Monday 24th August 2020
Great Haywood to just past Roseford Bridge (No 94)
6 miles, 2 locks
Our original intention had been to ease me back in very gently and just go to Tixall Wide - it was really in the hope of being able to enjoy a night there without constant rain. The forecast, however, for Tuesday was diabolical, so we pushed on with the intention of battening down the hatches on that day.
Before we left we would need water and to dispose of rubbish etc. I mentioned before how busy Great Haywood was - well there were boats on the water point from before 8am. When we were ready Monty and I walked over there whilst Chris moved the boat and hovered in mid stream to wait for a space.
We were moored up by 09:22, but still had to wait our turn for a free tap. 
It was past 09:30 before we got the tap connected - the screw threads on the tap at this end of the services are very bad and the only way we could get it to stay on was for me to hold it in place - a wet and tedious job!
Whilst this was going on the rubbish and yellow water were disposed of and when the tank was full and the hose stowed away there was one more urgent job that needed to be done - a trip for Chris down the weed hatch. The remains of a black polyester Primark garment now reside in the bins at Great Haywood - a much better resting place than our prop!
Now all this takes time and there were boats all over the place. We did do everything as quickly as possible, but before we could leave a women approached me and in a very aggressive manor said to me 'Are you going to leave anytime soon?' We were in the process of untying, so an unnecessary question in my book. It was only 35 minutes since we had access to the tap, so not an extortionately long time. She then accused me of being on the water point for the whole weekend! For those of you who know me I am fairly easy going, but if you want to get my gander up - accuse me of something I have not done. I hate injustice. What was really annoying was that whilst Chris was sorting out the prop there was plenty of room behind us for a boat to pull in and use the vacant tap! I hope she just got out of bed on the wrong side today and does not treat everyone like that!
As we moved off there were many admiring 'oohs and aahs' both as two boats completed a reverse 'boat ballet movement' to swap places - good helmsmanship from both skippers. It may look as though the two boats are just passing in a forwards direction, but they weren't - the red boat reversed onto the water point as Chris reversed past him far enough back to turn into the Staffs & Worcs Canal.
It was an exceptionally busy day - I think everyone had the same idea - get as far as possible and 'cancel' tomorrow.
Had we decided to stop at Tixall we would have had plenty of choice of moorings.
I went up to the lock to lend a hand (as you do) and had a great chat with the man from nb Claro. The boat ahead of him was single hander who was really struggling - he can only move round with the aid of a walking stick, so we worked him through. By the time it was our turn there were two boats waiting behind us to come up. One was a single hander and on the other was the woman who had accosted me at the water point. No help was available from any quarter! It was not a quick transit as the bottom gates blew open before I could open a paddle at the top necessitating two more trips around the lock to close them again. As we left a boat was arriving meaning we could leave the gates open and the next boats coming up would have to wait a while longer.
As we proceeded another boat came towards us which would delay our 'friendly lady even longer!
On we went past this house with enormous grounds and a very large swimming pool
Boats kept on coming towards us and frequently at bridge holes!
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