Weston-on-Trent to Barlaston

Thursday 18 April

Leaving at 9.15, I walked up to Sandon Lock (passing a rather nice bridge on the way) and waited for Stephen to arrive with the boat.

Salt Bridge (No.82)

All the traffic was from the Stone direction so Sandon Lock and the next one, Aston, were in our favour. In fact there was a queue of 4 boats waiting to come down at Aston. The first two locks at Stone were being painted (or at least the beams and railings were), and the painters worked them as they didn’t want me to get covered in black or white paint! (Just to show that some boaters will complain at anything, the painters reported that the steerer on another boat had seriously suggested they should do the painting after dark when boats were not on the move!). The last two locks of the day were also set for us (apart from what had leaked in – some of these locks are very leaky).  We moored up for lunch and then continued up the four Meaford Locks before mooring near the Plume of Feathers at Barlaston at just before 3.00.

We had discovered that there was a Maundy Thursday service at St John the Baptist Church that evening, so we booked into the Plume for an early meal. Back to the boat for a cup of tea, then a bit later to the Plume for an excellent meal and up the hill to the church for 7.00 p.m. The church is a relatively new building as the previous one was closed in 1980 due to subsidence (ironically just before the local mine closed). There were over 20 people present for a quiet, thoughtful service.

We moored near where a moorhen had made her nest. She had at least three chicks in there with her. (Of course it could be him sitting on the nest.)

Moorhen on nest above a pile of sticks.

Locks 10  Miles 9.50                                             Total Locks 31  Total Miles 59.75