Oct 24th moored at Sandon on the Trent & Mersey canal

         253 miles, 94 locks, 2 short tunnels (twice each) and 2 lift bridges from Aston Marina

Wednesday 24th - Sandon

Again not a very exciting day but mild enough and not too windy.  Had a few light showers but managed to top coat the gunwhales, waistband and rubbing streaks on port side by about 3pm.  At this point I moved the boat three boat lengths to the winding hole, turned and returned to same mooring and moored facing the lock. I had cut the grass along the length of Prairie Oyster to avoid it getting on my paint and it would have been silly to move along canal and then not find suitable mooring between here and the marina.  Now managed to prep and undercoat front starboard side before light and another shower stopped play.  While I have been doing this Bridie has also been busy preparing and starting packing ready for our return homeward bound next week.

Tuesday 23rd - Sandon

Bit of a misty grey day with slight showers. However managed to complete prepping and undercoating the port side before 1pm.  Sue and Tony arrived a little after 1:15pm and we all went to the Hollybush Inn at Salt for lunch/dinner.  Only about a mile down the lane from here but it is a bit narrow so we were glad of the lift in the car. Meals enjoyed by all and the Hollybush voted a success by Sue & Tony (it must be good!) Came back to the boat for coffee and to take the dogs (all 4) a walk up the towpath and then after feeding the dogs went off in the car to Stoke to the New Vic Theatre to see an Alan Ayckbourn play "Surprises" - see http://surprises.alanayckbourn.net/S_Reviews.htm  Again much enjoyed by all so a great day out and something different for us.

Monday 22nd Oct - Sandon

Still raining this morning so I had a wet dog walk before breakfast down the National Trust path on the offside of canal below railway embankment.  It was still very misty at normal set off time so we had another cup of coffee and waited until 11:30 before we ventured forth up the lock.  The rain had eased by this time but it was still pretty grey.  It never totally cleared but was pleasantly mild with no wind and we managed the four locks without getting wet (a bonus). We moored as planned just above Sandon Lock, in place to meet up with Bridies sister Sue for lunch tomorrow.

The last mile post we past before the lock said 49 miles to Preston Brook - not that we could get there on the T&M at present.  My present screen saver on my laptop is a picture of the footpath up to bridge 211 (taken this summer) which we believe is where the T&M has breached.  For the last 7 years this has been a favourite mooring spot of ours although we won't be passing for a while given our plans to keep the boat at Aston.

Sunday 21st Oct - Great Haywood

Overnight our sleep was disturbed by railway workers with chain saws (?). Stayed put again today it was a
lovely sunny warm day once the mist burnt off this morning.  Prepped and undercoated front port side rubbing streaks today. Then went for a walk this afternoon with the dogs back to Little Hayward, just to investigate -2 pubs and a general store - but access lane very narrow under railway. Lovely evening until it startedraining late (after 9).