Thursday 12 October 2023

A short hop to Tixall Wide

Thursday 12th September; Great Haywood marina to Tixall Wide.

It’s a 4-hour journey from home when you include stops, but with the holiday season past now, it was generally an easy drive - apart from a tedious detour round Cannock and Rugeley, as the M6 was closed further ahead following an incident.  We were unloading the car before 2, and once unpacked we topped up the water tank, then moved round to the wharf, which we could see was empty, for a pump-out.  Good timing as two share boats came in as we finished, both needing the wharf.  Off we went, turning left out of the marina towards Haywood junction, wanting to moor for a quick visit to the farm shop.  But there wasn’t enough space for us on the mooring before the junction, so we were a little bit naughty - Dave held the boat on the water point while I nipped over the bridge to get some snacks at the farm shop.

Naughty

He hung around watching for approaching boats, but all was quiet, so I didn't have to pursue him down the canal with my shopping!

Halloween in full swing at the farm shop

There was no wind, making the turn onto the Staffs and Worcester canal easy.  A lot of the Anglo-Welsh hire boats are in, now the main season is at an end.

Under the junction bridge

Tixall Wide had lots of space and we moored about half-way along.  It’s been very overcast today, and not very warm.  Dusk came early.  The starlings from the continent who overwinter here haven’t arrived yet, so no wonderful murmurations to be seen.  Instead, as darkness fell, the Canadas announced themselves with great honkings and splashdowns as they came in to roost on the water.  I hope they aren’t early risers.

1 and a bit miles

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