Chance meeting

We were gently cruising along just south of Sandon Lock when I spotted a familiar boat. It was NB Wilvir, with Bill, Ginny and Gunner the dog aboard.

Bill and Ginny, NB Wilvir.

It’s been a while since we saw them last. We keep coming across them, usually heading in opposite directions, so we’ve not often shared a mooring. We pulled alongside and spent a half-hour catching up on the news.Good to see you both again, have a good winter!

 

Then it was onward again, towards Great Haywood.

It’s been busy on the water today, I reckon a lot of folk are taking advantage of the good weather and are having a long weekend out. They mostly seem to be heading north, so that’s good for us. We’ve not had to queue once, and boats have been waiting below most of our locks today.

Leaving Sandon Lock, our first today.

Weston Lock. Excellent, quite moorings both above and below, but only room for one boat at each.

Heading down the valley alongside the Trent the locks are spaced out now, and set in gently rolling farmland.

Ornate brickwork at Salt Bridge

Hoo Mill Lock is the last before the busy Great Heywood Junction.

Coming into Great Haywood

The Staffordshire and Worcestershire Canal heads off under the bridge on the right. Forty-six miles from here to the River Severn at Stourport, and as such another major trading route.

The moorings here were busy as usual, and we had to fill Haywood Lock before we could use it, the only one all day.

Colwich Lock is a mile further downhill, and once again we caught it just right with a boat leaving the lock as we arrived, and another waiting to come up.

Colwich Lock

We called it a day just past Taft Bridge, a mile or so before Rugeley. It’s a popular spot and there’s not much room here now. We’ll stop in the town for shopping tomorrow.

Before we set off this morning Meg and I had a pleasant 4 mile walk heading back parallel to the River Trent and the canal to Aston, then returning along the towpath.

There’s a vehement protest going on against the siting of 3 wind turbines south of Aston.

Anti wind farm protest

The turbine towers may be erected just to the right of this track…..

…..spoiling this view.

The river in Aston-by-Stone is no more than a stream at this point.

River Trent

 

Another cracking day today, the temperature sensor on the roof aerial recorded a stonking 36º degrees this afternoon. A lot of that would have been reflection off the roof, though. October tomorrow….

Locks 5, miles 9½