Jolly Boating Weather

On Sunday morning I managed to tear myself away from my chair in the shade and my lovely book (see my last post) for a couple of hours to visit the local Canal Festival which was based at the Etruria Industrial Museum (formerly the Jesse Shirley bone and flint mill) where the Caldon and Trent and Mersey canals meet - an ideal place for a canal festival deep in the industrial heartland of the potteries. We decided to park at Hanley Park and walk along the Caldon canal towpath towards the museum.


We walked past Stoke College and the student accommodation by the first lock and under the road bridge as we headed towards our destination.


There were loads of these pink flowers along the canal banks I feel I should know what they are but I can't place it - has anyone any ideas?

Below are a few scenes from the Festival. It was warm and sunny and people were strolling around eating ice-cream and thoroughly enjoying the weather, the atmosphere, the noise and colour.

As well as narrow boats there were vintage vehicles and steam engines, all being polished and displayed with pride by their owners.

These boats were on the Caldon Canal, the one below was on the Trent and Mersey Canal.

On the festival field there were many other activities like a fishing competition and archery, too.

Many of the canal trusts and waterways organisations had stalls and there was a music tent where local bands would be entertaining throughout the day.

It was just the ticket to rouse the spirits and a good way to spend a couple of hours on a warm Sunday morning and the last day of May.