Rained off, Chores on

The forecast today was for heavy rain showers so given that we do not need to travel, we didn't. Rainy day chores that have been postponed by good weather got done instead. First on my list was Caxton's capacious larder. Following our move back onboard armed with the remnants of our land-life larder to be added to it things have been getting steadily more untidy so I set about major sort out this morning. Once everything had been emptied out and the shelves cleaned I tried to make sense of what was on board. Three boxes of sea salt, two bottles of Worcestershire sauce, enough cous cous to keep the people of North Africa fed for a fortnight; you get the picture...
The saucepans have now got a new home and so has the crockery but how long before the muscle memory absorbs that? It remains for me to tackle the bathroom cupboard but that might have to await a hurricane warning before I venture there!

Down along.....out along

With Joe and Graham off on a trip to Stoke-on-Trent, myself and Jill took ourselves and the four dogs off to Barlaston Downs, owned and managed by the National Trust. We were out walking for four hours! We met the two youngsters below, Winston a four month old dog and Molly a six month old bitch had a wonderful time socialising with my Labs and Jill's Tibetan Terriers.

Only a twenty minute walk from the canal and here we are ready to start our walk on the downs.

Keep up...

The downs are grazed by young 'bully-beefs' who surprisingly completely ignored both dogs and us humans as we walked by.

This is the route off of the Downs along clear tracks alongside the ripening wheat.

We will mark this as a grand place to visit again when we pass this way in the future.

I Spot...

I spotted another Barn Owl boat, Morpheus, as we left Stone. Morpheus is now up for sale if anyone is interested in a lovely immaculate trad on a Tim Tyler hull, £79950.

Barlaston

Here we are moored above Barlaston last night. It was a glorious sunny evening though through the day we had experienced some heavy rain showers. Jill and I had caught the bus from the Plume of Feathers pub into Stock-on-Trent for a look around and some essential shopping; socks for me - which then expanded to books, sandals, boot bags, newspapers and cashew nuts and summer trousers/shorts and drawers for her. It cost £2.50 return, took about 40mins to get into the city and gave us the opportunity to get an alternative view of the countryside we are travelling through.

Joe supervising the polishing of Matilda Rose last night..

Caxton will get a wash and polish today as we have decided to stay here another day/night and travel up to Etruria on Friday. Joe and Graham have taken themselves off on the bus to see Stoke-on-Trent this morning which leaves me in charge of boat and dogs and cleaning and walking and shopping and meal preparation - too much fun could be bad for me...

Stone the crows

The original T&M boat building-repair yard now used by the Canal Cruising Company.

We moored up in Stone on Monday and stayed overnight on the town moorings. We had arranged for our mail to to be forwarded to the Stone post office and that arrived at 11.30 on Tuesday. While I was waiting I happened to see this chap, the Stafford/Stone Town Cryer doing his bit. He was handing out leaflets about a housing development? We had a chat and I congratulated him on a town that recognised the relevance and commercial value of having a canal, so many don't. The moorings were well kept and plentiful and boaters were welcome.

There's a few gallons to go into this lock to fill it.

This historical shop front had been stripped and was being prepared for renovation - that's the way to do it..

Stone's pedestrianised high street, lots of al fresco eating here and a lovely mix of shops.

The Crown Hotel, with its bow front where, the initial planning meeting for the building of the Trent and Mersey canal took place on June 10th 1776. The Head Offices of the T&M were situated here in Stone.

Caxton's New Clothes

Caxton is now adorned in new finery. Last week ( sorry for the delay in posting but the lack of signal has been extremely frustrating) AJ Canopies came out to us at Handsacre and Rugeley and fitted Caxton's new cratch cover, semi-trad cover and houdini covers.

Fraser busy doing the initial fit. He took everything away and returned the next evening with all items altered to make and exact fit, service indeed. We have had plenty of rain since to test it and all is fine and dandy. Thank AJ Canopies!

Vee for..fender

Whilst we were moored at Shugborough we met Keith and Lynn. Keith makes fenders, and buttons and tipcats, while lynn makes rag rugs and knits childrens cardies etc.
Joe decided that Caxton was deserving of a little more protection so purchased a Vee fender for the bow. Below, see Keith risking life and limb to fit it.