Heading through Great Haywood to Stafford, June 22

We - or rather, Alison - spent two days at Stone, a lovely town. Andrew jumped on a train to Nantwich, to drive home and pick up the post and stay overnight, before heading to Blackpool to check in on Mum, then drive to Nantwich and train back to Stone.

In the meantime, Alison checked the groceries for replenishment,  made a jar of tomato chutney with some toms that needed used, 
practised music now that the sore throat is better, and toured the charity shops. Lots more reading matter and a couple of tops in the hope that summer will appear.

Old canal buildings - Canal Cruising Company

and next door, new : Joules Brewery Taphouse and the first pub they've built from new.
Church of St Michael and St Wulfad, about whom nothing is known for sure. The story goes that he was a Prince, whose father, Wulfhere, was pagan and whose mother, Ermenilda, was Christian. He followed mother's lead, and his enraged father killed him, somewhen around 660Ad. A cairn was raised over his grave, and pilgrims used to add their own stone to the heap. Thus, apparently, the village that grew up there was called Stone. 

On a lighter note:
What else would you call a canalside hairdresser's?

Alison had been hoping to meet up with friends on the Tuesday, but it turned out not to be possible. And anyway, the weather was rotten for much of the day:
yup, the white bits are hail.

Time being up and our black water tank being full, on Wednesday we moved to Aston Marina, just south of Stone. 

Pumpout done, we moored up almost immediately, and then walked back into Stone.
Half way along the T&M

Andrew hadn't seen the town centre yet. The phone was still not ready so we had a commiserating pint at the Swan, where Alison was overjoyed to find they had gf ale on draught, and what's  more they always do, because their locals keep asking for it. Hats off! Alison's first taste was actually emotional.  So we had another pint to celebrate.
So pretty!

Then reeled back to the boat, to move on to Stafford. In a cunning plan, the phone shop in Stone has an outlet in Stafford, so we are going to collect it from there. After so much dawdling, timetables are getting tight.

Thursday, Jubilee Day, and everyone with a boat is on it. We only had three locks to do before Great Heywood but there were queues at all of them so it took hours. At the junction with Staffs and Worcs Canal, it was absurdly busy so we slipped through as soon as we could and headed for Stafford. 

On the way we passed the point where the plan to make the R. Penk navigable into the centre of town would join the canal.
The 4th lock of the day.

A long day but worthwhile. The phone is ready and we have another film to see..







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