It's a turn around and head back and a bloggers reunion.

Destination today, Great Haywood and the Anglo Welsh hire base. It's all to do with renewing our contract for Merlin and the arrangement was to meet manager Carl to discuss details. So setting off and with mizzle in the air, we soon reached Colwich lock. 

Before we left the mooring at Taft Bridge, a passing boater warned us we would probably see a tramp  asleep on a bench. He jokingly said "Probably had an excess of alcohol and is sleeping it off." "Offer him a coffee as you pass" he laughed. Hmm, not sure what to make of that. If this person was homeless than he needs help not ridicule! We did see him lying on that bench but I wouldn't call him a tramp. I was a little concerned that I saw no movement but I'm ashamed to say I kept FS moving forward instead of checking. I did mention him to a passing dog walker so hopefully they would see if he was okay.

He doesn't look like a tramp.

Nearing Great Haywood,  Shugborough Hall came into view. This brought back memories of our woofits especially Jade. A place of many walks with the dogs and one of the horror I felt when Jade got stuck in mud. To see photos and what happened CLICK HERE

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Plenty of spaces to be had before Great Haywood Junction and a good place to stop to see Carl. Walking over the junction bridge both of us were amazed that not a single Anglo Welsh boat was in. Never have we seen it like that before but with staycationers staying in the UK, most hire fleets have seen a rise in bookings. Our own boat Merlin has been out on hire every week since the lockdown eased in July.

Every hire boat out.

Oh darn, seems Carl had been held up with meetings. Since the news this morning of only 6 people allowed to meet socially, he is now wondering what to do about the 8, 10 and 12 berth boats booked out from now onwards. The news will have to be broken to the 'would be hirers' that their holiday is off. Quite a few disappointed clients no doubt. So we haven't yet got our new contract, that will have to wait on our return. (Which may be sooner than we thought. More of that later)

No point in staying so untied and headed for the facilities. Just about to water up when Lisa and Dave What a Lark came wandering by. Another couple we haven't seen in years! Just missed them on the Ashby and really didn't think we would meet, they had moored on Tixall Wide and had walked down to the junction. A stroke of luck that we arrived at the same time. Such a brief meeting and who knows when our paths will cross again.

Didn't take long to do the biz at the facilities and soon we reached the last lock of the day.

Hoo Mill Lock and a slight queue.

And more waiting to descend.

So now for why we are turning around. Our son Colin and daughter-in-law Iwona are due to move house but with no date set we felt sure the Caldon could be completed before we had to go and help. Well a phone call yesterday scuppered our plans. Looks like the moving date is for either the 23rd or 30th of September. To get back to Milton Keynes we need to wind sooner than later. But tomorrow plans had been made to meet up with Jim and Jenn again (Dire Straits) and have that promised BBQ we had been talking about. Our only option was to find a mooring before the winding hole to wait for their arrival. A 48-hour mooring was shown on Paul's Waterway Routes map, enough room for two boats so this will do nicely. And as a bonus...the fishing is excellent!

Then suddenly another boat we knew well coming past. Sue and Ken on Cleddua.  Another two bloggers we haven't seen for years! Ken brought Cleddua to a stop and it was lovely to spend a good 20 minutes or so catching up. Waving them off as another boat was seen coming in the distance, like Lisa and Dave, I doubt if we will see them again for quite a while.

And wildlife,