Warm and windy on the way to Barlaston

Tuesday 20^th August; Brassworks Bridge to Barlaston

Apart from the racket from the commuters driving home on the A34 way across the fields, and the happy shouts of children playing on the little green area on the offside, it was quiet yesterday evening.  We set off for Stone some time after 9, and with the aid of another boater we managed to shoehorn ourselves into a space to wait for the water point to become free.  Although it is a concrete edge, it is broken in places and isn’t straight either, so it was hard to deploy the fenders to protect the side of the boat, which duly got somewhat scraped at the forward end.  The boat already filling his tank had moored to avoid a projecting piece of metal.  He was soon finished, and once we were properly secured I left Dave in charge and went to M&S.  It had been raining when I got back and Dave had got quite wet.  We had to wait for a hire-boat to go up Star lock before we could be on our way again.  They took the last mooring before Yard lock, much to my annoyance as I wanted to go to the butcher’s.

Christina has had her garden weeded

There was nothing for it but to finish the flight, as the towpath below Newcastle lock is given over to permanent moorings.  But the sun had come out by now and it was warming up nicely.  Every now and then I got some help with the gates from the crew of a Rothen tug that was following us up.  They were on their way to collect a hopper from above Meaford locks.  We pulled in on the 5-day moorings above Lime Kiln lock, and as it was not quite 12 I decided to give Jess a walk back to the town.  The Rothen tug went by, no doubt relieved they didn’t have to follow us up the Meaford flight.  Shopping done, we had lunch and carried on to Meaford locks.

Turkey Twizzler on the way to Meaford bottom lock

We were lucky to meet boats coming down at the first three locks on the flight, so it was all a lot less effort than coming up through Stone.

Probably Meaford House lock, second in the flight

It was really warm by now in the sun, but the wind made it just a little too cool to wear shorts.  At the next lock a couple of raised beds had been planted up with marigolds.

Why haven’t their marigolds been munched by slugs?  Mine have!

As we rose up the marigold lock, I saw in the distance someone apparently leave a car and walk up to the top lock with a windlass, but no boat appeared.   When I arrived he was kicking his heels, still waiting for it to arrive – he has been helping his friend towards Great Haywood, but isn't staying on the boat with him and likes to keep his car within reach so he can go home at night.  He worked the lock with me, but he had a long time to wait - it was some way further on that we met his friend.  At least he could wait in the sunshine.  The tug which passed us at Stone had turned and was ready to set off tomorrow morning, though the crew had already gone home.

I wonder what time they started today?  I know they hadn’t stopped for a break and weren’t planning on doing so.  We carried on past the Plume of Feathers and moored out in the country.  The strong wind blowing from the towpath side made that manoeuvre rather tricky, and it was chilly enough to close all the windows on that side too.  We have cows for neighbours on the offside, so much nicer than houses or industrial units.

4 miles, 8 locks