The Maisibert returned to where it all started as we cruised through Stoke on Trent and Fenton .
Today we have had a lovely sunny cruise to Stone.

Today we managed a large percentage of our journey before the rain set in.
We had a bit of a wait at the Harecastle Tunnel, in the bottom picture we are just leaving the tunnel and you can just make out the doors which they shut during the passage through the tunnel to assist in the extraction of exhaust fumes.

 

This weekend we had a visit from Helen,Tim,Dominic and Heather who helped us through most of Heart Break Hill ( lots of locks).
They endured a deluge of rain on Saturday night whilst camping but the days were reasonable.
We stopped for lunch at the Cheshire Cheese in Wheelock and then carried on to Hassal Green.

To day we encountered a traffic jam at Cholmondeston lock, we were fifth in line and all the boats in veiw behind us are awaiting the lock.

Just posted this to prove we have had one good evening this week after the rain.

Do you think we were being watched?
This was was scene in the field opposite where we were moored and what was even more strange when Gunner and Cassie walked the towpath they all seemed to follow them.

I have not been able to post as the internet has been weak.
This weekend we spent with Ginny, Bill and Gunner off Wilver and at least we managed two evenings sitting on the towpath.

The top picture shows a lovely Victorian warehouse where once boats delivered their cargo and yet within a few hundred yards of this building is a modern Premier Food manufacturing plant which was not sending out the most appealing smell.
In the bottom picture can anybody spot the face?

As we travel further up Shropshire Union it has become very interesting, not only is new water's for us but the different cruising conditions.
The top picture shows a bridge which once the telegraph cables passed through and the bottom picture showing that they only just managed to dig enough space for two boats out of the rock.

Yesterday we have travelled on to Gnosall Heath where these ducks were taking a well earned rest on a old tyre.

This weekend Phil joined us and made the decision of not to cruise into Birmingham but to travel in by taxi and then we would tackle the Wolverhampton 21.
After having a great evening in Birmingham we tackled the locks and headed to Compton and finished the day with a Thai meal and a few beers.
Then it was on to Brewood where Phil left us and we carried on to Wheaton Aston.

   After few days at Compton sadly no orange chips as the chippy was on holiday, we caught up with Cherry and Neil and had a meal on board and drinks in the local.
They volunteered to help us up the Wolverhampton 21 where the day ended with drinks in the Great Western and a McDonalds.

 Today we set off with the thought of doing 28 locks at the last lock on the Delph flight we met this guy called John who said he would give us a hand through the locks, off he set with his windlass and anti vandal key in his hand pre setting the locks for us.

Not only that he walked from the Delph flight to the last lock on the Stourbridge flight.
In the second picture is the Red House Cone a part of an old glass works.

The mile posts on the Dudley No 1 show the area's industrial past as tonight we are moored at Merry Hill Shopping Centre.

 

Today we have moved on as there was an amber warning for rain tomorrow, so we travelled down the Dudely No 1 Canal and tackling the Netherton Tunnel.