A Vulcan and Hope for a Restored Arm.

Sunday 14th June, 2015 at Baswich, Stafford.
It was still raining first thing, but the weather improved throughout the day. We started the morning with coffee in Bridgett and Peter's house and a wander round their beautiful garden.  Bridgett had picked a bunch of gorgeous roses ("Rosa Rugosa de la Hay") for Marion and they are now on her dressing table, filling the bedroom with their exquisite fragrance.

Late in the morning, we set off for Great Haywood and were surprised at the number of boats that we met - but then it was a sunny Sunday! Shortly after arriving at Great Haywood, we were thrilled to hear, and then see, the Vulcan fly low overhead. Apparently, there was an airshow at nearby RAF Cosford. We visited the museum there last year and would very much like to go again as it is brilliant! M did manage to get the camera out but by the time it switched on the huge Vulcan was just a dot in the distant sky.

(It really is there - it's the tiny dot in the middle!)
At Great Haywood, we stopped to fill up with water and to visit the excellent farm shop for a "few bits" - mostly locally grown strawberries (delicious). While M shopped, R had an indifferent coffee in the little cafe.
We turned right, off the Trent & Mersey Canal, through the lovely arched bridge on to the Staffs & Worcs Canal and headed to Tixall Wide, where we stopped for lunch. M was a bit disappointed that R did not do a "loop-the loop" in the Wide, as he did last year - he must be getting sensible in his old age (Not!).
When we left after lunch, it rather took us by surprise to find that the locks were now going up, having been used to the T&M locks going down.
As the canal approached Stafford, we saw the place where the old Stafford arm used to go into the centre of the town and were surprised (and pleased) to see a new "fingerpost" advertising the old arm.

It appears that the Stafford Riverway Link is making serious progress towards re-instating the old arm. It would be brilliant for Stafford if the arm was re-opened and we could take MM right in to the heart of the city. See Stafford Riverway Link.
At Baswich, we recognised the lovely mooring spot under poplar and beech trees that we had found last year and we once again moored up here for the night.

Today: 8 miles, 3 locks and 5.1 hours.
Trip: 13 miles, 4 locks and 7.3 hours.