Day 79 - Stockton Brook and beyond on the Caldon Canal

---

---

5 locks, 371 in total.







Another day when we seemed to miss the rain, not that I'm complaining. We motored the last couple of miles to Stockton Brook, through 2 drawbridges, and were just in time to meet Barbara and Ellie, who came bearing gifts in the shape of homemade honey cakes – yummy and many thanks, both for the cakes and for coming to visit.







The locks were quite difficult so Barbara and Ellie had a fairly hard introduction to canal life. Once through the 5 locks we walked back to the village for a pub lunch, only to find that the one remaining pub did not serve food - *sigh* - so we cobbled together some lunch on board and then motored a little further to absorb the pastoral setting of this part of the Caldon. Ellie proved a dab hand at helming – quite amazingly competent for a first attempt so very well done.







After they'd left we motored on a little way to a water point and rubbish disposal. We were delighted to find that there was also a shower and laundry facilities but our hopes swiftly dashed when the door lock was jammed!



And here's the rain now....and thunder.

---

Photos

Victorian Water Works at Stockton Brook....
...they knew how to build to last.

One of several sculptures at the locks...
... I couldn't see any difference between each of them though.

Our helpers....
...thank you.

Novice helmsman ....
...is there a boating equivalent of the Sword of Honour?