The Final Countdown: Day 11

A stunning morning first thing, with clear skies, sunshine, and not a breath of wind.  The Wide looked beautiful.  We set off at about 8.45, and when we got to the aqueduct over the Trent, Adrian jumped off to go up to the junction and take a bag of rubbish to the bin.  It meant he was able to signal to me from the junction bridge that there was a boat coming from the north.

Once they were past, I pulled out of the Staffs and Worcs and turned right to head south on the Trent and Mersey.

The boat in front obviously got to Haywood Lock before us, and as Adrian had walked down he filled the lock for the single-handed lady on board.  Once she was down it was our turn, and while we were dropping down a day boat arrived above the lock and then another boat behind them.  The boat ahead stopped before Colwich Lock, and as we approached a boat arrived to come up.  I still reckon this is one of the prettiest locks anywhere.

Below the lock, we met numerous boats coming the other way.  Our route took us back over the Trent.

On the outskirts of Rugeley, the houses are high on a hill, and some of the owners have done a lot to make their back gardens accessible.

The house with all the mannequins in the garden has had a Halloween makeover.

We moored up in the middle of Rugeley, just past the bridge by Tesco.  We went to Tesco so Adrian could switch mobile provider, in protest at O2 increasing their charges by more than they said they would (and consequently giving customers the option to cancel without penalty).  After lunch, we went back to Tesco for a decent size shop, and we also popped over to Morrison’s for the pharmacy.  This afternoon, it’s rained on and off, and there have been quite a few boats past.

6 miles, 2 locks.  (66 miles, 43 locks)

Repatriation: Day 4

We left at 8, straight into Brick Kiln lock, which a boat had not long come up.  The third lock of the day was Rodbaston Lock, which is right next to the M6.

As we got towards Penkridge we began meeting boats coming the other way.  This meant that for the next several locks, we could either go straight in, or just had to wait a few moments for someone to come up.  The traffic coming the other way also meant that care was needed at the many blind bridge holes.

Through Acton Trussell, several houses had scarecrows outside, one dressed as a nurse, another as a sinister Little Bo Peep.  It seems there’s some kind of scarecrow festival on.  Eventually we got to Tixall Lock, the last on the Staffs and Worcs.  It is the prettiest on this half of the canal.

After Tixall Lock is Tixall Wide, with the Gatehouse on the far side of the water.

Had we been on a normal trip we might well have moored here for the night, as it’s a lovely mooring.  But we are on a mission and it was barely 2pm so we kept going.  Before Haywood Junction, I got off to go up to the junction bridge to make sure the way was clear.  Adrian brought the boat past the boats at Anglo Welsh, then right onto the Trent and Mersey.

In coming through the junction bridge, we had completed the Four Counties Ring (with extensions) that we started on 13 March!  I walked down to Haywood Lock, and the moorings below we’re fairly busy.  At Colwich Lock, we joined our first queue of the day — albeit only one boat.  This is one of my favourite locks, because of the very attractive cottage alongside.

Once the boat had gone down, there was nothing to come up, so Adrian turned the lock.  Shortly afterwards a lady came up to help from a boat which had arrived below.  By the time we were leaving the lock there were three boats there — with another two close behind.

We had planned on stopping at the moorings opposite the pig farm (although there’s no evidence of any pigs any more) but they were very busy.  The next option was Brindley Bank, and there was a space there, but it seemed very noisy with the road and the railway nearby, so we carried on over the Trent and round the corner and moored on the edge of Rugeley.  It was almost 4pm, so a slightly shorter day today.

The outside of the boat is filthy, the result of having sat for three months, so I made a start by washing the roof.  Adrian walked up to the Tesco further along the canal for a top up shop.

17 miles, 13 locks.  (64 miles, 43 locks)