Thursday dawned with Tixall Wide looking like a mill pond, not a ripple to be seen. Made a leisurely start after walking dogs back to Tixall lock. Allthough the sun did not manage to stay with us all day, it remained calm and reasonably warm and we had a very pleasant cruise through Great Haywood Junction left onto the Trent & Mersey canal and, after a brief pause for the services and visits to canalside farm shop and chandlery we were soon heading north up the Trent Valley. After we had passed through Hoo Mill and Weston Locks we stopped in Weston on Trent for lunch and Bridie and I went for a walk to see what it was like never having stopped here before. I think it safe (and sad) to say we probably won't bother next time! The village is nice enough, though rather infilled with modern housing that spoils the charm, what really spoiled it for us was having to cross two busy roads in our circumnavigation due to lack of pavements, traffic noise, heavy lorries passing within inches of us on the pavement and to cap it all, two extremely noisy police bikes hurtling towards Stafford. We regained the peace and serenity of the canal and headed north!
On passed Salt and through Sandon lock (another lock keepers cottage being extended here). Moored for the night by bridge 88 between Burston and Aston. An old chap in his canoe that we had passed by earlier now passed us again this time under sail. It looked a really great way to travel, just laid back and slowly skimming the water, although he shortly had to resort to using his paddle as he had trees on both sides sheltering him from the wind.
Today we had a very short cruise passed the new Aston Marina, through Aston lock and into Stone. Walked up to Stone boat building chandlery and were at last succesful in getting the prestud repair kit I have been after since visiting Nantwich. We went into Stone for lunch and a bit of shopping. There are lots of charity shops and we actually made use of them, buying a couple of sherry glasses for the boat, and a couple of books and a waistcoat for me. Have been walking by the River Trent with the dogs this afternoon and visited The Star, initially just for a drink, but the food was too good to miss out, so we treated ourselves and then went a walk up by St Michaels to try and walk it off!
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