Monday 8th July 2013

Apologies for no updates for 4 days. We had either sporadic signal or, in the case of Froghall, no signal at all. Not sure I could live with that. So I'll post now we are back in communication.

Monday - I set off this morning to buy a newspaper in Milton. The sign at the bridge indicated that the shops were 150yds away. They have funny measurements in Staffordshire as it was much further than that. After walking a while I asked a boy going to school if there was a newsagents up the road. He replied that he didn't know. Upon reflection I realised that you buy papers in supermarkets now, and there are not many designated shops. I did pass an excellent secondhand book shop and it would have been mean not to support this independent shop!

At Hazelhurst Junction we made the decision to go North to Leek by turning South and passing over the Froghall branch which has locked down and is now underneath you as you sail across on an acqaduct. 

The cows are finding another way to keep cool.

The first real tunnel of the holiday is just before Leek. 130 yds. long

Unfortunately the canal does not go to Leek which is a walk through an Industrial Estate and then up a very long steep hill - or so it seemed in the heat of the afternoon. The town found favour with William Morris and now has lots of antique shops and "things your home just cannot live without" Luckily we cannot carry much on board so we visited The Roebuck and sampled a Titanic Ale of which there was a good selection.

We decided to cruise back towards Hazelhurst junction and it was there that we found no signal!