Wednesday 24 July 2019

WaL day Five ... A great day ...

We needed water, so we left our mooring at Weston about 7am (Monday 22nd)  in the hope that the service point at Great Haywood Junction would be easily available.
Waiting for Weston lock by 7:30 ...
 The lock is ready and I'm gathering up the middle rope and laying it back on the roof ...
 and bring What a Lark in ... no touching of sides either!
 Hoo Mill lock next ...
 Where my legs got a bit wet from the leaky gates as I descend

 Passing Great Haywood Marina where we collected WaL from just six days ago ... seems much longer than that!
 There was a boat on the services but only for a few minutes ...
 and ten minutes later we're on our way again ...
 we're turning right here ...
 onto a different canal ... the sign says 'Welcome to the Staffordshire and Worcestershire Canal' or Staffs and Worcester for short!
Tixall Farm buildings, c1830, built for the Clifford family of Tixall Hall. The hall was used to detain Mary, Queen of Scots in 1586.
There was loads of mooring spaces 
as we entered the expanse of water known as Tixall Wide
It's a long time since we were here last so I took a short walk to take a few pictures ...

Built in the 16th century, the three storey Gatehouse of the long demolished Tixall Hall is now in the care of the Landmark Trust and is available for holiday use.  Sleeping 4+2 it would cost from £495 for four nights

It wasn't long before Margaret and Geoff arrived and came aboard What a Lark for the day ... 

The lovely Margaret!

BBQ time ... of course!

Chewing the cud!
Fuel boat Halsall passing by at 5:30 ...

What a great day we had, in great company, in a lovely place.

4 comments:

Lisa said...

Well Margaret looks so very very well, and doesn't Geoff look good in her hat?

Have you polished WaL? She looks cleaner than we last saw her....

Love and kisses,

Carol said...

No, sorry Lisa we haven't washed or polished WaL (yet!) I think it's the early morning sun (7:30) that is giving her the shine!

Hope you're having as much fun on SR as we are on your lovely boat. xx

Lisa said...

Aren't you finding it a bit cramped? David says that on a Wide Beam we could fit a Bernese Mountain Dog...... (His favourite)

Carol said...

You could Lisa! But what about all that dog hair rolling about in the corners!