To Stoke and beyond!

Waiting for the lock, Stoke city centre.

We made (for us) an  early start because we wanted to get well clear of the city before we moored up for the night. No offence to Stoke on Trent, but it's not the prettiest of canalside cities, with every  effort spared  to embrace its canal history. We chatted briefly to a couple of Irish gentleman slightly worse for wear as they drank their cans of beer by the towpath and passed the time of day with three people occupying a bench where they were enjoying a blue plastic bottle of Diamond White (an extra strong white cider, 7.5% proof). Of course, there were joggers, cyclists and dog walkers too, but the former stuck in our minds and firmed our decision  to pass through  before nightfall.

We pressed on through five fairly deep locks and made the turn onto the Caldon canal in intermittent heavy rain, passing through the  fringes of the former pottery  making area Etruria where Wedgewood  and Claris Cliffe made their names.

Former pottery kilns in Hanley  

We  moored up at last  near a small town called Milton on the first good mooring spot we found. Then, finally, the sun came out! There seems to be some sort of event going on at the local pub with a DJ playing music outside, mainly old stuff, some of which we recognise. Let's hope it doesn't go on too long, it being Sunday night...but I think we may well sleep through it anyway. Must be getting old!