Shugborough delight

Shugborough Hall from the canal




Essex bridge, the footbridge to Shugborough Hall

Essex bridge

As we are within distance of base we decided to strike for home. There were only 6 locks to do so it was a relaxing morning. Lottie missed her morning of locking and asked for a walk mid day. Paul obliged. They will both go home for a rest. We walked across an amazing old stone bridge into the grounds of Shugborough Hall and wandered round some of the park.




Great Haywood lock

We entered Haywood lock without queuing for the first time. Often we wait for over an hour here as it is on a busy junction. We were helped through the lock by a cheerful lad who said he lived on the canals although he had no boat. Well there are worse places to camp.




feed us please

A swan with cygnets swam close to us as our boat passed them demanding food, their necks reaching onto our deck. Woken from her snooze Lottie barked at them enraging the cob. He chased our boat for over a mile pecking at the rear fender as if determined to chase away the noisy trouble maker. Lottie doesn’t realise how dangerous an angry swan could be but I kept her inside out of harms way. Paul had to increase his speed to get rid of the enraged parent. Hopefully Lottie will learn to leave swans alone.