Day 58 having arrived back at the marina the previous evening with my cousin Karen and her family (husband Steve, and daughters Hannah and Lily) D and Steve took their hire car to King’s Bromley marina and took the hire car we had back so a late start. Whilst they were away J and K, H and L went to nearest lock to gongoozle. Got a slightly snotty comment from a single hander (oh you’re one of those boaters are you?) we helped out when I mentioned the boat was at the marina; first time this has happened, I’m sure some people think it but I’ve never had anyone say it to us before. Set off through Stoke locks following a fuel boat. We caught this later and it was going really slowly. Rooky crew did well with the youngest (Lily at 8) closing top gates (at least a tonne)on her own! By second set of locks at Meaford we felt they could be trusted on their own which sped us up. Karen had a short try at steering. Moored at Stone and had a really good meal in an Italian restaurant.

Day 59 before setting off from Stone we noticed a moorhen’s nest on the back of a boat opposite.

Good progress through the locks at Stone but hit a queue at Aston lock, which got longer as the boat in the lock before us, coming in the opposite direction, came up with a mother with all her ducklings. Mother abandoned them about half way up but came back to quack at them from the side. Spent some time trying to persuade the youngsters to get out of the lock. Steve had a go at steering and seemed to enjoy it, even when we had a bit of a tricky approach to a lock mooring. Came up behind the slow fuel boat again so had an early lunch stop. Moved on to Great Hayward for more food shopping at farm shop and mooring for McBains to visit Shugborough. Lily saw a kingfisher.

Day 60 great views of Shugborough as we moved off, canal very busy with nine boats passing us before we set off at 9am. Saw a mole swimming in the canal. Steve wanted to take the boat into a lock, as there was only one today it had to be Colwich lock. Under instruction from J he did a really good job and continued to steer for a while under J instruction (not really needed most of the time). Hannah and Lily also had a little go. Steve had another go later under D instructions and the girls thanked them later for the tree trimming opportunities. Arrived at marina around 1300 after nearly missing the entrance. Offloaded the McBains who seemed to have had a good time and started on various jobs.