Ingestre Bridge through Stone to Hemheath Bridge, Trentham

5 September - Ingestre bridge to Stone bridge 92.

Up and engine on a load of washing done and moved off at 10 15, a country cruise with few boats about and a few locks to do .

 Must be alot of sun around here - lots of houses with solar panels

Some interest sights as you go through the country and some very cool bridges

spotted another Clara boat

More boats as the day went on, we stopped for lunch at 1 pm, bacon sarnies with bacon from the farm shop at Great Haywood 10/10.

We moved on and moored for the night just past Stone bridge 92, we moored in front of a boat called Whio, a Maori name for the rare Blue Duck that is found in South Island Mountain rivers.
As we went off to the Star ,the nearest pub we met the owners, of Whio, Kiwi's Don and Val who spend 6 months here and 6 months at home in the Marlborough Sounds, this is their 3rd year on the canals and they leave the boat in a marina over the winter. On our way back we spoke to them at length they have 2 more years to finish the entire system. A very interesting couple to talk to regarding this canal game.

TOTAL - 3 locks, 7 miles, 1 load washing

6 September - Stone bridge to Hemheath bridge 106

Up at 6 am and toast and coffee and off on a misty canal, the reason for this sudden burst is all the boats moored between us and the 1st lock of 3 at the Star pub.

It was a breath taking mist this morning, I went a little crazy with the photos

 First lock of the day

A cunning plan, the first lock was almost empty due to gate leakage over night, and up we went, as we came out a hire boat was trying to move off in front of us, but not fast enough and I arrived on the lock landing 1st, one of their crew and Vicki were at the next lock and opened a gate each. with open gates and me not underway the skipper on the hire boat went past me and tried to steal the lock. He was soon sorted out on where the queue for locks starts and finishes and the etiquette for using them.
He followed us through and at the next lock we let him go ahead as we were on the water point. He was much calmer after his lesson, almost friendly, Hire Boats!!!!

We moved on  through the country side and sharing the driving of locks. Stopped after the first seven for breakfast and to do a load of washing - linen, the weather is so good for drying.

 I managed to drive into a few today though Pete is still complaining that I come in to fast, he has not ended up in the cut so I can't be going that fast

We then carried on through to Trentham and moored along from bridge 106 and went to the local Toby's Carvery for a late lunch early dinner, these Toby's are self serve roast meals and at 18 pounds for two, good value. Back on the boat at 5 getting colder at night.

TOTAL - 5 miles, 9 locks, 1 small aqueduct