Up through Stone

After Friday’s wet weather Saturday was fine and dry, with a washed out blue sky and weak, autumnal sunshine. We set off from Great Haywood after filling the water tank, paused at Haywood Marina while several boats trying to get in and out of the narrow entrance at the same time sorted themselves out, and went up Hoo Mill Lock.

Fine and dry for a change…

Weston Lock


Weston Wharf, now cluttered with Canal and River Services craft, was built to load salt from local brine works.

There were a few boats about, and on three occasions we met boats at bridges. Typical.

An awkward encounter under the blind Weston Bridge.

Near the village of Salt the canal passes under a road bridge with decorative brickwork, but for some reason each side has a different design…


…maybe two brickies?

We came up the deep Sandon Lock, then pulled in at a remote spot soon after.

Our neighbours.

Yesterday was another wet one, so we stayed put. It did brighten up later, and we had a visitor taking advantage of the extra height of John Sage strapped to the counter…

It was cooler this morning, with pewter skies just allowing the sun’s disc to show.

We took about 90 minutes to get to the moorings below Star Lock in Stone, passing Aston Lock on the way. I made a trip up to the shops, we had lunch, then set off again. There had been a steady stream of boats coming down, so we were able to swap as we went.

Star Lock.

Just above Yard Lock there’s a new construction going up, Joules Brewery have acquired the site and a new but appropriately designed pub will sit canalside, and on the adjacent land a theatre and heritage centre will complement the development. Lots of info here…

The old bottle store alongside the development at Crown Wharf

Mags wasn’t feeling so good by the time we’d reached Newcastle Road Lock, so I single-handed this and Limekiln Lock.

Newcastle Road Lock and the boatman’s tunnel under the road.

Several of the boats we’d seen heading downhill were ex working boats, and there were a few still tied up above Limekiln Lock.

The King and Ilford…


…a rather sad-looking Dragon and Olive

Smart looking Darley




We cruised out of town to moor opposite the housing development that used to be fields when we first started coming this way.


Someone’s an enthusiast…
No idea what it is though!

Locks 8, miles 11