Up the Trent & Mersey Canal

 Tuesday 15 August Swarkstone through Burton to Branston (9 miles, 3 locks)

Leaving Swarkstone Boat Club  and CRT waste skip behind, we set off through the countryside. It was windy but not unpleasant.

Eaglet Boat Stop looked welcoming, but we continued through the deep  Stenson Lock and past the marina just above it.

We stopped outside Mercia Marina and visited the impressive fashion shops, coffee shop and Midland Chandlers well stocked shop, where John had a good chat with the knowledgeable staff and got a few bits.

The noisy A38 is never far away at Burton. We passed Janel Cruisers at Shobnall Marina. The first lock on the Nond End branch became the dry dock. Barton Turns moored visit here for cheaper diesel, we were told later. At Branston Water Park we moored. The pompous young chap at the Bridge Inn put us off going there. “Diners sit inside, drinkers outside!”.

Wednesday 16August Branston to Alrewas (9 miles, 4 locks)

We set off this sunny day with a cruiser ahead of us and NB following all the way. Both crews were helpful and chatty. Thankyou! 

This stretch of canal between Shardlow and Fradley Junction is always pretty busy in summer, with lots of boats out for short trips from their marinas, eg Wilmington and Barton Turns. We also saw our first three hire boats this trip. 

The first bit is rural, but soon the noisy A38 arrives alongside and accompanies you most of the way through Tatenhall and Barton Turns lock to Wychnor Lock. Here, you pass through riverine water meadows and leafy moorings, past side bridges onto the River Trent, skirting the weir carefully, then up Alrewas river lock to moor in the village.

Thankfully, after this we steered Annie through quiet Trent water meadows  to the weir and short reach of river to arrive at Alrewas Lock. Once up, we moored in the village, and John chilled while Liana phoned various agencies she needed to contact. Once sorted we enjoyed a short walk to Coates the butchers, past the Crown to the George & Dragon pub, where we are about to have a meal.

Thursday 17 August at  Alrewas. The National Memorial Arboretum visit.

Friday 18 August Alrewas to Fradley Junction (2 miles, 4 locks)

The weather was cloudy and started to rain as Liana got milk and John set off for the nearby lock.  There is now Fradley Marina beside Common Lock. 

By the time we reached Fradley, we were pretty damp!  We needed to empty all the loo cassettes, after which we had coffee and cake at the CRT cafe.

Saturday 19 August Fradley Junction to Rugeley (9 miles, 4 locks)

Once through the high stone railway viaduct, we stopped at the moorings near Tesco, Morrisons and Aldi. We stocked up and walked Honeypie, our daughter Rachel’s lovely dog. John bought some pansies and compost for our two empty planters. The wind and rain did for his prepared planters, which stayed at home, sadly.

After dog walking, we read, John watched Match Of The Day. 

Sunday 20 August World Cup Final Day!

Today we decided to walk the dog and plant up planters before watching England Women play in the World Cup Final! Well done them, win or lose! Spain won 1-0 after a good, hard fought match. To be fair, the best team won.

Once finished, we set off in the sun past lots of Rugeley back gardens to the Trent Aqueduct, where an infamous canal murder of a lady once occurred. 

Following a couple of Narrowboats, we eventually reached Colwich Lock at Little Haywood, where we had a sociable time helping each other through the lock.

A mile later, we entertained families at Great Haywood lock by Shugborough Hall.

Turning left through the famous bridge, we entered the Staffs & Worcester Canal and moored in Tixall Wide, a picturesque lake-like expanse of water, where we have just had tea and wine in the sun. We have chatted with all three daughters today, and all of them have had great weekends with friends. Life is good!