Today we planned for the worst and hoped for the best with the weather, and kitted out in all our wet gear. Sadly my waterproof walking boots are no longer waterproof (I must confess to putting them in the washing machine which probably explains it). It felt like everyone was coming on to the Caldon so we had a good flow of hire boats at the locks and swing bridges and plenty of help. We met a lovely bunch of CRT volunteers on rubbish collection duties.

The staircase lock is rather interesting, we were going down and usually you have to empty the second lock, so the water from the top lock can drain into it. This staircase is different as it has a run off to the right, you can see it to the right of the first picture. I had a grumpy permy boatman shouting at me that I was doing it wrong, I had great pleasure sharing that in fact I was correct, as I have read and was following the the instructions, and maybe he’d like to do the same! He let me alone after that and spouted on to the hire boaters.

• 

• 

The staircase was also the scene of the crime. We approached the lock to see a young lad loitering, then a couple arrived and something handed over, the lad then disappeared. Said couple remained at the lock and two more people arrived in quick succession and more bags were handed over. We can only assume it was drugs, and a very slick operation. Toby usually gets off the boat to help with the lock, we radioed on the walkie talkies covertly (!!) and Toby stayed onboard, I chatted to them about the weather – as you do!

We were soon off the Caldon and back on the Trent and Mersey Canal again

We were really impressed by the artwork on a stretch of fence by the canal, it was completed by students at Stoke on Trent College.

• 

• 

You see some interesting sights on the canal, we assume this is a new swimming complex.

We decided to moor at Westport Lake, just before Harecastle tunnel which we’ll do tomorrow. Toby thought there might be something on the prop, so down the hatch again to find what we think may be a scarf.

We had a walk around the lake and the visitor centre. Toby declined the chance of a fluffy coffee and cake, instead settling on a mango and passion fruit yoghurt icecream, made using the molds from my mum, this is attempt no 2, there is still room for improvement.

We picked up some local Staffordshire oatcakes, they’re very much like a pancake and made with oatmeal. We had them for tea with eggs, ham and cheese, and very nice they were too.