Weston to Great Haywood - Trent & Mersey Canal

 

Thursday 27^th August

We are moving on to Great Haywood this morning, it gets very busy there so we wanted to get there late morning and hopefully there would be a few spaces.

                                                 

 We set off from our mooring along the canal.  We soon came to Weston lock.  There was a boat in front of us so we moored up behind them.

A boat was coming up so once they were through, the boat in front of us went in.  There was nothing coming up so we filled the lock up for us. Once we were down the lock, Kev went out and I shut the gates.

                                                     

We then went on our way, it was a lovely sunny warm morning.  We went under a couple of bridges and then was approaching Hoo Mill lock.

This one was empty as well so we had to fill it up.  Kev brought the boat in and closed the gate. We then opened the paddles and emptied the lock.  There was a boat waiting to come up so we went out leaving the gates open for them.

                                                     

  We chugged on and went past Great Haywood marina and then was approaching Great Haywood junction.  Kev dropped me off and I walked down to see if there were any spaces just past the junction and there was a couple, so I signalled to Kev and he came down with the boat.

                                                      

There was a space just down from the junction so I waited there for Kev.  A little dog jumped out of a boat moored next to the empty space and came to me looking pleased to see me, I then realised it was Peanut, our friend Bill’s dog and the space we were going into was in front of his boat, I hadn’t recognised it!  Bill then came out.

We moored up and sat outside with Bill and Peanut and had a cup of coffee and warm fruit cake that I had made on our way down.  It was nice to see Bill and to catch up as we haven’t seen him for a while and also lovely to see Peanut, he is a lovely little dog and remembered us and came straight on our boat for treats!

                                              

In the evening I made Spaghetti Bolognese and we shared it with Bill, it was nice to all have tea together and a few drinks.

We are staying here for the weekend to do some trading as it is Bank Holiday so hopefully there will be a few people around and we will get a few sales.

                                                  

Bill and Peanut left Friday morning, we waved them goodbye.  Bill is making his way back to the Gloucester & Sharpness canal where he moors for the Winter, but I am sure our paths will cross again next year when he is out on his travels again.