The weather was a little better than the norm has been for 1 April until now. Cold swirling winds meant periods of cloud were distinctly cool. But when the sun shone there were promises of warmer joyous weather hopefully to come. All in all not bad is the verdict – and no rain!

There was plenty of boat traffic to and fro and boaters were in good spirits – the sunshine? This is a picturesque and largely rural section of this busy canal.

I went a little further north to start my pedestrian navigation, to Trentham Lock 35, and met Andrew and Pippa Cooley in nb Sundowner negotiating the lock and heading north. They have a share in nb Sundowner. They are from Aston, near Newcastle-under-Lyme (just about 9 miles from here as the crow flies). Some photos below of them (Click an image for a larger view):

Nb Madeley then shared the water entering the lock from the south heading towards Stone town. Paul and Diana own the boat and live on the Rochdale. Paul told me that nb Madeley, named after the town near Telford, was built by Fellowes, Morton and Clayton in 1928 and was originally horse drawn. It was rebuilt in 1983 into its current 60ft .You’d never guess its ancestry as it is very smart dressed in the FM&C livery of red, green and yellow. Some photos below of them:

Next I followed nb Stella through all 8 of the Meaford (4) and Stone (4) locks. They were unsure by identifying themselves so I can’t give names – the very friendly and talkative lady had retired from being a Manager in the NHS the day before and was coming to terms with her new life. They have been cruising for 30 years usually for 6 weeks each year and have seen all the England and Wales waterways (some more than once) except the last section of the Leeds and Liverpool leading to the Liverpool’s newly opened converted docks. They live in Hertfordshire, as I recall. Some photos below of them (the first two at Locks 32 and 31 respectively):

Lastly I spotted an unknown crew running the gauntlet of onlookers at the well known Star Inn in the centre of Stone at bottom lock 28. The inn dates from the 14th century and is noted in the Guiness Book of Records for all its rooms being at a different level. Here are some photos of them there:

PS please contact me with any inaccuracies or further information you want included.