Solace Day 1.

We were up reasonably early and having packed most things the night before we gat a good early start down to the marina.  It was just as well because the M6 was nose to tail traffic shuffling along.  After a while we abandoned the motorway allowing the Satnav to find us a route without motorways.

The traffic chaos resulted in us leaving the marina a little later than usual but we were on our way by 3:00.  THis is a shot of Hoo Mill LOck the first lock up the Trent and Mersey Canal heading north from the marina.  Contrary to what might be expected in such a rural area this was not a flour mill but a flint mill.  In the 18th Century flint was added to pottery to give it strength and whiteness.  It was used in proportions of up to 50% so this meant there had to be a good number of crushing mills for the potteries.  So our week of not switching on the TV or Radio (and very little internet) had begun well.l..