Cooler as we move to Stone

We had a quiet day yesterday watching  the boats go by. I’m also pleased to be able to report that I found yesterday’s F1 GP in Malaysia a tad more exciting than a fortnight ago. Not so many mechanical failure retirements, and a bit more competitive racing, at least among those teams that didn’t carry a Mercedes badge. The works Mercedes cars seem to have just got the balance right… for the moment.

It was cooler today in the absence of the sunshine we enjoyed over the weekend. Back to jackets to keep out the chill, but I did persevere with the shorts. It’s Spring, after all!

Lots of Sunday lunches on the hoof….

Aston Marina, just before the first of today’s locks

Aston Lock is quite deep, and also marks the half-way point on the canal’s route from Shardlow to Preston Brook.

Aston Lock




There are four locks lifting the canal through Stone, the first with the popular Star public house alongside. Unusually the pub predates the canal.

There was a boat just leaving the lock as we arrived, and another was on the water point so I kept to the right – too far as it turned out, finishing up stuck on the soft mud below the lock.

Just before we got stuck…
A bit of toing and froing got us going again, and into the lock.

Star Lock, Star pub

Yard Lock follows, named for the boatyard directly above.

Canal Cruisering Company, based at the old boatyard in Stone.
We spent a week in that white shed last August while I painted Seyella.

We stopped below Newcastle Road Lock to fill with water then went up and around the corner, up Lime Kiln Lock and moored just in front of NB Balmaha.

Newcastle Road Lock, big hole for boats, small hole for boatmen and boat horses.

Moored above Lime Kiln, Mo is trying to blend into the fence on the right…
I guess he’s a little camera-shy…


We’ll be staying here till Wednesday. Things to do, places to visit.

Locks 5, miles 4