Well never seen the prop shaft quite like that!

Well didn't we chose the right week to move Merlin. With temperatures predicted to be in double figures I was beginning to wonder if I should have packed shorts and T shirts. Okay maybe that's going a bit too far but those thermal undies taking pride of place in my bag should most probably have stayed in FS's bedroom drawers.  Anyway managed to pack all my the clothes in one small holdall, (just about closed the zip)and I thought I had packed light until Ian showed me up when his same size holdall was only half empty!

Left Langley Mill early as first port of call was to Leicester to collect Pat. Made  better time than we thought as hardly any traffic on the road. Holidays started already maybe? By 10am we were once again on the road and by midday we drove into the Anglo Welsh yard at Great Hayward.  Merlin had been moved to the Anglo Welsh service point next to the facilities, and facing in the wrong direction I might add, seeing as how we wanted to go Shroppie way rather than the T&M.  She did look pretty good having had a complete super structure paint job as well as hull blacked The prop shaft had also been changed. Was a little surprised at this until Kevin the manager showed us the one that had been removed. Flabbergasted we were at what we saw.

A few things were missing from Merlin when we got on board, most noticeable was two of the chairs from the lounge. One lot of bedding was short (they had forgotten that Pat was coming with us) and it wasn't until we had set off that we discovered the lack of any sort of soap, hand towel or washing up liquid. That's the only problem of boat moving after it has been away for servicing. Most of the important stuff had been removed. But thankfully they had provided loo rolls! A chair had been found as a replacement and more bedding put on.

Made our way to Tixal Wide which was completely devoid of any moored boats, up Tixal lock  to eventually stop opposite Stafford Boat Club.

Still ice on the Wide

Pat and Ian

Tixal lock

Silly hats???

 And seen on route.