Day 80 - Little Hayward to Fradley Junction

Friday 21st August

11 miles, 2 locks



Crossing the Trent aqueduct at Rugeley 

Cruising to Fradley Junction today. Locks busy but only two and well apart. Saw a field of Canadian geese and was amazed to see a white egret in the midst of them. The only other time we have seen them was in Norfolk or flocks of them in Sri Lanka.

As if that wasn't enough excitement we then met a very excitable Rob the |Lock on Millie B 3, he was waving like a maniac - it took us a while to realise who he was. We were passing a moored boat at the time and the occupants of that were asking us about the boat and the Booths - it all happens at once on the cut.

Moored above the locks at Fradley able to sit out on the wide expanse of grass and listen to England getting skittled out in the final ashes test.

Wandered down to the Swan having already tried the CRT café for afternoon tea, apple pie and carrot cake. Had a few drinks. Paul asked me if |I recognised a man standing at the bar. I had no idea. It was only after he left that someone said he was Sam Ermolenko the Ameriacan world champion speedway rider now a presenter on sky sports. Paul was gutted that he hadn't spoken to him!