Wednesday 19 June 2019 Day 54: Tixall (thin) to Tixall Wide

Sat around chewing the fat

until 10.00am when we guestimated the majority of boats would have departed the wide. We cast off and cruised round one bend

and then another.

Reaching the Wide, and after a bit of jockeying, we moored up for a perfect view

and to enjoy our non boatie neighbours

At 11.00am we set off to stroll for a mile along the towpath to the junction, over the bridge, up the Trent and Mersey for a short way before crossing over another bridge to the Canalside Farm Shop & Cafe.

Refreshed, after the recent rain and flooding, wetlands beside the canal

After lunch sitting on the deck overlooking the canal  we inspected the farm shop - unlike Australia the UK do know how to properly age meat - it looked mouth wateringly delicious and we had to restrain ourselves; with only 3 nights left it is time to start eating up the larder and the leftovers.

We ambled back down to the junction where Tim and Mike continued on down to Shugborough to walk around the grounds and Lawrence and I stopped to chat to the owners of Wea.rytired (or something like that) with whom we have been playing leapfrog over the past few days.

A bit of sun and no rain and the English are transformed. Deck chairs lined the towpath and the boaters were bright and cheery. With lots of stopping to chat along the way L and I didn't get back to A.B. until after 3.30pm.

Looking toward Shugborough Hall Woods as we walked back up the towpath

 L too got out the deck chair and read in the sun and I snoozed until Mike and Tim got back about 4.30pm

Another view across the wide.

200metres, 0 locks, <5mins.