Stock, Lock and Footpaths.

 We had a very late start as the girls had seen it was market day in Penkridge and they were going to go. It was a 'proper' market so we all bought something in the end. For me it was a new lump hammer, but they made do with clothes and stuff like that! By the time we had got back to the oat and had a cuppa it was time to go and conveniently a boat had just come up Filance Lock

If the wharf had been free we would have stopped to top up with water, after hair washing day, but there were two waiting so we headed onwards.

The girls were doing the honours today, and as luck would have it, and the opposite of yesterday, the locks were all our way and at most locks there was a boat coming up too.

At Park Gate Lock we swapped and I helped Amy at the locks. We had passed Georgie's trip boat with a couple of lads driving loaded up with cream teas and a retirement home on the move. They really seemed to be having a great time.

As we passed Acton Trussell the display of meadow sweet and montbretia was quite something to behold. My photos never do such things justice. There was a big event going on at the big hotel and most were in black so we didn't wave, that is until loads enjoying their snap at the tables outside, waved at us!

After my success yesterday with a heron taking off pick. I thought I may be on a roll, but this one brazened it out. Still, quite a nice picture.

At Deptmore Lock we just missed a boat leaving the lock, and any later we would have missed the lock as another boat was arriving below. We had a good road today, for sure.

At Radford Bridge moorings we spotted the boat's name in sufficient time to get No1. daughter lined up for the snap. Has anybody seen a boat called Tony? There are loads of Helens.

It seems that steady, but slow, progress is still being made with the lock down to the River Sow to link with Stafford. I wonder if the river or moorings at the other end need dredging too.

As we passed Milford I took a picture to remind me to do a little research and this yellow and purple train came passed. It seems that it a West Midlands train livery, but we also saw a grey and green one go past. I think that this colour is for their London Northwestern Service to Crewe, via Stafford.

The view down the Sow valley from the aqueduct is always pleasing on the eye whatever the season.

The contractors are working on the tow path just by Tixall Lock and the girls dropped me before all the plant. The tow path are having demolition rubble placed over a leveled route then some sort of sand place on top. The notice by the lock says it will be finished between the Junction and Milford turn over bridge by 14th July. That is not going to happen.

Amy brings 'Holderness' out of the lock to pick us up and have the pleasure of steering through Tixall Wide.

Always impressive the gatehouse of Ingestre Hall is iconic. I quite fancy spending a weekend there, just to watch the boats on the Wide.

When we approached Haywood Junction Helen saw a little cruiser coming to turn into the Staffs. and Worcester. He lets us come out to turn to st'bd and head towards Fradley but as there was nothing on the services we reversed up and topped up with water and dumped the rubbish. We had intended to drop down Haywood lock and moor up by the Trent, but as a sunny spot before the lock landing was free we stopped and took advantage.