Monday 27^th March

Audlem to Burland

We woke to a very cold morning, but later on the sun came out and most of the day was relatively warm.

The first locks we had to do today were the remaining four of the Audlem flight. 

Audlem Landmarks - The Shroppie Fly and Audlem Mill

Then after about an hour’s cruising we arrived at the two Hack Green locks. There were five or six boats waiting to come up the locks, but only us and a boat behind us needing to go down them. Apparently a lot of boats had left Nantwich at around the same time, which caused a hold-up at the first locks they came to. However, we were not held up and on we went towards Nantwich.

We stopped for lunch just before Hurleston Junction which is where the Llangollen Canal meets the Shropshire Union. Turning on to the Llangollen Canal, we were met immediately with the four Hurleston Locks, the last ones for today.

Looking back down Hurleston Locks

We took on water above the locks and then found a very pleasant mooring a little further on.

Today’s miles and locks – 9.50 miles    10 locks      

Total miles and locks – 109.00 miles 64 locks

Note: Tomorrow we will leave Chyandour in a marina and go home for nearly three weeks. The blog will resume when we return.

 Friday 24^th March                                                 

High Offley to Market Drayton

We set out at our usual time and passed through several Shroppie cuttings and embankments before arriving at Tyrley Locks. 

Woodseaves Cutting

Tyrley Top Lock

This is a flight of 5 locks which were quickly done as a boat was just coming out of the top lock so we could go straight in and another oncoming boat had seen us coming and had helpfully left top gates open on the next two locks. We moored up opposite the Halfords’ house at Talbot Wharf, had lunch and then went to explore Market Drayton.

In the evening we joined John and Jan, and Cath and John Forshaw for a meal before retiring back to our boat for the night.

Today’s miles and locks – 8.75 miles    5 locks      

Total miles and locks – 93.50 miles     38 locks

 

Saturday 25^th March

Still at Market Drayton. Steve attended a BCF committee meeting during the day. I walked around the town with Mary Litchfield before doing some shopping and then going back to the boat.

In the evening, the local Indian restaurant was invaded by 14 BCF members.

 

Sunday 26^th March

Market Drayton

We left Market Drayton at 10.30 after attending an early morning service at St Mary’s. It wasn’t actually that early (9.00), but felt earlier because the clocks had gone forward.

We were following another boat, so we thought it would be quite slow going down the five Adderley Locks, but the boat in front of us had four crew members and they were very generous in helping us (and the boat in front of them), so the five locks didn’t take long at all.

We had intended only doing 2 locks of the Audlem flight, but as the weather was dry and it was only early afternoon, we decided to carry on and do a few more. In the end, we did 11 of the 15. Quite tiring, but fewer locks to do tomorrow!

Today’s miles and locks – 6.00 miles    16 locks      

Total miles and locks – 99.50 miles  54 locks

 Brewood to High Offley

Today’s weather report is much the same as on several previous days – some sunshine, a little rain and strong winds.

We started out a little later as Steve needed to go to the pharmacy in Brewood before we set out. So it was about 9.15 when we began today’s leg of our journey.

There is only one lock to do today – the one at Wheaton Aston. Just beyond the lock, we stopped for diesel.  The supplier here used to have the reputation of being the cheapest on the canal system. This may still be true, but obviously, it’s not as cheap as it used to be.

A lot of the Shroppie runs through cuttings which means that the views are a bit restricted. It also means that some of the bridges taking roads and railway lines across the ‘valley’ need to be very high – the amount of work involved in constructing the canal and its associated structures was incredible.

We moored for lunch at Gnosall and then continued a little further to Norbury Junction where we had a pump out.

Tonight’s mooring is at Old Lea Wharf near the village of High Offley. We did try to walk to the village, but were defeated by a flood across the road – there was a lot of very heavy rain last night.

Today's flower - coltsfoot (not dandelions!)

Today’s miles and locks – 13.00 miles    1 lock      

Total miles and locks – 84.75 miles    33 locks

Penkridge to Brewood

A day of lots of sunshine, but also lots of rather cold wind. 

Six locks on the timetable today. The first was Otherton Lock, and after half an hour we arrived at Rodbaston Lock, closely followed by Boggs and Brick Kiln. We came this way 2 ½ years ago and at that time the lock landing above Brick Kiln had collapsed – it has now been completely renewed.

Before (Sept 2020)

After (March 2023)

On to Gailey Lock with its round tower which used to be used as a watch tower by toll collectors.  We couldn’t go straight up this lock as there was a boat coming from the other direction. They were on their way to Great Haywood where there is due to be a Floating Market this weekend. Once they were on their way, we went up and carried on, stopping after a while for lunch.

Gailey Lock and Watchtower

At Autherley Junction, we turned off the Staffs & Worcs onto the Shropshire Union, going through the shallow stop lock at the turn. We travelled about 5 miles as far as Brewood where we moored. After having a cup of tea, we walked around Brewood which is an interesting village with a mixture of housing styles and ages.

Today’s miles and locks – 14.75 miles    6 locks      

Total miles and locks – 71.75 miles  32 locks

 Tixall Wide to Penkridge

We started today’s journey at our usual time of 8.30, plus or minus a few minutes. There are seven locks to do today and the first, Tixall Lock, was soon in sight. There was a gap of a couple of hours before the next one (Deptmore) and then another 3 before we stopped for lunch (Shutt Hill, Park Gate and Longford). Just two more (Penkridge and Filance) and then we moored in Penkridge (the town not the lock). Steve changed the oil in the boat engine (there’s always some job or other to be done) and then we went for a walk round the town.

The Canada geese seem to have paired up and are looking for suitable nesting sites, as are the swans, though we haven’t actually seen many swans. On the other hand, the ducks are still swimming around in groups and haven’t got themselves organised at all!

Pair of Canada Geese on Aqueduct over River Sow

The weather today was mixed – the odd shower, some sunshine, quite a lot of cloud and wind. More sustained rain set in during the evening.

The blackthorn thinks it's Spring even if the weather doesn't.

We were moored very close to a pub – the Cross Keys – so we decided to go there for a meal. The Cross Keys had a limited menu, but the meal we had was very acceptable.

Today’s miles and locks – 10.00 miles    7 locks      

Total miles and locks – 57.00 miles  26 locks

Fradley to Tixall Wide

We woke to the sound of heavy rain this morning. Fortunately, by the time we were ready to move off, the rain had just about stopped. The weather continued to improve through the day, turning out to be mild with some sunshine.

We left our mooring spot at 8.30 and soon arrived at today’s first lock – Wood End Lock which used to be a peaceful place set in quiet countryside with an attractive house and garden alongside. Now, preparation work for HS2 dominates the area.

HS2 work

Next stop was in Rugeley to do some necessary shopping  - Steve stayed with the boat and washed a couple of windows while I went to the conveniently close by Tesco’s for bread and milk.

We continued on our way, but stopped again for coffee with friends Peter and Julie at The Taft. We had lunch moored at the end of Peter and Julie’s garden and then moved on, heading for Colwich Lock (where we had to queue!) and Haywood Lock. Just after Haywood Lock, we turned off the Trent & Mersey onto the Staffs and Worcs Canal, and tonight’s mooring was only a short distance further on at Tixall Wide.

Tixall Wide with Tixall Gatehouse and some geese

We went for a short walk and returned to the boat just as it started to rain again. 

A rather intrusive visitor!

Today’s miles and locks – 12.50 miles    3 locks      

Total miles and locks – 47.00 miles  19 locks

  Fazeley to Fradley

Today was much cooler than yesterday, but, thankfully, was also much drier. From Fazeley we made our way along the Coventry Canal, stopping for lunch just before joining the Trent & Mersey Canal.at Fradley. Through a swing bridge and turn left onto the T&M, and then the only two locks for today, Fradley Middle Lock and Shade House Lock.

Chyandour in Shade House Lock

We moored up almost immediately after the locks. It was still only about 2.30, so we decided to walk back to the junction and have a wander around. I had walked part of the towpath through Hopwas Wood earlier in the day, and had found it extremely muddy and slippery. The paths around Fradley Junction are all surfaced, so walking was much more pleasant. We stopped for cake and a cup of tea at the Laughing Duck before returning to the boat for the evening.

Tonight's mooring

Today’s miles and locks – 11.50 miles    2 locks      

Total miles and locks – 34.50 miles  16 locks

  Baddesley to Fazeley

At 8.30, we left our overnight mooring in sunshine and were quickly through the remaining 4 locks of the Atherstone flight (though we did have to fill them all). As we went on our way towards Glascote, the rain started and as we worked the locks there was a cloudburst which left us rather damp! This was the first of several heavy showers during the day and into the evening. In between the showers, the sun came out and was pleasantly warm.

Steve was concerned that our batteries were not charging as they should do. He phoned Fazeley Mill Marina and discovered that they had the right batteries to replace ours, so when we arrived at Fazeley, we went straight to the marina and picked up the batteries. The friendly people there let us stay moored in the marina while we ate our lunch and while Steve changed over the batteries. They also took the old ones off us for safe disposal.

Once everything was working again, we left the marina and went to moor on Fazeley Visitor moorings. We took advantage of a gap between the showers to go and have a cup of tea with our friends David and Mary.

Today’s miles and locks – 9.25 miles    6 locks      

Total miles and locks – 23.00 miles     14 locks

 Wyken Basin to Baddesley

We left our mooring at Wyken Basin 10.00 in bright sunshine though rain was promised for later in the morning. As it turned out, we didn’t get any rain until mid-afternoon while we were doing Atherstone Locks, but there were only a couple of showers and then the sun came out again.

Celandines brighten any day.

We had lunch on the move with the aim of getting to Atherstone before the VLKS went home. Many thanks to Don for helping us through the first five locks. We carried on and did Locks 6 & 7 and then moored up for the night.

There were a few boats on the move, about half a dozen throughout the day, but a lot of moored boats on some of the stretches through Nuneaton making for slow progress at times. En route we collected a variety of plastic rubbish around the prop which took Steve a little while to remove once we were moored.

Following the snow and rain over the last week or so, the towpaths were very muddy, in some places very, very muddy!

Today’s miles and locks – 13.75 miles                8 locks

Aston to Fazeley, Fazeley to Mancetter, Mancetter to Wyken Basin

 Sunday 15^th May

There was rain overnight, but by the time we left our mooring at 8.15, the sun was shining and it was already quite warm.

We had the remaining three Aston Locks to do and as two of them were set for us, we should have done them quickly, but the bottom gate of the middle lock wouldn’t open fully and Steve only just got through (probably removing a few millimetres from both gate and boat!). There had been two C&RT men around checking water levels, but they had already left when we had our problem.

We made our way through Salford Junction to continue on the Birmingham and Fazeley Canal, accompanied by the M6 today rather than the M5.

There were a lot of fishermen (I think they were all men) on the stretch around Bromford – 21 of them setting up for a competition. They were all remarkably cheerful about us, and a boat coming the other way, disturbing them.

Next were the three Minworth Locks at which we met a couple of boats. We also saw the C&RT men again and told them about the problem with the gate on the Aston lock. A man off one of the boats was using an electric scooter to lock wheel. As these are illegal to use on the towpaths, we wondered if the C&RT men would have something to say to him.

We saw four moving boats before lunch, but generally the last 2 or 3 days have been very quiet. We stopped for lunch before starting down the Curdworth Locks – a green and pleasant spot but accompanied by constant traffic noise (M6 Toll Road) as have a number of our moorings on this cruise.

The weather was duller than the early morning sunshine had suggested it might be. But we had also avoided all the showers which had been forecast.

After lunch we went down the eleven Curdworth Locks. These run through some lovely countryside – you just have to ignore the HS2 construction sites and the M42!

Just after 4.00, we moored up opposite Kew at David and Mary Litchfield’s. 

We had a cup of tea with them and collected display boards and other stuff to take to Crick Boat Show when we go there at the beginning of June. Later we went with David and Mary to the evening service at their church. Later still, we enjoyed a curry at the Ivory Tusk.

Today’s miles and locks – 12.75 miles  17 locks

Total miles and locks – 129.75 miles  119 locks

Monday 16^th May

We left Fazeley just before 9.00 in light drizzle, but this soon dried up and we had a lovely sunny day. We soon reached Glascote Locks and then had a pleasant run towards Atherstone. 

Floral arrangement at Glascote - wisteria growing through a hawthorn tree.

We had lunch before starting the locks; we did 6 of them and then I deserted Steve to go to the Co-op for one or two things. He sent me a message to say that a VLK was helping him and that I should meet him at the top lock, but when I got there, he was nowhere in sight, so I borrowed a windlass from the three VLKs at top lock and wandered down the flight to find him. He and the VLK who was helping him were at Lock 4, but she was due to go home, so she left us, but would set Lock 3 ready for us on her way up the flight. We went up Locks 3 and 2 and the one remaining VLK at the top helped us through the last lock. We always seem to misjudge our arrival at Atherstone Locks – it’s either VLK lunchtime or going home time!

Tolson's Mill at Fazeley is now apartments ......

...... contrast with the old Hat Factory at Atherstone

I realised that if we went as far as Mancetter, I would be able to go to the Mothers’ Union Deanery Service in Mancetter Church which I had thought I would have to miss. We moored at Bridge 36 and after having our evening meal, we walked up the road to the service, Steve having decided to come too.

After the service (and refreshments), we walked back to the boat as the sun was setting.

Today’s miles and locks – 11.25 miles  13 locks

Total miles and locks – 141.00 miles  132 locks

 

Tuesday 17^th May

Another hot sunny day – we left Mancetter at 8.30 and just over four hours later, arrived back at Wyken Basin. We had an uneventful journey with just the one lock at Hawkesbury. We had lunch on the boat and then moved stuff from the boat to the van and went home.

The Wyken Basin swan family

We have had a good trip, exploring new territory and meeting new people. The display of wild flowers in many places was stunning, we’ve seen lots of new coot, goose and duck families, though not many swan and no moorhen families. Other things missing were swallows – I saw one, but that was all.

Today’s miles and locks – 11.50 miles  1 locks

Total miles and locks – 152.50 miles  133 locks

Oldbury to Aston

 Saturday 14^th May

Yesterday was the official end of the Explorer Cruise and today we started our journey home.

Engine House and Oldbury Top Lock

We have a long day planned so we (or actually Stephen) started early. The first thing we had to do was go back down the Oldbury Locks. At 6.30, Steve moved the boat along to the first lock and then went down the flight making sure there was enough water everywhere. By the time he got back, I was up and ready to work locks. Because of Steve’s preparatory work, we were quickly down, off the Titford Canal and on the Old Main Line again at Oldbury Junction, turning right towards Smethwick. 

We crossed the New Main Line on an aqueduct and travelling very close to the M5 for much of the time, we made our way through Summit Tunnel to the three Smethwick Locks. 

Blakeley Hall Bridge and M5

New Main Line below Old Main Line

Just beyond these locks, the Old and New Main Lines meet and the canal leads into Birmingham. We stopped for water before starting to go down Farmers Bridge Locks – 13 of them. We had hoped that there would be volunteer lockkeepers on duty, but none were.  All the locks were set against us, so we had to fill them all. Nonetheless, we were pleased that we completed them in under two hours. 

We stopped for lunch and decided that as it was a lovely sunny day, we would carry on. Since the top of the Farmers Bridge Locks, we had been on the Birmingham and Fazeley Canal and we stayed on that through to Aston Junction and the Aston Locks. We just did 8 of the 11 Aston Locks before mooring at Aston Cross Business Park where we have moored before.

I think we’ll sleep well tonight having done 30 locks.

Today’s miles and locks – 7.50 miles  30 locks

Total miles and locks – 117.00 miles  102 locks