Happy Times with Family

On arriving at Stone did a good stock up of food, few items from Stone Boatbuilding chandlery and collected the car from Great Haywood farm shop (buses via Stafford, again). Daughter Lesley (baby due Sep), husband Phil and granddau Louise (2) arrived from Lancashire in time for an early lunch and watched a heavy rain shower (forgetting we had put the pushchair on roof - oops). Soon setting off for the locks, with Louise having a nap indoors. Weather stayed overcast but dry and we soon worked the 3 Stone locks, followed by the 4 Meaford. Moored Barlaston for the night.

Sunday 11 June: Ebony woke for wee at 6am - lovely sunshine! By 8.30 it was raining and still at 9.50 when we set off. After Trentham lock (won't visit Estate!) it was pouring: Phil steered, Lesley amused Louise and I got the evening meal ready. Moored for lunch nr Stoke City football stadium then set off again, still pouring and now I was steering while Lou was readied for her nap. Lesley worked the 5 locks to Etruria in absolutely pouring rain and we were all dripping when, with Phil, we moored outside Etruria museum.

Monday: We deserved bacon and egg breakfast after yesterday and then set off to walk into town for. Back to boat for late coffee and early lunch before Lou's nap. Then went to winding hole - where soon found we had no forward propulsion, only backwards and the wind was blowing us back round all the time. 'You have lost your prop' said some clever clogs boater. With the help of poles, Phil and I took the boat to where we started. On going down weedhatch I removed vast quantities of plastic and rope from prop. Quick test - now have forward motion. 50 minutes after setting off , we left Etruria and went Westport Lake. Lou awake, had cuppa then 3 set off to find swings while I prepared tea for oven. Found them at a lovely children's play area, hidden by trees, at the S end of lake.

Tuesday: 9.45 set off expecting a wait at the tunnel (a number of boats had passed us so assumed we had missed the slot) - well we can fill water tank. We were waved on through the tunnel - quick removal of bike, plant pots etc and we were soon on our way - took only 40 mins this time. Went on thru first lock and stopped to sit in lovely hot sun for coffee. After lunch Linda and Phil took the train back to Stone for cars, leaving 1 at Rode Heath and mine dumped in a layby at Kidsgrove. Set off at 4 to go thru 2 locks, took on water (now urgent) and moored below next lock. Phil helped a chap (who had just caught his prop on cill, but corrected problem) down thru next lock

Wednesday: Phil steered, Lesley set off to get lock ready and I followed with Louise pushing her dolls pushchair - slow progress but we did manage to get ahead of the boat and walk down 2 locks, then the next 4 as well. Moored in time for lunch at Rode Heath. After lunch we lazed while Lou napped, some also dozed! Hoped for BBQ but rain threatening from 4pm so went to Broughton Arms for early tea - Louise eating almost all of a child's portion of chicken and veg!

Thursday: Started overcast but improving. Drove to Kidsgrove, collected my car and all drove back to Trentham Estate. Visited Monkey Forest - where we saw lots of monkeys sitting, sunbathing!, grooming, up trees and in grassy areas, while waiting for the keepers to finish their talks and give them snacks - very entertaining. Had lunch in the Banana Cafe, Lou had play on climbing frames and then, after collecting Eb from car, walked down the mile-long lake of the Estate in lovely sunshine. Walked past Garden Centre, round the Italian Gardens then Phil and Lou had a play in another children's area while Lesley and I puzzled the new beech Sound Maze. It really is a lovely place to visit and a chance for little ones to escape from boating.

Friday: Moved 1 car to tonight's stop. Had just under 2 miles and 4 locks to Hassall Green (before tomorrow's longer day). After lunch Lesley and Louise had naps while Phil and I went back for his car. Took one to Wheelock and re-parked mine in the very recently closed Romping Donkey and chatted to an agent selling the pub. After 4 useless tenants, it is now to be sold for £250k with another 250k needing to be spent on it. Just hope it sells soon, it is looking very sad now. Nappers still asleep but on waking went for ice-creams at Lock 57 and watched boats in lock - for a change!

Saturday: Rain overnight but dry at 8am. Saw couple on next door boat, db Arkolme - last seen when we travelled backwards together down top lock of Ribble Link. Their friends fitted out and painted my boat (when it was called Honeymoon) so it was good to see them and pass on the news that it is to be repainted this year (sides now looking very tired, althought I do touch up any scratches and scrapes when necessary). Set off early today at 9.15 to do the last 10 locks to Wheelock - with Louise again walking many locks in the lovely sunny day. Pm went back for Phil's car then went to Wheelock Hall - Plants, Farm Shop (incl lots of fresh veg, bread and cakes, frozen goods), Gifts, Cafe, Children's Farm and fantastic play area - a fantastic place to visit and only 20min walk up hill, s of canal - suggested they advertise at wharf. In the evening went for a good early meal at the wharfside Italian restaurant.

Sunday: Lots of packing done, then we drove to Sandbach for a wander round town and Father's Day lunch in the Black Bear pub on Market Square. Sad goodbyes after a lovely week. My elderly neighbours had engine problems so I waited until RCR later sorted them out - multiple air locks in fuel line. Gave Eb a walk - thought 'this weather is good and sunny and I don't want to be stuck under tree for evening, plus no TV'! Took on water (etc!) and set off at 5.15 - don't usually cruise after 5.

Half hour later got to a nice mooring, used before, in open countryside. Engine out of gear, threw off back rope across towpath, jumped off with centre rope, got front rope off, then, oh no, engine cut out - rear rope wrapped round prop! Prop must have been still turning. Now this could be serious, may have to cut rope off. Tied centre and front rope, donned very old clothes and went down weedhatch. Rope stuck fast. Persisted then found, after a good tug to release, I could unwrap the rope - slowly, round and round - took half hour. Nearly free and it came up with a jerk - hit my head under tiller (should have removed) and jerked forward, hitting my eyebrow on rear seat (yes, really did happen!) - now have large swelling! Rope soon free. Am now soaked. Tied boat, had shower and then quick tea. It is a lovely sunny evening! (Found I had black eye in morning!)

Monday 20 June: Hot and sunny but lots rain due pm so I set off at 7.50 (early for me!) to cruise to Middlewich. Took on diesel at Kings Lock then worked the first lock, meeting another boat on corner - one of the 6 all-male crew then helped me down the next 2 locks - how nice! Quick shop at Tesco, lunch and then thru Big Lock with another boat before mooring after Br 176, still time to get washing dry in the lovely sunshine. It didn't rain!

Tuesday - rain forecast for pm so set off with more washing on and went just 2 miles to moor at the first big lovely 'lagoon'. Now will have a few days to chill, watch the wildlife on lake and catch up with jobs, in and out - heavy rain showers forecast for Wed and Thur. In pm caught sight of a couple of cows on towpath coming towards boat - only it turned out to be half a herd! Helped neighbour herd them back thru gap and rang BW, then farmer turned up. Quite a mess, muddy holes and otherwise, on towpath. On Monday am due to go down Anderton Lift - whoopee, at last!