It might not have been beautiful weather, but it certainly made it’s presence felt! Storm Dudley and Storm Eunice sent some lovely waves across the lake that we were moored on, lapping against the gunnels and bouncing the boat around.
Tixall Wide is near to Great Hayward and Shrugborough Hall. It is a lovely wide open stretch of water that has an amazing array of wild life. Despite the speed of the wind, life carried on as normal in the reed bed opposite the boat, coots and kingfishers, Canada and Grayling geese and a daily visit from a pair of very cheeky swans.
So we spent the day catching up with the laundry, dancing with the twin tub washing machine and
filling the boat with wet washing. The rain finally stopped so we had an evening stroll up to Tixall Lock on the Staffordshire and Worcester Canal. The adjacent fields were partially flooded and the tow path was a sodden mess of mud and puddles. Along
the edge of the canal we spotted patches of lighter coloured, repacked mud; repairs to the banking after damage caused by moles. We found a new leak and sent a report to CRT (Canal River Trust) and then had a go at puddling the muddy bank ourselves to stop the flow, with some success. On the way back to the boat we were treated to a sunset and the sight of the local Barn Owl going on his evening hunt across the fields.