We set off a little later than intended for the very pleasant run up to Great Haywood junction, alongside the River Trent and passing by the grounds of Shugborough Hall. Our first lock of the day was Haywood Lock and we had some difficulty pulling onto the mooring bollards as there was a fisherman ensconced there who was determined not to move as I tried hard not to crush his keep net. If there had been another boat waiting I would have had no choice. Have these people got no sense?

Exchanged pleasantries with another boat up bright and early as they descended through the lock and we then went on to Great Haywood Junction and the Staffs & Worcs. We had been down here before on a hire boat as part of the Four Counties Ring and were not very impressed by the canal which seemed shallow, slow going and of little interest but today was a beautiful day and it might look different. In a short time we were passing through Tixall Wide, a seriously beautiful spot were we spent a night last time and awoke in the frosty morning to a glorious sight of mist and frost (see gallery for photo) and it looked just as good today. Tixall Lock lay just around the corner and looked splendid in the sunshine. Maybe the Staffs & Worcs was going to show us another face this trip?

Soon past the long line of moored craft at Milford where we met with someone who Sandy used to work with who had sold up to live on the boat. A very nice boat with an engine room but we were well past before we realised who it belonged to so we just shouted greetings and went on our way. We'll try and get back by road as Milford isn't that far from us. Milford Bridge and Baswich Bridge came and went and we had an audience at Meadow Bridge. Some less sensible folk had obviously been at work here another time for we nearly fouled the prop on rubbish that had obviously been thrown from the bridge, but luck was with us this time. Some splendid locks awaited us - Shutt Hill Lock, Park Gate Lock and Longford Lock - before we reached Penkridge where we intended to stop for lunch. These locks are in pleasant surroundings despite the M6 being fairly close by but they do need some respect as they fill very quickly and can draw the boat forward with some force if you are not careful.

At lunchtime we popped up through Penkridge Lock and took on some water just above before finding the last mooring spot just up the towpath. A stroll back to The Boat where Sandy and Pauline had walked ahead to order the drinks and we sat outside in the sunshine watching the boats go by. The only thing that spoiled things is that Sean fancied a baguette (just cheese, nothing fancy) which took over half an hour to arrive. It was the Jubilee weekend but even so, such lack of service doesn't encourage a return visit. Rested and refreshed we returned to the boat an hour later to begin our assault on five locks in succession including Filance Lock, Boggs Lock and Brick Kiln Lock before arriving at Gailey.

Gailey is one of the most characterful places on the canals with the splendid round toll house now converted into an interesting and useful canal shop and it is hard to believe as you work the lock that the A5 runs past no more than a couple of feet away from you. There is a small, but busy, Viking Afloat yard here and BW facilities and it makes a super stop for lunch. Last time we were here we stopped for onboard lunch with a bottle of wine on the foredeck and had a lovely time including a chat with a lorry driver who always stops his truck in the layby for a stroll up the canal to alleviate the stress of driving. Sensible man! Today, we did not stop and cruised slowly past the moored craft before tackling the less interesting stretch past the chemical works (lovely!) and on down to Autherley Junction were the Shropshire Union begins on the right. This was as far as we had been before so all ahead was new which added to the interest.

By now it was six o'clock and we were looking forward to dinner. Just 10 minutes took us to Aldersley Junction were the Wolverhampton 21 takes off up to the BCN amid beautiful leafy surroundings. The usual Black Country Ring goes this way but we had extended the route somewhat so we carried on down the Staffs & Worcs through Compton Lock to just under the bridge at Compton where we moored for the night. There are plenty of facilities here and we chose to eat at the Milestone Pub (maybe the Oddfellows Arms?) which was okay but a tad expensive for a chain pub.

The Staffs & Worcs had outshone itself today and appeared totally different to our previous trip - that's what the sunshine does! Past Aldersley Junction the canal had taken on a totally different character with much more greenery and some unusual lock architecture, particularly the strange lollipop beams on Compton Lock. This boded well for tomorrow, especially as there were the delights of our first staircase locks to come!