June Already!

Thursday 1st June, 2017 on Tixall Wide near Great Haywood.
Where did the time go? June already!
Bridgett and Peter joined us on MM for one of R's special Smiley Breakfasts.

M, heroically, gave them two of the pork pies from Adderley (she was already half way through eating hers). Finally, at about 11:30, we waved them goodbye and set off southwards, promising to drop in on our return.

The weather was kind, warm and dry. We moored up briefly at Great Haywood, bought some of their home grown strawberries and asparagus, had coffee in the cafeteria, filled up with water and disposed of the rubbish. Then a right hand turn under the roving bridge on to the Staffs & Worcs canal, one of our favourites, which will take us eventually to Stourport and the River Severn.

We noticed that there was a splendid new finger post at the junction and that it has changed sides; it used to be on the opposite side of the canal.

We moored up for the night at Tixall Wide, a very broad part of the canal that was reputedly built to this width in order to appease the landowner by making the canal resemble a lake when viewed from Tixall House, which sadly was demolished many years ago. Only its magnificent gatehouse remains to remind us of its former glory.

The clear sky meant that we had a wonderful view of the ISS (International Space Station) as it went overhead just after sunset.
Today: 4 miles, 2 locks and 1.9 hours.
Trip: 9 miles, 3 locks and 3.6 hours.