Great Haywood to Baswich

Pump-out a.m. Started late afternoon. Moored up just before Bridge 101 on the S&W.

4 miles, 1 lock, 2.5 hours engine

Alrewas to Great Haywood

Set out early from Alrewas to give time for avoiding the expected rain. Stopped in Fradley to look around. Bought a new mooring hook to replace one of those we left by mistake at Branston. Thought we would make it to Rugeley but pressed on and got all the way to Great Haywood. Got a bit wet but it didn't seem as bad as forecast.

Light on the Gazelle roof aerial is not on and the TV is not tuning any stations. Not sure of the problem.

15 miles, 10 locks, 9 hours engine time

Branston to Alrewas

Coping with ropes that had got wet, stupidly left both mooring hooks at the mooring. Quite a windy morning. Found a mooring spot right after Alrewas lock.

5 miles, 2 locks, 4 hours engine – left the engine running while the bread maker made bread.

Mercia marina to Branston

8 miles, 2 locks, 3.5 hours engine

Willington to Mercia Marina

Drifted into Willington village to moor up for the day, and attempt some internet work. Then on to the marina at 5.30, and tied up on a jetty near to engineering.

2 miles, 0 locks, 1.5 hours engine

Wychnor to Willington

Started reasonably early, but stopped for a walk at Branston Water Park. Decided to continue after lunch to avoid the rain promised for tomorrow

12 miles, 5 locks, 7 hours engine

Wolseley Bridge to Wychnor

Intended to moor up shortly beyond Fradley junction, but could not find a spot until after Wychnor. Wind quite problematic at some of the locks. Very long day, broken by grocery shopping in Rugeley and lunch just after Handsacre.

Engine intermittently making a slight whistling noise at some speeds.

12 miles, 9 locks, 7.5 hours

Great Haywood to Wolseley Bridge

Post collected, and everything apparently being in order with Erin Mae, we got under way at about 3, to get down to Wolseley Bridge for the night. Actually moored up a bit further on towards Rugeley. At the Bridge a CaRT maintenance butty had been cut free and was floating half way across the canal. Another boater was in the process of securing it again.

3 miles, 2 locks, 2 hours engine

Varnishing phase 1 finished

Today did the third coat of the exterior parts of the front door frame.

Pump-out

Pump out at GH.

Started varnishing

Started the varnishing of the front doors.

Mercia marina

Over to Mercia Marina to see what their engineering department and the New and Used Boat Company might say about dealing with leaking windows. Fixed up to take Erin Mae over for August 14th.

Great Haywood

Back up to Erin Mae

Bransgore

Back to Bransgore in the rain.

Tixall Wide

Down to Anglo-Welsh for ice-cream and the Wide for lunch, before packing up the car to take everyone to Manchester airport. Wind blew Erin Mae against the jetties, so we had to secure the bows and bring her off with the engine and the tiller hard over. Then we backed across the marina before turning the nose towards the exit.

2 miles, 0 locks, 1 hour.

Wolseley Bridge round-trip

Down to Wolseley Bridge for another visit to the Wildlife Trust Centre, with Chris doing the steering. On to the winding hole and back. With Chris around, there was an extra adult to make sure Elissa and Sam didn't fall in the locks, so they were able to do much more working of the locks.

9 miles, 4 locks, 6 hours engine

Round trip to Sandon

Iain and Simon, Elissa and Sam on board. Great Haywood to Sandon lock and back. Mostly fine and lunch in the sunshine. Occasional shower, one very heavy.

11 miles, 6 locks, 7 hours engine.

Wolseley Bridge to Rugeley to Great Haywood

On from Wolseley Bridge. Moored up just before Bridge 66 in Rugeley, for some shopping. Winded before Bridge 65 and returned, with a stop for lunch, to Wolseley Bridge for a visit to the Wolseley Centre. Then back to the marina in view of the bad weather forecast for tomorrow.

9 miles, 2 locks, 5 hours engine.

Great Haywood to Wolseley Bridge

Pump-out. Then out to the AW yard for ice-cream and a walk down to Haywood Lock. Back on the boat, we decided to continue, so down to Wolseley Bridge for the night. Ran the engine for extra time to ensure the batteries were charged.

2.5 miles, 2 locks, 4 hours engine.

Tixall Wide

With Elissa and Sam, down to Tixall Wide for lunch.

2 miles, 0 locks, 1 hour engine.