Oct 20th moored by Shugborough Hall on the Trent & Mersey canal

         247 miles, 90 locks, 2 short tunnels (twice each) and 2 lift bridges from Aston Marina

Saturday 20th Oct - Great Haywood

Stayed put today and visited Shugborough again. This time we went to the servants quarters, museum and farm estate and also walked through the arboretum as well as having lunch in the Ladies Walk restaurant.  Today was a much better day, slowly drying out, with plenty of blue sky and sunshine although a little misty first thing and again in the evening. We have saw a hot air balloon (bearing the Audi logo and details) take off from the estate with a large basket full of passengers.

Friday 19th Oct - Great Haywood

Today was very misty and it never really improved, briefly brightened late afternoon but generally a very damp day.  We moved on through Armitage and Rugely nine miles to Great Haywood with just the one lock at Colwich. The West coast main line has a junction here and the main line for Stafford bears to the left of the Shugborough estate with the line to Stoke keeping to the side of the canal through Great Haywood.  When we were here in the 'summer' (I use the word loosely) and there were lots of specials using this line for the Olympics and it was very busy but it is now back how we remember it with only about four trains an hour. 
Surprise, surprise there was only one other boat moored on our favourite mooring spot (over twenty moored here last time we were here).  Three more did tie up later in the afternoon.

Thursday 18th Oct - near Handsacre bridge 56

Set off about 10:15 after another wet night slowed before first bridge to get picture of a class 70 slowly
trundling out of Burton-on-Trent.  On past Streethay Wharf and alongside the noisy A38 (Ryknield Street) and then back into the rural peace to enjoy the sunshine and colour of the trees. Autumn is starting to make its presence felt but as yet trees are mainly very green, recent winds have certainly torn a lot of leaves and the canal has plenty of them floating about ready to catch on the prop. Reverse thrust needed more often these days. Soon at Fradley Junction and moored to take on more water.  I like to keep the tanks full, never sure if there isn't going to be a delay somewhere unexpectedly. Turned left at the junction and then up through the three locks without any problems or delay.  Not like the delays we suffered on the way out, but then it was a Saturday.  As we left Kings Bromley the sky was filling with cloud and the sun was no longer with us. and at
bridge 56 the heavens opened and we decided it was time for a late lunch and moored up.  That was it for today more showers this afternoon and evening although we did manage a short circuit of Handsacre with the dogs to get some more milk.   Quite peaceful here apart from the regular roar of the West Coast main line which is only a field or two away.  Difficult to get away from it as canal and railway follow the same course pretty consistently.

Wednesday 17th Oct - near Streethay

We left Grendon in sunshine about 10:15 after another wet night and cruised through Polesworth. Not many boats on the move but we passed two hotel boats near Pooley Hall. As we approached Tamworth we stopped by bridge 67 for Bridie to go for provisions at the shops in Amington.  Although fairly calm so far the wind got up a bit as we descended the Glascote locks after watering up above the first of the two locks. Had thought we might tie up at Hopwas but the farmer still had his bird scarer banging away and Mac took fright - what lucky residents of Hopwas they are - we moved on.  The moorings at Huddlesford were busy and didn't appeal - those before the railway bridge suffered a terrible pong from a local farm, there was space (!) and those after the bridge were full.  On another bridge hole away from the Trent valley main line and moored by the new marina  just before Streethay - looks like they have run out of money - no equipment about and only half completed but very deep?  Once moored we did not have to wait long for rain to arrive.  The towpaths are pretty wrecked and very dependant on what they are made from as to how muddy they are and it is getting deppressingly difficult to take the dogs for a decent walk without ending up covered in mud.