on Monday on our way back.

Here, in the background, are the new buildings for Joules the brewers. There is their tap house and a theatre. They hve even bought the old fire station, but not sure what they are doing with that. I like the detail of the red crosses at eaves and the finials on the roof ridge. Apparently they are the same as the old Joules buildings next door.

Just around the corner are the old brewery beer stores with the same finials, red crosses and the sign writing too.

We dropped off our rubbish at the foot of Newcastle Road lock. The old Stone Boat Building chandlery has been taken on as a bike shop. Once in the lock this mallard hitched a ride as we rose up before flying off just as Helen get her phone out to take a photo. She did leave a massive calling card though. Not Helen, the duck!!!

About a mile further on you come to the Meaford flight of four locks. The bottom three used to be a staircase and the route ran to the west of the present locks. This is the bottom lock.

The pound between lock 2 and 3 is a little longer than the first, but not long enough for me to moor in it I think. The road bridge just before the last lock has had a belt and half the parapet has fallen over on to the canal side. I assume that any debris has been cleared from the water. At least we didn't touch anything.

The railway from Stone to Stoke runs just by the canal but you can't see it in this picture. It makes me think of a horror film. A could just see this lit for scaring you on a dark night!

Barlaston Boat yard was a going concern in 1879 with a timber yard. However the little arm is drawn in a dashed line which makes me think it was been dug at that time.

A little further up was a row of workers cottages, a little ruined by the addition of the garages on this end. I wouldn't say that if I lived there though I'm sure.

We passed the Plume of Feathers pub where there were several people under the massive awning in the garden and were soon at Barlaston. As we approached the winding hole it looked like all the moorings were taken so we just tied up before the winding hole.