Wednesday 25 August and we continue towards Stoke from our mooring above Stone locks.
Passing Azalea built by Roger Fuller one of the most respected boatbuilders who operated from Stone
Jan steering between two of the four Meaford locks
Entering Meaford top lock via Bridge 98 hoping the scaffolding holds!
Working on a boat at the former Barlaston boatyard dating from the 18th century. Currently for sale for a mere one million
Attractive canalside cottages near Barlaston
Covid reminder
Watery Cottage - this boat has larch shingles and a turf roof!
Yes, it does read "Tackle & Bait Air Guns Archery Boats & Engines Country & Western Line Dancing"
The landscape changes and we know we're coming into Stoke
It's a nice change from grafitti
Leaving Trentham lock on the outskirts of Stoke
The famous crockery maker's place
Our first sighting of a bottle kiln marks a long stretch where the Potteries once dominated the region
Stoke bottom lock - at 11' 11" it's deep!
And safely at the top
The ambience of a city lock
Buildings connected to the pottery industry under renovation
Shirley's Bone & Flint Mill built in 1857 with it's impressive chimney. It ground up bone and flint for agriculture and pottery and closed in 1972 - it's now a museum
Lock works
Bridge lifting mechanism designed by Fred Flintstone circa 10,000 BC
A burst of colour in an otherwise drab landscape
Another bottle kiln and pottery
Atmospheric canalside ruin
The famous Middleport Pottery, site of BBC's Great Pottery Throwdown and home to Burleigh Pottery
Middleport's chimney
Another bottle kiln, this one overgrown and neglected
Evening light
Friday morning and prepping for Harecastle Tunnel
Built by James Brindley and opened in 1777, the tunnel is 2.5km long. There are no lights inside, so boats must use their 'tunnel light' to illuminate the tunnel roof. The striped 'banana board' indicates the lowest point of the roof and boaters are advised to duck throughout the lower sections
An hour's wait for three boats coming through in the opposite direction
...and here's the first, tunnel light showing. The tunnel keeper logs entry and exit times and briefs on the emergency procedure if we are stuck inside - repeated long bursts on the horn
and wait for rescue boat (!)
We're inside and you can just see our tunnel light against the roof. The blob of light on the right is a handheld torch to show the tunnel side
Our only other guide is the internal cabin lights which are on with all curtains open
After 44 minutes we're through - this is the queue at the other end and centre picture, the rescue boat
Yellowy brown water caused by iron ore leaching from the tunnel
Just after the tunnel, approaching the left turn into the Macclesfield from the Trent & Mersey. The former then shortly turns to the right crossing the T&M on an aquaduct
Turning... we'll look for an overnight stop soon
This heron did stand still
