The Final Countdown: Day 12

The rain was hammering on the roof when we went to bed last night, but by this morning it was dry and a bit more mild than of late.  We were under way earlier than normal, at 8am.  Just along from our mooring was an impressive railway bridge, that leads to Rugeley Town station.

By the time we got to the Ash Tree Boat Club we had caught up with a boat in front, but he pulled over onto the water point.  He didn’t actually stop though, as he came out behind us.  I suspect he was single handed and preferred to be behind us at Armitage Tunnel.  Adrian got off there and walked ahead, in case anything was coming the other way, as it’s narrow and you can’t see the other end.  Most of it is no longer a tunnel, just a narrow with a big road over it.

As we approached the Armitage Shanks works there was a huge crash, as substandard pieces were disposed of.

We plodded through Handsacre, and past King’s Bromley.  Then it was through the wooded section to Wood End Lock, where a boat was just coming out and left the gate for us.  A boat was also just coming out of Shade House Lock, the top one at Fradley, and a lock keeper was also waiting, so we were soon on our way down.

Middle Lock also had its top gate open for us, and with a boat waiting below I didn’t have to do any work at all.  The lockie also radioed ahead, so Junction lock was ready.  As I walked down, a woman started speaking to me, and then we realised we knew each other.  It was Cheryl from Firecrest, which we’d seen moored at the top.  Even a brief catch up is a good one, and we were soon on our way.

The fourth lock also had a volunteer so he’d got that ready, but I had to walk down and turn the bottom lock for us as a boat had just gone down.  All five locks had taken only about 35 minutes.  When we got to Common Lock, a boat was about to come up, and it turned out to be Kat on Bargus.  We like to support the fuel boats, so we bought a couple more bags of coal and some logs, which were left on the lock side until we went in.

Bagnall Lock was the last of the day, and then we turned at the winding hole and moored up.  It’s all on a bend here so we picked the straightest bit although the bow is still well out.  We hadn’t been moored up long when it started to rain a bit, including a very sharp shower.  We didn’t actually need to come to Alrewas, but we’re meeting the Tidy’s for a meal out this evening, and they suggested The Crown here.

9 miles, 8 locks.  (75 miles, 51 locks)

North again: Day 16

We had a very quiet evening and night at Shobnall Fields, even though the park is very well used by the locals.  This morning we set off just before 9, aiming to be at Shobnall Marina when they opened at 9, so we could get diesel at the good price of 81p per litre.  You have to reverse into the arm which is 90 degrees to the canal.

When we pulled out, both our neighbours from Shobnall Fields were waiting to take our place.  At Braunston Lock, the lock was empty and a boat arrived above so we could leave the gate open for them.  By Braunston Water Park we passes Firecrest, resplendent in new paintwork, and had a quick chat with Cheryl.  At Tattenhill Lock, the bottom gates were open ready for us for some reason.

Again a boat arrived at the top so no closing was needed.  The brambles and cow parsley along the canal edge are really abundant at the moment.

Bridge 36 is the first of the narrow ones (that aren’t associated with a lock).  It looks impossibly small as you approach.

Barton Lock needed turning but again a boat arrived above.  There was a box alongside the lock from which we bought eggs and some rhubarb.  Barton Turns Marina had all their swans in a row.

The next section is along the A38 again, and is very noisy.  Wychnor Lock had some water in it, but again as we went up a boat arrived.  Then we were on the section leading to the Trent, which Wychnor Church up on the hill, and the bridge where you have to go through the smaller section.

Then you’re on the Trent proper for a short section, with the weir when the river goes over, and a long walkway over the river’s entry.

We’d just passed a boat so knew Alrewas lock was likely to be with us, and it was; but for the first time no boat arrived to go down.  We wanted to moor soon after, and it turned out the first space beyond the lock landing was free, so we took it.  We’d checked the bus times to the National Memorial Arboretum, so we quickly locked up the boat and walked into the village.  Adrian went to the pharmacy for some stronger hay fever medication, and then we caught the bus to the NMA.  We had lunch in the cafe when we got there, then began exploring.  We haven’t been since November 2010 so there are now more memorials, and of course all the trees have grown.

We spent a good couple of hours looking round, then had tea in the cafe, then looked around some more, and then caught the 1615 bus back to the village.  It’s been really sunny and warm all day, but things might change tomorrow.

7 miles, 5 locks.  (108 miles, 68 locks)