Trent and Mersey Canal:Little Haywood

It took about 1 1/2 hours from the overnight moorings to Fradley Junction.  I stopped to open the swing bridge and by the time I had returned to the boat a volunteer had appeared with CB radio to close the bridge for me and, no doubt alert the volunteer on the middle lock of my approach and intentions.   So that lock was ready for me and the volunteer kindly did the works for me.  I was informed that there was a boat coming down ahead and when that was clear I could go in to the second lock.   This too was a free ride.  Thank you guys.  No such luck at the next lock, Woodend.   However this is an easy one and again a boat was coming down, so the gates would be open for me.  That was cleared PDQ and I was on my way.   At Kings Bromley marina a boat appeared ahead, going really slowly.  It was inevitable I would catch up.  The risk is, in this situation, of getting too close perhaps with the secret wish it would speed up a bit.  The problem is that if the boat comes to a sudden stop things can get a little ‘complicated’.  They did.  Two boats in a bridge hole ahead.  I reversed a way back and let things settle down and found that this boat ahead had moored up.   I have a theory, that if one goes really slowly there is much more time for untoward things to happen, but of course one has to go very cautiously when you cannot see clearly where you are going or what might come at you from the opposite direction.  The worst bridge for this is 62.  Anyway I got to Rugeley at 12:00 midday, in good time for the promised shopping experience.   There is plenty of useable mooring now which is good, and it was busy.  I decided to continue, feeling full of energy in the warm sunshine (I know that I am ultimately solar powered) and carried on to Little Haywood.  The locks around Great Haywood can be busy, so hopefully I will be there early tomorrow and miss out the queues.  Still ahead of plan.  It would be good to get Harecastle Tunnel out of the way on Monday, remembering that I have to arrive at the bottom of Bosley Locks on Tuesday afternoon.