Sunday 23rd August

Not too much more rain during the night but Graham still had lots of mopping to do before we could start today. We left about 9am and filled with water at the entrance to the Caldon canal before reversing back onto the Trent and Mersey canal and tackling the first of the deep Stoke locks. I was steering the boat while Graham worked the locks. We were lucky in that they were either set for us or a boat came up just as we arrived.

All along here you pass old potteries and I hadn't noticed this sign before.

The Middleport pottery is still in production with a cafe open to visitors. Don't know whether or not they offer a tour.

One of the locks takes you down and under the railway line. It was strange waiting for the lock to empty with trains passing very close in front of you.

There has been a great deal of regeneration of this area and new apartments sit well with the preserved kilns although a bit of gardening wouldn't go amiss!

We moored at a favourite spot before Barlaston. Again there are few boats about. The forecast was not good so instead of an evening BBQ we decided to eat earlier. The baked potatoes were in the oven and Graham was just getting the BBQ out when the rain started......and continued.....It was very heavy so the food was cooked and eaten indoors. The weather cleared up later but everywhere was soaking.

We head for Stone and Weston upon Trent tomorrow.