I have decided I do like Stone, last night the whole area was light up with a long string of lights crisscrossing the canal.
This morning we woke to the sound of the rain so were in no hurry to crawl out of bed, also because we stopped so early yesterday it was only a warm shower, not hot. When we did eventually surface we decided to wait for a break in the weather before setting off, that came at 1pm this afternoon. I think this is the first time we have not started in the morning due to rain. I must be getting soft in my old age.
Today we had little luck with locks, all except one against us. There is a canal side garden in the south of Stone that has all sorts of wonderful things in their garden including elephants, not real ones. They also have small topiary in tubs, one looks like a Teddy bear.
With the better weather, the sun stayed out right until Hoo Mill Lock its been a good day for seeing birds. This Swan on the nest still with her Cygnets just creeping out.
Followed by something I have never seen before Goosander chicks with there mum, what pretty little things. A very quick shot as she was gone in a flash.
This was followed by a collection of geese, three adults and a selection of goslings, it looks like an interesting cross breed, I wonder what the youngsters will turn out like, or who are the actual parents.
We passed a lovely wooden boat, I wouldn’t want to own it on the canals. There is only one thing worse than owing an old wooden boat and that’s owning a smart old wooden boat. We often see it around and its just lovely.
Rather unusual we a sheet Narrowboat powered by an outboard engine, complete with wheel steering.
At Hoo Mill Lock we caught up with the boat in front and had to wait for them to leave the lock, we also caught up with a big black cloud that rained quite heavily on us for a short time.
Mooring wise, Gt Haywood was packed, there was a space opposite the Garden Centre just before the bridge, nothing all the way down to Haywood Lock, below the lock to the bridge was full and there were only a couple of spaces under trees in the next quarter of a mile to where we are moored now. Exiting Haywood lock there was a giant swarm of midges, I even managed a photo of them.
As I said we had hoped to moor in Gt Haywood but we ended up about a quarter of a mile down below Shugborough Hall.
Todays Journey
10½ miles, 6 locks in 4¾ hours