Easter holiday - day nine

A huge journey today! From Shugborough to Tixell Wide - took about 15 minutes and included 1 lock. The weather was breezy and very cold compared to what we have been used to of late. Managed to moor up right on the wide which was good and had a passing hello to NB Strait and Narrow who admitted to reading this blog and another passing hello with NB Caitlin Jane who we met on the Llangollen a few years back. Spent the rest of the day tidying the front cratch and various internal cupboards and then sitting reading the BSS guide before becoming too cold for outside and having to retire in front of the fire inside! An excellent satellite signal, beautiful mooring and 3 bars of UMTS service - the 'holy trinity' of a good mooring!

A little bit of fun this morning as I waited for water at the busy Great Haywood junction. Another boat breasted up alongside the boat in front of me after I arrivedat the waiting area. As a hire boat at the very front of the queue left his waterpoint, the breasted up boat slipped in ahead of me on the pretence that he had been drawn into the space by the wash of the departing hire boat! Much, in my opinion, unnecessary 'thrusting' of the bows betrayed the real experience of the helmsman and the gleaming paintwork and hull betrayed the lack of 'lock miles'!

Tomorrow - back to Hopwas and the sunshine hopefully!