Barlaston, Trent & Mersey canal Friday 4th September.
Having witnessed the number of boats passing our mooring during yesterday, we were moving by 6.45am. It was a lovely morning with a crisp autumnal feeling and this confirmed the decision as a good one, to be up and about at this time of day.
Approaching Aston lock the size of the new marina became apparent. According to the blurb, it occupies 2.2 hectares (5.4 acres in old money) and will have 180 berths.
It will be opening in October 2009.
All that is needed now is for the lock moorings to be lengthened and improved along the Trent and Mersey to accommodate the inevitable increase in boat movements. Should I wish to have wet feet, I can always dip them in the canal; when I get off the boat on the towpath side I prefer grass to slurry or deep puddles as is the situation at present below Sandon lock.
Stone was full of boats, with the moorings from the lock extended southwards quite a way; it must be the Stopshire Union canal effect. Myra was going to Morrisons; as Martlet rose in the bottom lock I could see (of course!) that there were two boats moored on the shopping places at the car park. It was 8am, both boats had all of their curtains closed and had obviously been there all night. A little consideration goes a long way; completely out of reach as far as these two were concerned. We moored above Newcastle road lock and she walked from there. There were five boats moored in this pound; we were beginning to get used to having a lot of boats around again.
When Myra returned, we moved off and had a clear run up Meaford flight with a boat waiting to come down at each lock, three at the second to last and four at the last one!
We stopped for the day just past the Plume of Feathers at 11.40am and by 2.30pm, there were six boats moored in front.
We spent an enjoyable evening in company with Mick and Jackie from Stoke boat club on their boat ‘Half a Shilling’
2009 Totals: 480 Locks – 880 miles – 35 Bus pass uses.
