Weston

Wednesday 18 June 2014 – Weston, Trent and Mersey Canal

Another 08:00 start, but under heavily overcast skies.  The canal at Armitage is very narrow and where it goes under the A513 used to be a tunnel until the roof was taken off – the chisel and explosive marks are still visible.  There is then a long run around Rugeley with a sharp bend at Brindley Bank.  The next bit of interest are the locks near the Great Haywood Junction, there were queues at each one with, fortunately, the same number of boats coming down.  As you may have gathered I have started the climb up the Trent Valley towards Harecastle (the route goes through Stone, Stoke-on-Trent to Kidsgrove).

I have moored at Weston (it used to be called Weston upon Trent) which is a place to miss.  They are currently competing in the Best Kept Village and have a map just off the A518 (Bridge 80 on the canal) which shows the village facilities – 1 War Memorial, 2 places of worship, 2 pubs (Woolpack and Saracen’s Head), 5 rubbish bins, 7 dog poo bins and numerous other bits (seats, shelters and notice boards).  However they do not support anything as crass as ‘trade’ as the only shop shown in the ‘Nicholson’ and the ‘First Mate’ guides has now been converted into a private dwelling due to the village Post Office being closed by “them”.  While wandering around I asked a local who advised the nearest shops were at Great Haywood or Salt.

If you’ve met up with me this year you will know I have been flying the Westmorland flag when moored up, tonight ‘nb Westmorland’ has moored next to me so I grabbed the opportunity to get a picture of the boat and flag.  Since mooring up major gaps have appeared in the clouds and it is now warm and sunny.