Great Haywood is the junction with the Staffordshire and Worcestershire Canal.  It is the 'Grand Cross' of man made waterways linking the four great English estuaries: Humber, Thames, Severn and Mersey. As significant to transport in the 18th century as any motorway interchange today.

Photos today have got a little random as we are now on our well cruised way home. At first sight it looked like this boat was across the canal and there was work going on. It turned out to be a optical illusion.

Bit of canal side artwork going on here.

Like this boat name.

We met plenty of boats coming down today making it a easy locking day but time consuming.

Who needs ornamental swans in their garden when the real thing is close to hand.

Bridge 82 at Sandon built of brick and stone for the benefit of

Sandons 18th century gentry.

The West Coast line is still with us and having a touch of maintenance.

A busy Aston Lock....

marking the half way point between Shardlow and Preston Brook.

Moored outside Stone

The soft ground warranting two pin mooring!!!!

9 miles  4 locks  4 hrs 40mins