Change of canal, change of weather.

The first planned, the second definitely unwelcome! A cold wind combined with little sun has kept the temperature in single figures today. Still, at least it’s been dry…

Looking back on Milton village

The canal winds quite tightly south of Milton, and it would be easier if you could see around the corners!

Near Bridge 18

 

Ivy House Lift Bridge pretty well marks the boundary between the countryside and the built up area. We’d been caught up by another boat, NB Toby, and I ushered both boats through.

Seyella followed by Toby at Ivy House Lift Bridge

As the canal enters the industrial fringes of Stoke the “Three Ds” are apparent…
dereliction, demolition, development

 

…as the city reinvents itself.

I remembered to take the chimney off before Bridge 9 this time!
I got chatting to a local chap as I dropped Mags down Planet Lock, so didn’t get any pictures, then Meg and I walked the last ¼ mile to Bedford Street Staircase Locks.

Down the staircase

Then it was a short distance, past the Industrial Museum to Etruria Junction and the Trent and Mersey Canal.

 

It’s a familiar route through Stoke from here, past potteries extinct and extant, as we cut through Etruria, Newport, Middleport and Longport to Westport and the moorings alongside the lake there.

We got us a convoy!
Two Anglo-Welsh hire boats gaining on us as we pass the site of the huge Shelton Ironworks, now all demolished.

Near here the Burslem Branch Canal ran north-ish for half a mile to Burslem, encouraging a massive boom in industry in the town. Following a breach in 1960 a lot of the channel has been in-filled, but some old wharf buildings remain at the terminus. An ambitious project to reopen the branch was launched in 1998, and seems to be gaining significant support. The latest publication by the Burslem Port Trust is here.

Junction of the Burslem Branch

Not much to be seen at the moment…









Through the tunnel under Harecastle Hill tomorrow.

I passed a milestone today, over a quarter of a million pageviews since I started rattling on!
Thanks everyone!

Hey Sue. Since arriving on the more popular T&M the hire/private boat ratio has changed - in favour of the hire boats! Glad you had a great time with the family, see you soon. 
 Locks 3,  miles 7½