A dull morning as we leave Great Haywood.
You can just see Shugborough Hall across the meadows.
Amazingly, no-one waiting at Colwich Lock.
There’s usually a morning queue here, as everyone leaves Great Haywood around the same time. We had six boats in front of us once…
Wolseley Bridge, crossing the Trent.
We stayed put yesterday, I wanted to get the brackets for the life-ring painted, and the Silverstone Grand Prix was on in the afternoon. And what a race that was! Best one of the season so far, and with live coverage too.
Since Liberty Media took a controlling interest in Formula 1 from Bernie Eccleston, TV rights to broadcast the race meetings have had a shake-up, and this year the only free to view event is Silverstone, the rest covered only by highlights shows.
This morning we unhooked from the piling and set off to Rugeley. We’ve not had the chance for a good grocery shop for a while, and the cupboards are looking a little bare.
The beautiful Trent valley, with Cannock Chase rising in the distance.
Over the Trent just before Rugeley.
We just dropped lucky on the very busy moorings around Bridge 66, able to get tied up close to the bridge and close to Tesco. A couple of trips for groceries, then a pause for lunch and we were on the move again, past the long line of moored boats to the very shallow winding hole just before bridge 65.
We turned around and headed back, almost making it through the gauntlet but meeting three boats coming through Bridge 66.
A chap tied up where we’d just left took our centre rope and held us breasted up while they all came through.
And that was about the most interesting bit of the trip. Heading back out of town we crossed the aqueduct again and moored on the offside moorings just beyond. It’s a pleasant sunny spot here.
Someone’s going to be disappointed when they come to tie up later today…
Back to Great Haywood tomorrow.
Our plan for this year was to head south, using the Coventry and Oxford Canals to join the Thames at Oxford. But Meg’s condition three weeks ago was causing us concern, so we’ve decided to stay in the Midlands near where we have vets that we know and trust.
Meg has improved again now, in fact she’s doing quite well but it’s too late to head down, especially as we intend to be near Loughborough by the middle of September for a family gathering. So we’ll be pottering for a bit. Seem to be doing a lot of that lately…
Locks 1, miles 6¾
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