Heading north: Day 8

I had a boat test to do this morning just back at Kings Bromley Wharf, so we had a pretty relaxed start to the day.  Even though I had just a few minutes walk up the towpath and Andy the photographer had driven a couple of hours up the M40 and M42, we both arrived at the same time.  We were pretty efficient, and I was back at our boat and setting off at about 11.45.  We went through Handsacre and then past the Armitage Shanks factory.

There were toilets and basins being loaded onto Lorrie’s, ready for new bathrooms.  At Plum Pudding, where there’s a very narrow section, a boat was just starting to go through.  We assumed they had sent crew ahead to check the way was clear, so we followed them.  The cutting is only one boat wide, and used to be a tunnel, until the roof was taken off.

The boat ahead had passed our overnight mooring a long time before we set off, and he continued to go quite slowly until he moored up at Rugeley.  We also stopped a little further along the moorings, and made a visit to the very convenient Tesco, to stock up for the next few days.  With that done we continued north, crossing the Trent on an aqueduct just out of town.  The bird in flight was caught completely by accident.

The next section is quite pretty, sometimes in the open valley, sometimes in woods.  At Colwich Lock is one of my favourites because it’s so attractive.  As we arrived, a boat was just leaving which was handy.

In the peak season, the section up to Haywood Lock is full of boats, there weren’t many today, a we thought we’d take a chance on there being a mooring above the lock, near the junction.  As we came up the lock it looked pretty full, so we stopped straight away; but walking round the corner we found better spaces, so went and moved.

As we’d approached the lock, a boater coming the other way had told us that Hoo Mill Lock, the one after Haywood, had been due to re-open at 3pm but didn’t, and was now shut for five weeks.  This would have put our plans into further disarray.  But checking the stoppages, it seems there is a problem which means the lock is closed between 3pm and 9am, but passage is available during the day.  This was confirmed by other people moored at the junction.  We’ll find out for definite tomorrow.

10 miles, 2 locks.  (94 miles, 42 locks)

Northern Exposure: Day 6

The wind yesterday evening and last night was horrendous — very strong and very loud.  Not only was it whistling past the boat, we could also hear bits of twigs dropping on the roof.  None of it seemed to be in the forecast, either.

This morning all was calm — relatively, anyway.  As today’s forecast had winds of 40mph from lunchtime, we thought we’d better get under way sooner rather then later, so pulled away from our mooring at just after 7.30.  There’s pleasant countryside, then the village of Handsacre where more new houses are being built, and then Armitage, home of Armitage Shanks.  The canal passes right by the factory, and there were toilets and basins being loaded onto lorries.

A little further on is the former Armitage tunnel, which is only one boat width wide and no longer a tunnel after the roof was taken off because of subsidence.  The first section is almost a tunnel again, as a road has been built over the top.

As we approached Rugeley the sky up ahead looked very black.  Then we had a very unpleasant shower which was made up mostly of ice.  It chucked it down for a few minutes, and those of us who were outside in it found it quite painful, as the strong wind threw ice crystals in our faces.  Fortunately it didn’t last long, and the sun was soon out again.  We moored up in Rugeley and did a big shop at the canalside Tesco.  Due to the Coronavirus, there were empty shelves where loo rolls and pasta should have been.  Having set off again, we crossed the River Trent on an aqueduct; the river has clearly been a lot higher than it is today, but it still has a very fast flow on it.

We made another brief stop on the moorings opposite the pig farm when another hail shower blew through.  There was just enough time for tea and a hot cross bun before the sun came out again and we could carry on.

Colwich Lock is one of the prettiest anywhere to my mind, but I’m not sure the lock cottage always looked quite so neat.

Between Colwich and Haywood Locks, there are good views of Shugborough Hall.

There were only a couple of boats moored along this section, which in the season is nose to tail.  We decided to go up Haywood Lock and take a chance on there being space above.  There was — loads of it — and we chose a space just a boat back from the junction, where the Staffs and Worcs Canal goes off.

It was almost 1pm, so we went across to the farm shop cafe and had a very nice lunch.  We had a look round the farm shop, which is very upmarket, but still had organic pasta and recycled paper toilet rolls.  This afternoon, we decided to stay put.  The wind really has got up and we are being buffeted about quite a bit.  However, there has also been some good sunshine on the solar panel, and we’ve both been doing bits of work.

10 miles, 2 locks.  (95 miles, 42 locks)

Big Trip - Day 6

The first of September, and there was a distinct autumnal chill in the air this morning.  We we're awake early so got up and decided to get going, setting off at 7.40.  There were a surprising number of boats on the move at that time.

It seemed to take a very long time to get to Fradley, but when we did a boat was coming through the swing bridge, and left it for us.  We went through, I closed it, and Adrian made the left turn onto the Trent and Mersey.

We followed a boat up the two locks.  Shade House Lock has a very small bridge at the tail.

At Wood End Lock, we followed the same boat up.  They had a job to get the bottom gates to stay closed, and we had the same problem.  In the end, I held them from the boat, while Adrian opened a top paddle as soon as possible.

At Armitage, the Armitage Shanks factory appeared to be in full production, and even though everyone does it, I also took the bog standard photo of all the loos packed up ready to go out.

At the narrows, I went ahead to check there was nothing coming, and then phoned Adrian to say it was clear.

We continued through Rugeley, which has the power station cooling towers looming over it, and then across the Trent Aqueduct.  It was pretty breezy by now, and a bit chilly.  Last lock of the day was Colwich Lock, which always seems to have a queue.  A boat was just going in befo us, and there were two waiting at the top.

We stopped for the night at Great Haywood, just below the lock, with views across the Trent towards Shugborough Hall.  There's a cricket match going on in the grounds.  The Internet signal is terrible, so I'll post small photos now, and replace them with bigger ones when we're in a better signal area.

20 miles, 4 locks.  (92 miles, 41 locks)