Drought?

We've been told that there is a drought in some parts of the UK at the moment, but we find that hard to believe!!! This was the view from our window yesterday morning of the signpost at Great Haywood Junction where we had moored up overnight.

Great Haywood very close to Shugborough Hall in Staffordshire.

Just before we arrived at Great Haywood we sailed across what felt to be a lake. Apparently when the Staffordshire and Worcestershire was built a very rich local landowner insisted the the canal should not spoil the view from his property and preferred it to look like a lake in his grounds. So Tixall Wide was formed. The house no longer exists but the granduer of it can be judged by the gatehouse, the only evidence left standing.

Gatehouse at Tixall Wide.

The previous day was a day that we didn't cruise too far due to this drought we are all experiencing. We had had to spend two nights in Penkridge due to bad weather, but Penkridge has a big market on a Wednesday and Anita and John were due to attend to sell liquorice from their mobile stall. We thought we could take the opportunity to see them again but on Wednesday morning Anita contacted us to tell us that it was too wet and windy. They had turned up early to find very few other traders and no punters. So to save their stock from the elements they shut up shop and went home. 

Later that day we had another guest. Hilary, who I had worked with on Dalzial & Pascoe a few years ago, has lived in the village all her life and now owns a little shop called 'Sew Many Things', just visible in the right of the photo below. Hilary is married to Grip Allan Hughes, who I have worked with and have known for many years. He is currently working in Scotland and wasn't able to join us.

Hilary brought us cakes and wine and we spent all afternoon chatting.

Sue and I ventured out the next morning to take a look at Penkridge and top up our provisions with local produce...and bumped into Hilary again.

Stocks outside the very small jail in Penkridge.

The weather was better so we set off but soon it got worse again. We pulled up by Tixall Lock for the night only to be awoken by the deep throb of the engine of an old work boat passing us at 7:00am. One of the many joys of canal boating.

Two days later we are again stationary due to the bad 'drought'. We pulled in last night behind two other boats and none of us are going anywhere today. It is too windy and extremely wet. Sue is cooking a Sunday Roast and the bottled Tempranillo (Rioja) is slipping down a treat.....must go now!