Anson, Handsome and Haddock.

 Whilst we were in Great Haywood, and with Amy not having visited Shugborough Hall, we decided to do that. The gate by Essex Bridge wasn't open so we had to walk up the path to Park Home Farm. Mind you this gave us the opportunity to visit the walled gardens that we hadn't previously.

The main house didn't open until 11 am so we had a stroll round the formal gardens. As the front of the house is sheathed in scaffolding so that the windows can be checked/repaired/replaced and the exterior will be painted too. This garden was set out bu the apprentice gardener in place at present. 

Down by the River Sow the house is pretty impressive from the rear. The money for all this was made from capturing a Spanish Galleon near the Philippines by George Anson when he was on his circumnavigation of the earth. The second Englishman to do so. 

We visited the Lichfield apartments, the main house and the servants areas, as well as the cafe and the shop so we had a full visit. The gate to Essex bridge was open at 1030 so we were able to take a short route back to the boat.

We pushed off just after 1 pm as a boat left the lock and were soon on our way with excited help from an Italian family. Colwich lock and cottage certainly look like a jigsaw picture when the sun is shining. The sun WAS shining as there were no boat waiting up or down today. There is some merit in starting late!

There aren't many photos in this blog as we have done this stretch so many times I have run out of new things to see and say. However as we passed the garden after the Aqueduct I did notice something new. I was just able to take a picture of the 'cave' mid picture. It had steps up to it from the water level but was too small to be a boathouse. It looked like it was made from WWII type concrete etc so I expect that it is an air raid shelter. Just seems strange that it had access to the water.

I also saw this grumpy looking wood pigeon. Either that or he had eaten his fill from the various garden bird feeders.

Armitage Tunnel/Bridge was clear and the Plum Pudding pub had three or four boats tied up alongside. I can only ever remember one being there previously. Trade must be good.

We stopped at the wide tow path before the main road bridge at Handsacre, just in case there was no room further on, as we were going to have a chippie tea tonight. Meanwhile as this was the last chance of a port side towpath I finished the polishing of the port side with two coats. It certainly looks much better for doing. Helen came back with a long face as although the chip shop was open they had no haddock. It seems they can't get hold of it. Haddock is the first preference for fried fish in our part of the world, and we should know as Hull trawlers brought so much of the white fish to the UK at one time. The trawlermen from Hull would never eat cod as they said it was always riddled with worms, unlike haddock.