Another sunny day. We had scrambled eggs for breakfast as it was Sunday, and set off about 9.15. Just around the corner was Huddlesford Junction, where a boat club use the remains of the Lichfield Canal as moorings.
Parts of this canal are very pretty, with nice little bridges and reeds.
Parts of it, at Streethay, run right next to the A38, which isn’t so nice. Before long we were entering Fradley, where lots of new houses are still going up on the old airfield. We found a space before the junction and tied up. We went for a walk down the locks, dropping off our rubbish on the way. There were loads of people out and about enjoying the weather and the canal. The junction was looking particularly pretty, and I think the Swan pub has had a repaint.
We walked up the locks too, and then went for an early lunch at the Canalside cafe at the holiday park, where the toasted sandwiches were pretty good. Returning to the boat, we set off again, with Adrian walking back to swing the little bridges out of the way and walk up to the locks.
There was a volunteer at Middle Lock, so he worked that one and sent Adrian up to get Shadehouse Lock ready. Shadehouse is one that has a bridge over the tail.
A little further on is Wood End Lock, and as we arrived someone on the towpath said hello to me. It was a boat builder I’m visiting tomorrow for a magazine boat test; I hadn’t recognised him at first, out of context. At the lock, the new bottom gates both swung open, but some people watching came and held them closed. We moored just along from Kings Bromley Marina, because of my boat test tomorrow morning. It was only about 2pm, but we have a former colleague of Adrian’s visiting as he lives nearby, and Helen and Andy are coming round this evening.
7 miles, 3 locks. (84 miles, 40 locks)
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