Monday 17 September: Kinver to
Swindon (5.5 miles, 7 locks)
We arrived at Kinver at lunchtime, in bright sunshine, so soon set
off through Kinver, Hyde and Stewponey Locks to Stourton Junction,
past overhanging trees and red sandstone cliffs, through the tiny
Dunsley Tunnel, little more than a bridge. It's a pretty stretch of
canal. We worked through locks as a team, meeting lots of boats and
chatting with the boaters in the sun, until we moored at Swindon.
Angela's baked potatoes and chilli went down well before we played
Settlers of Catan (of course!)
Tuesday 18 September: Swindon to
the (Fox and) Anchor Inn near Coven (13 miles, 14 locks)
This sunny morning we set off through a couple of locks to Bottesham
Staircase Locks, nice for a change. Past the family pub fayre Waggon
& Horses near our nieces houses, we soon reached Wombourne
Bumblehole Lock and the unique Bratch Locks. These were originally a
triple staircase, but were converted into three very close (12 feet
apart) single locks with side ponds in between. Naturally, top gates
and the following bottom gates need to be open for the boat to pass
from bottom lock to middle lock, etc, so the effect is still similar
to a triple staircase, but saves water. It's a pretty stretch of
canal around here. We stopped at Wightwick after three more locks,
for lunch. The weather being very windy but quite warm, we decided to
continue past Stourton Junction and stopped at Oxley's boatyard for
diesel (75p @ 0%, about £1.10 @ 100%).
Wednesday 19 September: Anchor
Inn moorings to Penkridge and on to Acton Trussell (8.5 miles, 10
locks)
MIn (Norman) drove the five miles through pleasant countryside to Gailey,
past the Calf Heath and hatherton Marinas, the western end of the old
Hatherton canal, which carried coal from the Cannock coalfield. Calf
Heath Marina uses the bottom two locks, the second having a large
side shelf where boats can be left high and dry for blacking, etc:
Very handy!
We watered up and emptied loo holding tanks and rubbish at Gailey.
The ladies still run the Roundhouse shop, which has a good selection
of waterways books and souvenirs.
John and Norman shared the six locks down to Penkridge, where we
moored at the winding hole by mistake, only noticing as we looked up
from eating our lunch! Like good boaters, we departed asap and passed
down another four locks, the sun peeping through occasionaly, to moor
before the Moat House by Acton Trussell as the rain worsened.
Thursday 20 September: “Wet,
Wet, Wet!” Acton Trussell to Great Haywood (7.5 miles, 2 locks)
We slept so-so after the brass Kingfisher incident. It rained
overnight, but saw damp but dry enough to set off. Norman volunteered
to drive down the gentle Penk and Sow valleys, as he had spotted rain
after 11AM! John enjoyed the cool, damp weather from the front of the
boat, for a change. We passed the breakfasters at the Moat House,
then enjoyed the lovely gardens of well-breeched Acton Trussell
before reaching the isolated but lovely Deptmore Lock, below which we
have moored peacefully several times.
Stafford Boat Club always looks splendid to passing boaters. Through
Baswich, John donned his yellow all-weather gear and took over from
Norman. Down the sedge-bordered canal along the Sow valley and across
the narrow, stone Sow Aqueduct, the rain fell increasingly until, by
Tixall Wide, it was clear that we needed to moor. As liana needed a
shop, we continued to Great Haywood, through that picturesque
junction bridge, to moor in heavy rain above the lock. Once the
shower had passed, Norman and Angela walked to see the Shugborough
Hall after twenty years. We found that the village shop by the
pharmacy had closed a year ago, but got supplies from the Haywoods
Spar Shop/Post Office 200 yards up the road from the pub. We all got
back just as heavy rain started again, so settled for an evening meal
on board, reading, blogging and games.
Friday 21 September: Great
Haywood to Rugeley, celebrating twenty years of canal boating (5
miles, 2 locks)
The covers were sodden after a stormy, windy night, but the sky was
largely blue and the sun was shining. Twenty years ago, we had our
first experience of canal boating around here, and Great Haywood was
John's first solo lock as steerer, witnessed by a bank holiday crowd
of about 200 people! We took a selfie and a wee schoolgirl kindly
took a photo of us all with Annie in the lock.
The sun shone on as we were blown towards Colwich and on to Rugeley.
Norman worked on tap plumbing, then steered, while John donned his
yellow wet weather gear again for the last wet bit. After a sandwich
lunch, we all set off for the station, for Norman and Angela to take
the train to our car in Kinver and return to our home town. We
toured the town centre, which is largely pedestrianised, and visited
charity shops for books and a cd, plus Morrisons and Wilko's, both
close to the mooring by bridge 66. Feeling tired, we decided to stay,
rest, watch tv and read.
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