Sept 7th moored near King's Bromley on Trent & Mersey canal

         18 miles, 5 locks from Aston Marina

Friday 7th Sept
Woke this morning (after waking up at 5:45 when the Webasto fired up - it should have been 7:45 but someone programmed it wrong!) to a glorious blue sky and the only white to be seen was the moon. Made a leisurly start and set off about 10:30 for Colwich lock.  Again had to queue although only four boats ahead of us.  Too many folks stay with their boats and do not rush forward to help (not even when it's their turn in some cases!)
really quite warm as we progressed through Wolseley and into Rugeley.  We moored just before bridge 66 and headed off to Morrisons for a quick shop for provisions and beers. Back to the boat and pressed on with lunch as we headed towards Armitage, passed through Handsacre and the winding hole we turned at in July and headed on towards King's Bromley.  We moored about half way between bridges 56 and 55 in a section we had noted when we were here walking the dogs from Handsacre.  Spent the rest of the afternoon enjoying the sunshine on the towpath watching a steady procession of boats go by.

Thursday 6th Sept
Made ready to depart after breakfast stopping at the bridge for services and to fuel up with just short of eighty litres of diesel. Exited marina about 10:30 and enjoyed a pleasant cruise to Great Hayward (8+ miles and 4 locks south).  Very sunny and just a slight breeze making it ideal cruising weather.  Quite a few boats on the move and when we passed the Junction with the Staffs & Worcester canal and rounded the bend we had to join a short queue of boats for the lock.  It took just over half an hour and involved us in hovering and hanging onto moored boats before we finally reached the lock landing and went through the lock.  We moored up as planned with the River Trent and Shugborough Estate on our starboard side.  After a late lunch and a snooze we took the dogs for a walk over the Trent into the Shugborough estate.

Wednesday 5th Sept

Spent the morning on the marina with a short shopping expedition in the farm shop and paid outstanding mooring fee etc.  After a light lunch on board we took the dogs a walk along the towpath into Stone where we visited the Chandlery and purchased some LED light bulbs to try out on the boat.  Returning along the towpath we stopped at the Star Inn for refreshent by the side of the lock. Took about thirty minutes from the marina into Stone.  Would have been much quicker in the car but nowhere near as enjoyable as walking in the sunshine.  Went to the marina Bistro for an evening meal tonight.

Tuesday 4th Sept
After four weeks trying to get garden sorted gave up and drove down the M6 to Aston by Stone in dry and generally sunny conditions.  Unpacked the car and loaded the boat before taking the dogs for a walk along the towpath towards Sandon. Had a meal on board and enjoyed the sunset. Great to be back!