Day 1 Thursday

Thursday

Just before midday Dave and Malc arrived at the base to unload their luggage. Trev was to arrive later in the day. After meeting Karen of Canal Cruising Ltd, always a pleasure, they were shown to the boat "NB Martha" this is the second year on this boat and third with Canal Cruising Ltd. Loading commenced  after the preliminaries, handover, safety checks etc. Plan was to shop for provisions locally. We couldn't go wrong, could we? Trevs words "don't forget the pepper" were remembered and get the pepper we did. Interestingly pepper looks a bit like gunpowder and thank goodness it isn't because there was an 'incident' involving it. More later 

Provisions!

Note the pepper as required by Trev

A snapshot of the galley area and a close up of a nice free sample to whet the appetite

A saloon that is more than comfortable. Nice to see the new radio with is built in CD player and iPod socket

Great space for the steerer with tiller in one hand throttle in the other and control panel set out nicely within easy view. Plenty of room at the back for the crew to put the world to rights

After loading provisions and a spot of lunch aboard Dave and Malc decided a bit of exploring around the general area would be in order. The old Joules Brewery warehouse canalside is a poignant reminder of a distant past although the brewery has once again started to produce fine beer from it's new headquarters in Market Drayton. If you look at earlier posts you will see our mission would be to find the missing 'Jewels' in Leek. a play on the brewery name Joules and a pub in Leek that bears the name Joules. Wonder if our group will make it?

The former Joules Brewery warehouse, Stone

We found ourselves at Stone railway station and couldn't resist a look around the place. The station building has been converted to a community centre although trains do stop here you cannot buy a ticket for your journey. Pay on the train then as is becoming the way more and more

Stone railway Station. A fine looking building. Incidentally the station is spotless

A wander back to the canal as we await the arrival of Trev

A look at the first lock to be encountered when setting off in the morning
peaceful and sets the scene for the rest of the holiday

Back at the boat and Trev duly arrived. After loading his luggage it was time to visit The Poste of Stone. A Wetherspoons pub and definite value. Even better with Malc CAMRA vouchers. After a bit of though it was decided that a meal here rather than a more expensive Indian restaurant would be in order. After all it was curry night 

Returning to the boat our group discussed the best time to start the day. Malc announced his alarm clock was stuck at the setting of 0440 and so that was it. An early start beckoned. The first of many