Passing through Stoke

I had read lots of bad things about mooring around Stoke and a couple of boaters I had talked to said the best thing was to come out of Harecastle Tunnel and don’t stop until you are through Stoke.

My mooring last night at Westport Lake was one of the few places I had heard was ok, and I have to say, apart from one small motorcycle haring along the towpath about 8pm, my stay was very good. I had pleasant views, TV signal on my small Necvox digital ariel, 4G wi-fi and a very reasonable phone signal, a quiet night with no disturbances, I would stop again if passing this way.

I decided to move again today, I was in two minds to be honest, but I sometimes get a bit bored if I don’t move and the weather looked lovely so at 9am I cast off in bright sunlight and headed through Longport,

Land of the Potteries, still plenty of evidence. A bottle kiln.

one of the towns on the outskirts of the city, and then Middleport and on to Etruria, I think you can tell a lot about an area by the people on the towpath, I have become accustomed to most people saying hello as you pass by, a few exceptions of course, but it was the reverse of that today with people who said hello being the exception, most totally ignored my presence, there are lots of derelict buildings, lots of offices and not exactly pleasant views, the city itself is probably lovely but passing through it by canal is not so.

Etruria Junction was my first lock with the Caldon canal escaping on the left off through Hanley and beyond.

The sun played havoc today, Etruria junction lock on right, Caldon canal on the left

It was another first for me here, before I started my life aboard I had read about a ‘handcuff’ key, also known as a ‘water conservation key’ being needed at some locks to prevent local vandals opening the paddles and draining the pounds between locks, it’s a lock on the winding gear, so I spoke to the lock keeper at Thames Lock, Brentford and asked where I could get one, he said he phoned Canal & River Trust and they said they had never heard of it! Anyway I found one in a Chandlery later and today at the first lock I had to use it.

This rather out of place looking keepsake in a modern housing complex reminded me of something.

Two pints please milkman.

And this name amused me again.

Are you sitting comfortably.

I finally got through Stoke and was back into more pleasant surroundings as I entered Hem Heath, quite a large sprawling looking town with nearly all modern houses.