All Good Things Must Come to an End - 7th August 2019

Wednesday 7th August 2019
Tixall Wide to Great Haywood and then to south of Roseford Bridge, No 94
6 miles, 2 locks

 As we were preparing to cast off a familiar boat went past  - Unknown No 3 with Mick and Julia on board - I was too slow with the camera.

We slipped away from our moorings just before 9am, with a last glance at The Gatehouse - this mooring will always hold a special place in my heart. Yesterday evening was a  really memorable one - great company, wine, food and a perfect setting - we raised our glasses to Jaq and Les as we all know how much this place meant to them.

We winded and bade a very fond farewell to Sue and Ken on Cleddau as we made our way back to Great Haywood

 where we turned left at the junction back on to the Trent and Mersey Canal to make use of the services only to find Unknown No 3 had the same idea, so we had time for a chat after all.

We bade them farewell and finished off our filling and emptying

before Chris maneuvered us back to the junction

Under the bridge

and into the space in the Anglo Welsh yard where we were booked in for an engine service

We left the engineer to it and walked across to the Farm shop and Cafe for 'brunch'.  We both opted for the small breakfast of sausage, beans, egg and mushrooms and were slightly disappointed that the mushrooms were tinned!  However, it was pleasant enough sitting in the sun on their terrace watching the many boats passing by.  When we went back to the boat, the engineer had nearly finished.

Having paid our dues, Chris was able to manoeuvre out again and we rejoined

the Staffs & Worcs Canal again

over one aqueduct

and then the larger one over the Trent

on through Tixall Wide to find Cleddau had left and Wychway had taken over our mooring.  As tempting as it was to stay another night, we decided to keep going as Friday's forecast is not too brilliant and there is no point in getting wet if we don't have to.

So on we went to Tixall lock where I helped a single hander through and managed to catch a train entering the tunnel - I should have checked the picture though as it is a really bad shot!

Not quite a stately pile, but a very large house with a pool and enormous grounds

the pool is behind the hedge and changing rooms

It did seem endless!

 As we approached Stafford Boat Club there in the distance we spotted a very familiar boat

A quick tootle on the horn alerted them to our presence and first Ken and then

Sue emerged to bade us a final farewell for this season's cruising.

As we were approaching the boat club we were aware of a flashing light in the distance - was it a warming of some sort?  No just the sun reflecting on this as it spun round in the breeze!

When we arrived at Deptmore Lock there was a boat waiting to go up.  I went up to lend a hand.  The boat's crew turned out to be Narrow Boat Girl (she does a vlog).  She lives aboard with her Mum and five dogs.  As Chris used to work for the CAA, I could not resist a shot of her t-shirt.

We moored shortly after that lock just south of Roseford Bridge No 94.  And so ended the first day of part 4 of our summer cruise!