Fifty foot down the Stoke Flight.

Staying at Westport Lake on Tuesday we walked into the nearest town to find a Post Office, we needed to post some birthday cards.Later we walked round the lake and called at the new visitors centre and cafe for a coffee.The centre looks a bit like the ark from one side.In the afternoon we walked back into town(Tunstal)to get our passports sent off as they run out in January.On our return we got talking to a couple from Tasmania who had been here for three years cruising the canals. They were heading to Llangollen for the winter, before heading home next year.
On Wednesday we travelled down through Stoke on Trent, Five locks dropping 50ft. When we got to the third lock it was over run by Japanese tourists,cameras clicked and Doublefracture became the back drop for photos.Clearing Stoke we carried on and moored near the Wedgewood factory,as we had on our journey up this way in June.
Today we had to move as the mooring we were on was only a 24hr mooring.Before we left the mooring while drinking our morning cuppa, we were hit by a hire boat. They were very apologetic.There was no damage to Doublefracture.About ten minutes after leaving us the man came back and gave us a bottle of wine to say sorry. We didn't go far, just to the other side of Barlston,about two mile. It has been a damp and cloudy day.

An eight lock day.

Today has seen us leave Stone and move to a mooring near the Wedgwood Pottery at Barlaston. There were four locks leaving Stone. The weather was warm but showery. At the third lock we met up with some people from Fox Narrowboats our old boat yard in March Cambridgeshire.
We had four more locks before stopping for lunch at Barlaston village. A small village but with a good selection of shops. It was a short trip after lunch to our over night mooring. Once moored we walked to the Wedgwood visitors centre which was just a short walk from the canal. As it was late afternoon we only had time to look round the shop. There was some lovely pottery but very expensive.
On the way back to the boat it started to rain, by the time we got back it was a full blown thunder storm. Looks like a night in with the tele. No pub to-night.
Sorry no pictures to-night a slow Internet connection.