Day 10 - Barlaston to Engine Lock

Friday 12th June

10 miles, 10 locks



The Wedgewood factory

Alarm set for an early start along with several other boaters heading up the Stoke flight. Forecast to be the hottest day of the year so far - muggy though.

Stoke locks are quite deep and slow to fill and empty so a fair amount of time was spent queuing or helping other boaters.








We have come to a region of "duck"  in so much as everyone you meet says OK duck or hello duck etc etc.

There was a chap in high viz jacket getting very excited about the number of boats out and tyrying to tell people what to do - spoke to a local boater turns out he is not a CRT volunteer but someone who has been "helping out" for years and gets very excitable!



Passing the Britannia stadium in Stoke

Passed the Britannia stadium, Stoke City's football ground, several large old chimneys from the potteries and several ceramic factories.


Etruria bone and flint mill



Stoke top lock

At the top of Stoke locks we had to do a U-turn onto the Caldon canal. Stopped at services for coffee and water and to fit the new water filter - quite pretty.

James Brindley at Etruria



View from Etruria



Services at Etruria



Staircase locks 1 and 2 on the Caldon Canal

Then onto the staircase locks which took us ages as two boats going up and three coming down. Mission to get past Engine lock for a good mooring before the rain starts.













Old chimneys in Stoke

Caldon has steadily become more rural - moored by bridge 21 a lift bridge surrounded by horses, cows, sheep, geese and chickens near Norton Green. Rain something of nothing. Spent the evening listening England v NZ one day - NZ won but over 700 runs scored in the day - a record.

Anna is 12 weeks old today! Baby Cory was discharged from hospital today - hooray!