With the weather set fair for the weekend, we thought we'd take advantage and decided to have a quick out and back cruise up to Great Haywood, which is about four and a half hours for us from Kings Bromley.
It soon dawned on us that we were getting nowhere fast though as regular bursts of reverse were required to get rid of leaves from the prop. An early visit down the weed hatch to make sure there was nothing else wrapped around the prop was needed, but just lots of vegetation was removed. More alarming was the presence of smoke in the engine bay !! A minor panic, but no smell of burning. I always thought it was no smoke without fire, but thankfully not on this occasion. It was put down to a trace of oil from my engine servicing last weekend on the hot engine. Panic over and the boat now back moving as it should........phew !!
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| Is it really November ?? |
Quite a few boats out and about taking advantage of the weather. Even the buzzards we regularly see approaching Rugeley were catching some rays as we passed.
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| Fascinating creatures |
We moored close to Great Haywood Junction and then spent a really enjoyable evening in The Clifford Arms. Jasper was his usual charming self and wanted to be everyones friend, but he was just one of a number of well behaved dogs in the bar. He was particularly fond of 'Ruby', a very sociable Patterdale Terrier, and of course this then sets the owners off talking and before you know it you've got a cracking evening. We got talking to other locals too and also the crew of nb Besorah (hebrew for good tidings) who were just great company. So, after Jasper and Ruby exchanged numbers, it was back to the boat and not much rocking required. Unfortunately we were woken by a screeching owl in the tree right next to the boat, but you can't complain too much as some folks will never have that privilege.
Jasper and I enjoyed an early morning walk in the grounds of Shugborough Hall. He was more interested in chasing squirrels so missed coming almost face to face with a lesser spotted woodpecker. Now if it was Irene on
Free Spirit you'd have a photo of it, but sadly I didn't even have my phone to capture it. Never mind.
After breakfast, we winded at the junction. All the hire boats at Anglo Welsh have probably done for the season now.
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| Anglo Welsh at Great Haywood Junction |
Colwich Lock could possibly be our last lock of 2014
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| Colwich lock |
Approaching Handsacre, we were astonished to find two lads, bare-chested, wading in the canal. Not only that, one was wearing a rubber pigs head and the other a rubber sheeps head. Now before you read that again or check the label on the bottle of wine you may be drinking, here is the proof.......
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| Are my eyes dreaming ?? |
Louise couldn't wait to get a quick snap. The bigger picture below will throw a bit of light on the matter.....they were in the process of making a film for their school. My only question would be which subject they're studying and indeed which school !!
We finished the weekend leaving the boat at Bromley Wharf awaiting our signwriter later this week. What a bonus weekend that was.
