Westport Lake to Wedgwood Visitor Moorings, B104
7.75 miles, 6 locks
First thing this morning Monty and I went off for a walk round both lakes. Lots of places for him to explore and many new smells to investigate, so he was a very happy dog.
This is the far side of Little Lake
The walk back to the boat takes you passed this rather splendid play area
The first part of our journey today took us past a Cement factory (Ready Micks - presumably owned by an Irishman?). Their website says they provide a wide range of ready mixed concrete services and pumps throughout Stoke on Trent. At present they seem to be making lego for giants!
For the first time we have passed Middleport Pottery there were available moorings, but we were too early. One day we will time it right.
I have no idea what is behind this fence, but it is a joy to behold as you sail past - the decorations were designed and created by university students.
And at the end (or the beginning depending on which way you are going) is a very appropriate phrase for this part of the world
The first time I was called 'duck' was in Lincoln market when I was newly married many years ago. The whole thing certainly brightened our day.
Where's the G&T?
We arrived at the Stoke Locks - 5 in total. There was just one boat ahead of us and voluntary lock keepers at the first two of them.
We entered the top lock at 10:15
nb Slowly was immediately behind us with nb Cleddau behind them. All quite straightforward until a third boat reversed out of the Caldon Canal on the right, having stopped to take on water.
The VLK had the second lock ready for us
At the next three locks we met boats coming up and with nb Slowly behind us there was a lot of help and an easy passage down 50 feet.
I managed to get a couple of better photos of The Twyfords Building 'Cliffe Vale Pottery' this time
It was restored in 2008 and is now flats.
Can I travel this route and not add a photo of some bottle kilns? Not this time!
At the penultimate lock you can almost touch the railway line it is so close
We exited the fifth lock at 11:40 and turned our heads to admire the 'garden' on the bottom gates!
Further along there is some towpath work going on with not the biggest gap in the world between a moored boat and the work boat!
About four miles after the Stoke locks we arrived at Trentham Lock - our last for the day.
There was a boat coming out and just one in front of us.
A first sighting for me - a life ring in boat colours!
Just as we were leaving the lock with nb Slowly waiting patiently for their turn; nb Cleddau hove into view
Thankfully I had spotted a swan and cygnet on the towpath below the lock before we dropped the lock, so Monty was already back on the boat. He is very good and ignores all birds, but swans with cygnets can be unpredictable. Mum got back into the water,
but the youngster took its time. For something so graceful in the water they are very ungainly on land
Having safely negotiated the swan family, the Wedgewood Visitor centre came into view very quickly. Our preferred mooring place is just past the centre & past Bridge 104, although there are moorings just before the bridge, with rings. Unfortunately these moorings are on a curve which is not ideal. They are also rather dark and dismal. Because of the curve it is not possible to see if our preferred spot was free. It was! There was room for both boats, so we settled down to enjoy a quiet afternoon and evening. There have been some very heavy showers during the afternoon. We were glad we were safely tied up for the day.
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