Winter Cruise.......

..........tick.

I had a couple of visitors for breakfast, the swan was after food and I did feed him some bread, the big brown beast only wanted a drink, which was lucky for me.

Despite the lovely calm sunrise by 8:30 it was raining, not heavily but continually, I didn’t want to get wet today and normally I would see what happened and if it didn’t clear by 11ish I would make the decision to stay put, but today at 12 there was a break and I decided I would move so I prepared and set off, as I moved away from the bank i saw a boat some distance behind me, heading my way.

Sandon lock was not too far ahead and I tied up on the landing and walked along to find it was against me, no surprise there, I set it for me and as I walked back to my boat the other chap was just tying his, I moved into the lock and he came along telling me to stay aboard and he would finish locking me through, a nice start.

As I slowly passed the long term moorings just before Weston-on-Trent this swan decided my button might be a good source of food, he followed along for 100 metres or so pecking away at it.

Past the 17^th century Weston Hall in the distance.

 and then passing through Weston itself

Next was Western lock, again against me , having gone through and closed the bottom gates and moved off again around the slight bend in the canal I saw a boat heading towards the lock, timing is everything, sorry.

Another fairly long line of moored boats slowed progress before Hoo Mill lock which I was surprised to find in my favour, someone had left the top gate paddle slightly open, so that saved me a bit of time.

Exiting Hoo Mill Lock

I wanted to moor up at Gt. Haywood before the lock, I also wanted to use the services for the usual fill and empty, the moorings were quite busy but beyond the service point there was one visible space, there was also a boat on the services, a dilemma, head straight for the mooring or use the services, I stopped at the services knowing full well what would happen and it did, the other boat finished filling with water, moved off and took the last space L oh well, can’t win ‘em all.

No real problem I carried on through Gt Haywood lock and moored just the other side, alone again, naturally, (that’s enough of that Gilbert!).

So that completes the four counties ring, as it’s known, and also the detour along the Llangollen which was my intended winter cruise and very enjoyable it was as well, soon be summer J

Tonight’s mooring

Totals today: 7.5 miles : 4 locks

And for those that didn't understand my earlier attempt at humor.....click on the link ......Alone again