James Brindley.

Still heading down the T & M after a slightly but not unexpected damp start to the day.

One of the regular jobs when on the boat is taking on water and today we were in need of topping up.  Fortunately the Canal and River Trust have stations long the canals for water, getting rid of rubbish,emptying toilets etc.  There are also nice showers if your boat doesn't have them, fortunately we do.

The most convenient place to stop for water was Eturia the junction of the Caldon Canal and the T & M.  This means going on to the Caldon filling up going about 100 yards to a winding hole (wide part of the canal for turning) and coming back on to the T & M.

Round this junction there is a fairly new development and this statue stands near the junction.  Brindley is credited (possibly erroneously) with being the father of the UK canal system.  He was the consultant engineer on the Bridgewater canal which is where the T & M terminates at the north and constructed (not on his own obviously) the T & M.

Those of us who like the canals owe him a lot.