Great Haywood

 We set off at around 10:30. 

A last look back at the mooring.

We are at Deptmore Lock. When going down the locks the captain opens the top gate, we swop over and I open the bottom gates. Sometimes, if there's a bridge across or a helper from another boat, the captain works the whole lock. 

Coming up to Stafford Boat Club.

They are based in the old Hazlestrine Arm. 

The signpost is at the old junction for the Stafford Riverway Link. Work is being undertaken to reopen the link down into Stafford.

We have just passed a large mobile home site and the one on the very end had this amazing garden. It has lots of children friendly things. 

Another boater warned us of a tree across the canal but the captain negotiated it with ease. 

Although the railway came after the canals they often follow the same course which is usually on level ground. 

The captain is driving and we are on the aqueduct across the River Sow. 

 

The sign above the door at Tixall Lock. 

And ahead of us is Tixall Wide. When the canal was built, the owner of Tixall Hall only allowed it to cross his land as long as it looked like a lake. It is sometimes called the broads of the canals. 

All that's left of the hall now is the gatehouse. 

Yet another aqueduct over the River Trent. 

Great Haywood Junction where we stopped for lunch. 

We popped across to the Canalside Farm Shop and Café, we thought we deserved it. 

After lunch we moved on through the lock and under the bridge made specifically so that the owners of Shugborough Hall could ride in their carriage to church. 

A perfect end to a perfect day.