Trent and Mersey Canal
Thursday 28 May Beautiful sunny day. Left Cranfleet cut at 8.45am to enter Trent Junction. Reached Derwent Mouth Lock at 10.45am and reached the lovely village of Shardlow at 11.30am. Moored next to a lovely couple on ‘Yhsbryd Rhydd’, also a Heron Boat, they just managed to have launched days prior to the closure of Heron Boats. Helen cycled to the LOCAL !!! NOT… post office. It was a fair way, no other shops in the village. Went for a meal to another 2 for £10 deal. Yummy steak again and bottle of wine for £5. Went back to Coventina for cheese and biscuits on deck – lovely balmy evening. Total 2.45 hours
Friday 29 May Bought some fuel at Dobsons Boat Yard before heading off on our way. Departed Shardlow at 8.45am, reached Swarkestone Lock at 12.45pm, moored on a quiet rural stretch. Went for a short walk into the village, although quaint, all the buildings were alarmed or had shutters and even the church bench was padlocked! Total 4 hours
Saturday 30 May Departed Swarkestone at 9.00am, Went on a little further to Willington for provisions for a barbeque and to empty the toilet, had the BBQ just outside Willington and then headed back to leave the boat above Stenson Lock opposite the marina. Good moorings, can be left up to 14 days. Total 1.5 hours
Wednesday 10 June Chris came on his own, using peddling power on the bike and the boat, moved the boat down to Willington to save time at the weekend. Serviced toilet, painted and cleaned in preparation for the ‘boat safety certificate’ booked for next Wednesday. Total travelling time 1 hour
Saturday 13 June Both came for the weekend, nice sunny weather for a change. Cruised from Willington to Stretton at bridge 29a, moorings near a Co-op and a pub (The Millhouse 2 meals for £10) Total 1.5 hours
Sunday 14 June Bridge 29a to Burton Upon Trent moorings near Shobnall Marina bridge 33. Lovely hot sunny weather, stopped at Horninglow Basin for water and to empty toilet. Total 2 hours
Wednesday 17 June Boat safety certificate booked with Shobnall Boat Services. Fee £100 + VAT, certificate £40 -SHE PASSED! Moved on approximately half an hour
Saturday 20 June Departed from pipe bridge by A358 at 08:00 , arrived at Barton Turn Lock no 10 at 10:00am ( stopped at Barton Marina, lovely place, with a lovely delicatessen, got a really tasty pork pie) Stopped at Wychnor Lock to move van to Alrewas and poor Chris to peddle back! . Restarted at 12.45am Stopped off for yummy pie at 13:00 and then set off at 14:00, arrived at Alrewas at 14:45pm. Met a nice couple on a boat with some friendly little dogs, Jessie and Tilly.
Sunday 21 June Visited Fradley Junction, had a nice bacon butty and then visited the National memorial Arboretum. What an experience, it is a wonderful peaceful place and very emotional. Pleased we had visited this, makes you appreciate what you have got…
Saturday 27 June Helen at a colleagues wedding do, so Chris moved Coventina to above lock 13 Bagnall Lock on the outskirts of Alrewas. Indian very nice from the New Lodge Indian restaurant/take away. Good 14 day moorings and good parking.
Sunday 5 July Chris on his own again as Helen running Race for Life. From Alrewas to top of Fradley Flight, 6 locks. Stopped mid-flight to empty toilet. Lovely hot sunny weather Total 3 hours
Saturday 11 July Helen at a works do previous night, very tired!, left Fradley and travelled to Bridge 66 Rugeley (Kings Moor Bromley Marina looked nice) Total 3 hours
Sunday 12 July Rugeley to Wolseley Bridge no 70. Lovely garden centre, pub, Indian restaurant and antiques all within walking distance Total 1.25 hours
No more travelling to and from work – the 2 week holiday begins!!!
Saturday 18 July
Helen’s Mum and Dad brought us to the boat Friday evening for the start of our holidays. They stayed over, had a little walk to the garden centre ( toilet handy) and then we set off at about 10.30am Saturday morning, arrived at Bridge 89 at 16:00. Helen peddled bike 5 miles round trip to Stone and back for provisions and puzzle books! Total 5 hours
Sunday 19 July
Departed bridge 89 at 8.15am. At the Ashton Lock 26, halfway on the Trent and Mersey canal met a couple taking their new boat ‘Yorkshire Belle’ back to Yorkshire to moor. Extremely heavy rain the last few locks, moored at bridge 118, next to the Toby Carvery. Total 8 hours!
Monday 20 July
Departed bridge 118, above Stoke at 8.00am, reached the entrance to Harecastle Tunnel at 9.00am, exited at 9.45am. Good journey through, Helen went in made up and hair straightened, came out curly with the damp!! After a water stop for 1 hour and a lunch stop for 45 mins arrived at Bridge 146 at 4.30pm. Moored before the bridge as a bit quieter than after. Went for a meal to the ‘Romping Donkey’, they had run out of real ale pie, but ended up with quite a nice steak in the end. Total 7.5 hours
Tuesday 21 July
Rain, Rain rain…. Left bridge 146 at 08.45am, had lunch at bridge 160, stopped for half an hour only and reached Middlewich below Bridge 172 at 2.30pm. Although weather not good at all had a little walk into Middlewich. There is quite a large Tescos, plenty of take aways etc. Had a take away Indian, quite nice. Total 5.5 hours
Wednesday 22 July
Left Middlewich at 9.30am and moored approximately one mile walk before the Anderton Boat Lift. Quite a nice quiet spot, inbetween showers managed to get a bit of sun. Walked to the lift, quite an impressive sight. Total 3.5 hours
Thursday 23 July
Had a water stop for half an hour at Anderton, left Anderton at 9.45am and then had a 45 minute wait at Saltersford Tunnel, just missed the entrance time. Lunch stop north of bridge 213, called at Midland Chandlery just by the motorway bridge and then moored near Bridge 7 at 4.00pm at Moore. Easy walk to village and shop and Red Lion Pub. Total 4 hours