Hide and Seek

We took a wander around the village of Weston on Wednesday, it is quite pleasant and well looked after and boasts a mention in the Domesday book but with a large amount of fairly modern pockets of housing, added to that a very busy main road (A518) along one side of it rather spoiling it for me, no village store to be found but two public houses, one either side of the canal, the nearest being the Saracen’s Head which was closed for renovation with a re-opening due for November. The second pub was in the village and later in the early evening we returned and partook of sustenance in the form of food and ale, it was quite nice and reasonably priced.

The Woolpack, by the village green

Here’s a few picture of some of the nicer looking property and the village green which doubles as a sports ground and playground.

Having seen all we wanted to of the village itself we walked back along the A518 pausing for a look at the Parish Church of St. Andrew whose bell tower dates from early 13^th century with the church being restored in the 1860’s and 1870’s.

Continuing on as far as the bridge over the river Trent which afforded a view of some woodland up on the hill and also of Weston Hall, a manor house built in 1550 but now a 4 star hotel with rooms at £120-£150 per night.

 Wednesday night was very blustery and with the boat being bumped against the edge it led to a disturbed sleep for me, Thursday the forecast was again very blustery and the decision was easily reached to stay put for another day.

Today was a much better day for cruising and we cast off around 8:45, with me leading, in bright sunlight and crisp Autumn weather.

How’s this for a nice view from your mooring.

Bridge 82 had some money spent building it, not your usual plain arch, although the brickwork on the other side did not match, a similar but far simpler design.

Bright sunlight behind us, that's Rod following on.

At the first lock of the day Sandon lock (25) I pulled on to the landing and set the lock for Rod to come up, once through he stopped and assisted me and was joined by the crew from another boat so that helped as he didn’t need to close up.

I often ponder peoples thinking.

This chap with plenty of room before and after chose to moor
right opposite the overgrown vegetation. 

And this chap obviously thought no one would spot his bow and stern
lines attached to the piling, just teasing really, he wants people to slow :-)

A lovely open stretch of farmland.

If I hide under the tree no-one will see me!

Before passing Aston Marina and arriving at lock 26 Aston lock.

 Somewhere along the way Rod ended up in front and pulled onto the service point just before the locks (27-30) at Stone to fill with water, I opted to continue on up the locks and try to find a mooring and when I reached lock 27 alongside The Star pub a volounteer was there and he locked me through.

I continued up through lock 28.

passing the Canal Cruising wharf with quite a few hire boats now back in place ready to be prepared for the 2018 season.

On past the now closed Jules Brewery ale store house.

To arrive at the interesting entrance to lock 29 which takes you through a tunnel like road bridge to enter the lock, there is another ‘tunnel’ alongside for pedestrians.

Arriving at what I hoped would be the last lock of the day (30) there was a boat coming down, so I held station mid canal and waited so that I could go straight in as he emerged.

I had been looking for a mooring and was lucky to spot two gaps on the five day visitor moorings, Stone is very popular and quite busy always, I took the second space and texted Rod to tell him about the other space.

Current mooring:

Totals today: 7 miles : 6 locks

Overall a lovely days cruise.

Breezy, chilly......

......but not at all bad.

We stayed put yesterday to avoid the worse of the wind, it gave me the chance to visit the launderette and get two duvet sets washed and dried avoiding having them taking up the cabin space drying for a couple of days.

Today we decided it was ok to move on so cast off about 8:50 with Rod leading the way, out through the remainder of Rugeley and over the Brindley Bank (Trent) Aqueduct.

Another tree that needs a trim.

Trent Aqueduct.

River Trent below.

On through open and breezy countryside,

before reaching Colwich and the first lock of the day. As Rod was leading he went off to set the lock for me to move into it.

Rod walking up to the lock.

After going through myself I pulled onto the lock landing and set it for Rod to go through and then with another boat approaching to go down, I left the gates open and followed on behind Rod.

The other boat goes in as I move off of the landing.

We passed by a large group of youngsters preparing to set off in canoes, they were all still on the bank with just and instructor on the water so there was no problems.

Approaching Great Haywood gives a brief opportunity to see Shugborough Hall through the vegetation.

At Haywood lock there was plenty of helpers so I moved through that and left Rod to follow on later.

In.....

...and out.

We both wanted water but weren’t desperate which was fortunate as the water point was busy, so I carried on past the junction and then Great Haywood Marina

Canalside Cafe.

Great Haywood Marina, I looked at a few boats there prior to buying Quinqireme,

At the next lock Hoo Mill (23) a boat was just coming out so I had a straight run in, and with another boat waiting to go down the lock, another easy exit.

I passed by a traveller site and among the mix of white vans, Mercedes, and horse boxes were an old and new version of horse drawn gypsy caravan.

 I was on the lookout for a mooring by now as thirst, hunger and a general feeling that I was fed up with the strong breeze, had all set in, I saw a couple of places which would have suited me had I been travelling alone but they were not big enough for two boats.

Arriving at Weston lock (24) which is just after a blind bend I had a bit of bother as I tried to keep out of the way of a boat leaving the lock, running aground once and having to change tack to pass him on the left, which sorted the problem,then I decided to take a picture of the lock entrance.

I was a bit close, and even closer by the time I had put the camera down, not as close as it looks as it is on zoom, but I have to confess to giving the bridge a little metal on brickwork kiss before admonishing my own stupidity for  taking that picture at that time!

I finally found a suitable mooring spot at Weston-on-Trent, although on a bend the canal is plenty wide enough and there was plenty of room for Rod to pull in behind when he caught up.

Current Mooring:

Totals today: 8 miles : 4 locks

Tomorrow I will probably take a stroll around what is, I think, a new village to me.

Next.......

......On to the Trent and Mersey canal.

Friday was a no cruising day for Rod and me, Costas decided he wanted to head back to Birmingham so he set off during a dry spell, Rod and I discussed options and decided that there should be a break in the rain showers mid morning on Saturday and if all was well we would head off and have enough time to reach our destination before heavy rain set in.

We were um’ing and r’ing a bit from 10am, it couldn’t make up its mind, rain or not rain, but around 10:45 with a break we decided the time was right, Rod led off.

It didn’t take long to reach the end of the Coventry canal which is marked by a small pedestrian swing bridge at Fradley Junction. Rod pulled in to open the bridge and I carried on turning left on to the Trent and Mersey to set the first lock of the day while Rod followed on behind me.

Rod approaching the swing bridge.

Me passing through the narrow passage.

and emerging at Fradley junction, right for Burton left for Stoke.

As Rod emerges another boat leaves lock 17 and heads in on to
the Coventry canal

There was a boat coming down lock 18 as I arrived so I helped them through and then Rod took Tilly Mint in, I locked him through and as we could see the next lock was in his favour he set off for that while I turned the lock for my own passage and went through.

When I arrived at lock 19 there was a volounteer in attendance so I stayed aboard and he locked me through.

Lovely volounteer who told me to stay aboard 

I spotted these two on the roof of a boat and after snapping a pic asked the owner how popular they were with photographers, he said ‘very’ and ‘one day someone on the towpath is going to get to close trying for a close up and the female bird will have them!’, I wouldn't risk that for picture!

At Wood end Lock (20) there was a young couple coming down on a big old boat, so I helped them through before going through what was the last lock for today.

Leaving the last lock of the day.

It took a while to catch Rod up, first passing Kings Bromley Wharf and Marina before reaching the village of Handsacre.

A bit of a delay for me at Handsacre as a holiday boat ahead attempted to moor, it took a while and he apologised for the delay but I just said “no problem, enjoy the rest of your holiday”.

There were a couple of nice views before reaching the Armitage factory where all the WC’s pans etc are made, a bit grim looking, and I finally had sight of Rod again.

Just a goods train going over the bridge, it doesn't happen at the right time
often!

Armitage factory, large and grim looking.

The showers began somewhere here and it’s quite narrow and bendy, but we got through ok arriving at the site of the old Armitage tunnel, which is no longer a tunnel having had the roof removed, but it is single working and with a blind entrance, the advice is to send a crew member ahead, ok if you happen to have a crew member but for solo boaters it’s usually just take a chance, what’s the worst that can happen! Anyway as we were travelling together Rod pulled in again and walked ahead waving me on once he could see it was clear, before following me through himself.

The entrance, no chance of seeing it's clear before heading in.

Another weird statue at the tunnel exit. 

Rod emerging

After the tunnel that is not a tunnel I waved Rod ahead.

I don't normally follow this close, he's just passed me.

Our intended stop was at Rugeley and Rod had better knowledge than I about the moorings, so better he lead in.

Nice new houses, but what about that view from your bedroom window!

Moorings spotted I passed Rod and pulled over only to find I couldn’t get my bow close to the bank, so I moved forward about 10’ and tried again with success, after tying up I investigated the depth and found this in the Canal.

Yes the old shopping trolley, Waitrose this one

Having removed that and moved my boat back to the original position Rod was able to move up ahead of me, it all ended ok. Rod took the trolley back to Waitrose later!

Current mooring:

Of course it rained while I was fishing out the trolley and mooring up!

Totals yesterday: 8½ miles : 3 locks : 1 moveable bridge : 1 tunnel (that is not a tunnel)

Today allowed me to do a couple of shops to Tesco and dispose of my recycling, tomorrow is forecast to be gusty with winds up to 60mph, so I think we’ll stay put and I’ll do a trip to the launderette to get duvet sets washed and dried!