Another persistently damp day, with gusts of wind at the most inconvenient times…

But we got the boat back into its mooring eventually, then spent a while pumping it out and refuelling with water and diesel.

7 miles and 10 locks today.

After lunch, we had a quick wander up to the tunnel mouth:

Then turned around and headed south through Stoke-on-Trent. Weather was rather showery all afternoon, and getting quite windy towards the end.

But we did have a few locks to give us some exercise!

15 miles and 8 locks today.

A rather cold and damp morning. We went back along the Caldon Canal, then headed north on the Trent and Mersey canal and have moored for lunch at the South entrance to the tunnel.

One of the reasons for mooring at Milton was a pub nearby.

Not the most celubrious of establishments, but a real beer (or two) is always welcome!

We retraced back along the Leek Branch to rejoin the main canal at Hazlehurst.

After lunch we headed down to Milton.

Rocco managed to end up in the canal (not sure if he just slipped), thankfully the bank wasn’t that steep and I was able to drag him out with his harness.

10 miles, 7 locks, 2 tunnels and 2 lift bridges today.

We moved on up the Leek Branch of the Caldon Canal, and are now moored just outside Leek.

Some nice bluebell woods by the canal:

There was a short tunnel on route:

And this is the end of the canal:

Last night, we moored right next to some interesting woodland with a signpost to a circular walk. So it was the obvious choice for Rocco’s morning walk.

Lots of bluebells, wild garlic and sticks!

We then carried on to the end of the Caldon Canal – unfortunately the boat is too large to fit through a short tunnel near the end.

Then it was heading back up the canal, stopping in Cheddleton just as the heavens opened.

Duncan and I walked into the village to top up the beer supply, then we moved on to Hazlehurst Locks, where the Leek Branch diverges.

8.5 miles and 10 locks today.

After a dry start, the heavens opened just as we were going up a flight of locks, but after lunch, the sun came out and it was a very nice afternoon and evening.

Rocco and I walked a few spread out locks past Cheddleton, and we stopped in a lovely spot just past Consall Forge, right next to the Churnet Valley heritage railway.

12.5 miles and 12 locks today.

An excellent day on the canals despite a very gloomy forecast of rain all day – all we had was a few bits of drizzle!

We set off northwards through Stone – a lovely town.

Then towards Stoke on Trent

We turned right here onto the Caldon Canal – a quiet branch off the Trent and Mersey (Not that the T&M has been that busy) and have moored up in the sunshine in the middle of Hanley Park.

12 miles and 17 locks today.