Day 10 – Stone

Despite the persistent drizzle we set off at 0825 this morning, past Great Haywood and the Shugborough estate, past Salt, Weston and Aston Marina . . some five locks and some 5 hours chugging until we reach Stone.

This is Essex bridge. Enabling the Anston family to take their carriage directly to church.

It was not the best of weathers  … 

Past Haywood junction and the entrance to the Staffs & Worcs canal …

Some wonderful bridges . . on this wide and serene Trent & Mersey canal

The sun started to shine and Viv had a go at a lock – just 7 wide and our boat is 6 feet 10 inches – so not much to spare . .

And lo, in without a bump! Bravo!

Another lock and Viv’s “man” is on hand to operate the lock (Aston lock)

And then it was Stone. We moored up as soon as we could – a method that works, as sometimes you keep going and  find there are no further moorings!

We wandered around the town – successfully collecting our mail from the post office – it worked! And ended up in the CAMRA local pub of the year, the Swan

Loadsa real ales to sample – we only had halves but promised to go back later tonight – I took an albeit wobbly photo of this unusual beer

Then we wobbled back to the boat, past an unusual mosaic (note the electrical insulators on the feet)

With several weeks in hand we may spend a few days here and no, not just residing in the Swan!

Day 9 – Rest Day-Cannock Chase

We planned to have a day off and since we’re so close to Cannock Chase (bridge 72 leads to it and the Seven Springs), we ought to take our boggle off for a walk and maybe a splash about in these springs. Looks like the worry over selling our house may be coming to an end as a date for exchange & completion are imminent ! Hurrah. Lots more emails & phone calls this morning. Plus a quick call to Stone post Office (which is now inside a Co-op, the original one is a Wetherspoons!) to check if they do a post restante service – so my parents can forward our vital postal vote in the EU referendum. And they do. So off to Stone in the next few days.  Meanwhile we strolled off for an hour or two to Cannock Chase

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The Chase is vast and you could so easily just keep walking for hours . . 

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The dog found the stream and was very happy.  The rain sort of held off. Still Viv’s new Rohan jacket was good for the job. It’s her birthday on the 17th!!

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What can we get her????

Day 8: Fradley to Little Haywood

Despite the forecast for a dry day – it poured. We filled up with water then watched to our dismay as two working boats, one towing the other chugged past. It then took over an hour to get thru the two locks as the second, unpowered boat had to be physically pulled thru. Oh well what else does one do on a wet Sunday morning? We then sailed on through gorgeous wooded areas and on past the King’s Bromley marina … waterproofs on!

So many boats and so many odd names, just seen a susie slapcabbage or sommit. Lots of “This is it” and “That’ll do”. Might be me getting older but what happened to the decent old names … and what is this one?

We went on to Armitage – yes, they of the Armitage Shanks – still going

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And the Plum Pudding pub – looked good and even a board welcoming boaters and a second board saying real ale @ £2.60 a pint. Must call in on the way back.

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Then round into the Armitage tunnel or what is left of it – only room for single file and a bit of a slalom for narrowboats

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Concentration required … .

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The skyline hoves Rugeley into view

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Very handy for the shops and we also passed the two working boats – I think they were bound for the river Weaver as the lead boat was made down there.

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And an aqueduct over the river Trent

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Lots of geese and their goslings . . 

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What to do if you’ve washed your beloved teddy bear and want to dry him off?

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yes, stick on top of the hot engine (it was off)

And here’s the final mooring spot – down from bridge 72 – sandwiched between two railway lines …never mind – it is handy for Cannock Chase tomorrow

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Day 7 – Staying put at Fradley

Strolling up from our boat, I thought I spotted an unusual narrowboat – a steam powered one, called Tixall.

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I even took a short video as they set off – mainly for the sounds!

A morning spent on chores … checking the gear box oil, checking the agglomerator (yes, we have one of those), weed hatch etc. Trying to force the mattress topper (now no longer reqd as it’s tooo hot) into a vacuum bag – such fun! Then a visit to the CRT visitor centre:

Nice, shiny, new and very clean … tried the showers (all free) – great. Lots of activity here with two cafes and the famous White Swan (or Mucky Duck) pub:

We took Toby for a decent walk along the Trent & Mersey canal … lovely wide stretch edged in magnificent rhododendrons . .

And more of those “flags”

Viv’s trying hard with her flower pix! We also saw yet another Adagio! And it was an Aqualine boat.

Quite nice – note the new trend to put the “tunnel flashes” on the stern rail

Tomorrow we head off, leaving the Coventry canal, turning left and heading up the Trent & Mersey. Aiming for bridge 72 and access to Cannock Chase and Shugborough Hall – maybe spend a few days there. Only 66 miles to the end of this section:

Day 6 – Coventry Canal End Of

Is it really only Day Six? Seems like we’ve been away and on the water road for years. Wasn’t a great place to moor (Glascote, near bridge 73) – lots of footfall. In fact we had the lot: joggers, walkers, prams, cyclists and even two motorcyclists. Plus it was very hot, again. Still up & atom, away by 0900 and thru the two locks:

Viv then took the helm as we passed over an aqueduct with the river Tame beneath:

And on past the Fazeley junction – turn left and head down the Birmingham & Fazeley canal to Brum. We continue along the scenic Coventry right to the end

The CRT offices, facilities and some long term moorings

Quite a good day for flower photos … flags or marsh irises

and rhododendrons

Through charming villages and even alongside a firing range – don’t often see signs like these

And we passed a few bridges with little lockable doors? Not sure of their use, I’m guessing they would hold the wooden sleepers to close the canal?

Most of the canal was exceptionally scenic  … even when it started to rain

This is the entrance to the Wyrley & Essington canal or Lichfield … under restoration … will make a connection to Birmingham,

And finally, in the rain, we arrive at the junction. Plans are to stay here for a few days.

Day 5 – Tamworth & Scorchio!

With a very heavy downpour last night and the forecast for sun & part cloud we set off lazily at 0930. Chugging slowly through the scenic countryside.

Past some lovely boats – I gave this one a Silver-Gilt.

We still have the scaredy dog with us but he is becoming more brave and even sits on the stern now – comfort toy in his mouth, of course.

A nice view of how lovely this stretch is – there’s the boat Victor behind us which we kept on passing.

Under the M42 and more graffiti 

Lots of daisies and other flowers …

And another Adagio, the owner said there are 33 out on the cut!

And on into Tamworth, mooring up at bridge 73. Co-op nearby plus the best access to the town. A short road walk and then into parkland and at last, the river for a cooling off – spot the happy dog!

The town looked great and the park was wonderful – well done council gardeners for a great display.

This is Tamworth castle. Formerly the capital of Mercia. We were in search of liquid refreshment … a no, no at Whetherspoons, owing to their strict no dogs policy (must write to them and complain!!), so back to the market centre and the wonderfully, old-fashioned Market Vaults … a traditional boozer with rooms that go back and back and then a garden  . .

The superb landlord, John was very ready to let us have a taster of everything (doesn’t he know that’s not wise??). They had about 8 beers on and a whole cooler of ciders. Viv had Hafod Sunrise and a Dukeries IPA. I had Oakham Akhenaten and then Jaipur. We also had lunch there – brilliant.

They had a barrel of cider into which they poured all the ends of the plastic polypins – at £2.90 a pint I had to try some – not bad! With the temp rising, we headed back to the boat – giving Toby another swim or two. Inside the boat it reached 28 degrees. I hope it just cools down …

Day 4 – Coventry Canal 8th June

Another 9-ish start to the day. This is where we leave our comfort zone of previously travelled canals and head off into the unknown. I had visions of the Coventry Canal being a bit industrial, housing estates … but we were pleasantly surprised – lots of twists and turns and lovely, rural scenery.

And some amazing properties

We went past the entrance to the Ashby Canal at Marston junction – our last trip out.

On past Nuneaton and the old British Waterways yard at Hartshill

And finally to the Atherstone flight of eleven locks – delightfully manned by CRT volunteers. The board said “Sunny & Muggy” – I asked which of them was Muggy?

John helped us through the top lock and stayed with us, working us through the first 5 locks – thanks John!

We then stopped for a re-vittling, yes only 3 days out and more supplies needed! Then on for the last 6 locks, hot & tiring work. Toby had been very good, despite his loathing of the boat that bumps.  He’s always on edge and can’t wait to jump off. He was very tired but I’d promised him a swim and one reason for getting to the end of the locks was that the river Anker comes close by – so a good cooling off for Toby! We also had a tremendous downpour.

Adagio at Atherstone bottom lock.

Day 3 – More heat & cider

A shorter day today – from All Oaks Wood to Hawkesbury Junction. It was very hot and once we’d got to the junction, we decided to stay put – have apint in the excellent Greyhound and rest in the afternoon.

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A scenic drive thru the All Oaks Wood. An then under the manic M6

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A strange world tis the world of canals, no one knows you’re there.

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Ah, pylon city – must be approaching Coventry

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Viv operates the tiny drop at the stop lock

Our final stop – just up from the water and surprisingly quiet.

I discovered that the Greyhound has a polypin of proper cider round the back, you have to ask for this – today they had Wild Dog cider by Lilley’s at 7.5%, nice.

Here’s the junction, with the Greyhound pub in the distance.  We went back for supper too!

Day Two – heatwave

0925 start again – not much planned except Viv wants to go to Idiot’s Field, sorry Elliot’s Field, in Rugby to get to an M&S, other than that we’re off on what turned out to be the hottest of day of the year so far!! Scorchio!

This was the inside temperature.

But it was a lovely day. Bit of a queue at the Hilmorten locks but then a chance to chat with the moorers. One couple from Denmark, hiring a boat for three months and the other returning their son’s reconditioned CRT work boat.

All serene at the Hilmorten Locks

And some cute young ones, probably tasty too …

Some lovely scenery, lots & lots of boaters and very, very hot!  Finally moored at the perfect site at All Oaks Wood (see blog passim) again.

The Summer Cruise – Day One

Yes, it’s Liverpool or Bust! Off we go with no real agenda or itinerary – just a date – to be at a certain bridge on the 7th July! Until then, it’s go as we please. Day One is Yelvertoft to Braunston. We had planned to get thru Braunston and moor at some nice Armco moorings just beyond the town – somewhere quiet. However our 0925 departure was a tad tardy, for when we reached the Watford filght of locks – we were in a queue & had to wait nigh on 2 hours before we even started the flight down. Viv was at the helm & Steve did all the hard work of operating the locks. We set off in fog . . couldn’t even see the top of the wind turbine

But the sun soon came out and it really did heat up, Summer at last?

Look our boat is sooooooo big it doesn’t fit in the frame . .

Viv’s at the helm – slightly apprehensive but very competent

A view looking up the flight of staircase locks

A nasty turn here but Viv did this better than me!

Finally, after a long day but a very pleasant one, we passed on thru Braunston and reached the secluded mooring.