After they left L caught up with the Oz news whilst I showered and washed some clothes. We then moved the boat a few hundred metres further up the canal to services point at Haywood Junction and while L showered I filled the water tank and disposed of the rubbish. That done we moved the boat another few hundred metres up the canal, moored up and then walked back down the tow path to Shugborough. During the walk L filled me in on OZ news he felt pertinent, never mind Les Murray passing away - had to find that out for myself.
We soon reached the famous packhorse bridge
and took the walk around the outer edge of the formal park that surrounds the house.
Looking down the River Sow to its confluence with the River Trent just upstream of the packhorse bridge.
The path passes by the Chinese folly and over the bridge
through an arboretum, past an ornamental lake and finally we found ourselves at a junction with a discreet sign indicating that up the right hand path we would find the mansion tea room, Parched (for the day turned out quite warm) and with tired feet, we of course made a beeline for the tea room. We hadn't had a decent coffee since setting foot in old Blighty. We were still drinking our coffee at 12.30pm so I sent a text to Tim telling them not to hurry back to the boat. We scoffed the coffee and begun to hurry back to the boat.
This vast and ancient wisteria is just starting to bloom and will look amazing when laden with flowers
Looking back to the house from across the park
We found Tim and Mike sitting on the packhorse bridge waiting for us. So terrified of L's departure time decree they were actually back at the boat before 12.30 and found it all locked up. So upon receiving my text msg they walked back down to Shugborough to meet us.
We left our mooring at 1.30pm. Due to all the moored boats, the going was pretty slow to we reached Hoo Mill Lock.
Draining the lock so Aqua Beatha can enter
Here she comes, and with a flick of the tiller Lawrence lines her up perfectly
to enter the lock
In she slides
With the back gates shut and the front paddles open she rises in the lock. Mmm what is L doing back there?
Water rushing in the through the gate paddle at Weston Lock. It was at this lock that we met a charming old gentleman who, in stages, was walking the length of T&M. Having started in Shardlow he was about 5 1/2 miles short of the half way point. We were the first narrowboat to have ever offered him a lift!
Now here is a boater who likes a bit of bling! We have been leap frogging each other over the past couple of days.
Approaching some linear moorings
And what interesting garden art they favour!
But wait, there is more!
The sad sight of old, abandoned barges
And next is the elaborate Sandon Bridge
This boat was the cause of today's major excitement. As we came round the corner in the far distance we could see the boat askew across the canal.
While trying to slip passed we ran aground, hard aground, we couldn't even rock the boat. Only L's herculean efforts with the barge pole got us off. Then with some nifty backing and sidepassing L got the stern of Beatha into a position where, with our trusty boat hook, I could snag the centre line of the loose boat. With some more deft manouvering L deposited Tim and me ashore to haul the loose boat into the bank. Luckily the loose ropes still had the mooring pins attached and with Tim wielding the mallet we re-moored her, retrieved our mooring rope and once more went on our way.
Our good deed for the day has put us further behind schedule (L's schedule) and he fretted the half hour or so lost. I don't see that 40mins matters too much when we are already two days behind!!!
Entering Sandon Lock, the last of the day and the deepest at 9'1"
The view from Sandon Lock
Beatha has now risen
Mike opens the top gate to allow Beatha to depart
Curious cattle
Canada geese and goslings in the field across from our mooring.
Speaking of which. Lawrence - man of schedules- gave us the choice of either a) mooring up at the, according to Lawrence, appallingly early hour of 4.30 in a quiet countryside mooring or for continuing on for another hour or more and spending the night in an urban area. Of course the goslings and the lambs gambling in the paddock beside us made it a no brainer for Tim and me :)
Not to mention the view
So here we are moored up for the day and enjoying the beautiful sunshine.
Why would anyone want to moor in a town and forego a view like this (especially when you have Tim on board rolling out superb dinner after dinner - mind you I think we will have to give him a break soon!!)
Maybe 5 miles (oh dear!) and 3 locks.
