Saturday May 31 at Willington
We started the day with a family video call from our girls. Granddaughter Hope (recovering from tonsillitis) wanted to show off her new skirt, t shirt and wand which we had sent her, plus her new necklace from auntie Sarah.
After showering, we walked into Mercia Marina for coffee, cake and visits to the art gallery (very tempted by the Kimberley Harris flower pictures) and Midland Chandlers. We could not get a replacement 24 volt shower fan, but did get a spare fan belt and two 7 metre lengths of 12mm rope. John later made eye splices and back splices for each rope, ready for use; refitted the shower light and drilled holes in the tyre fender so Liana doesn’t get wet again!!
Sunday June 1 Mercia Marina, Willington to Shobnall Fields, Burton (5 miles 1 lock)
A lovely, sunny but very windy morning, with dark clouds! First, we emptied loo cassettes and rubbish at the nearby services.
The boat seemed to be working fine after our problems with gearbox. Following Silver Fern through Dallow Lane Lock, we had help from three local children, who had a windlass. The drive stopped working, so Annie bumped the lock a bit. Mooring after the lock, John found the throttle cable had worked loose, so tightening nuts sorted this problem!
We moored in a pretty setting at Shobnall Fields, just beyond. Walking from here into town later, we found a good Italian restaurant, the Venetziaa, well worth a visit.
Monday June 2 Shobnall Fields, Burton to Alrewas 7 miles, 5 locks
Mooring at the park here is very pleasant in the sun. Loads of families walk together here. We walked to Lidl to shop through terraced streets. The church and adjacent clock tower are impressive. Once we had stocked up with supplies, we bought a full gas bottle, 5l of Morris Marine oil plus filled up with diesel (81p per litre for domestic use) at Jannel Cruisers, Shobnall Basin. John had to reverse Annie in through the narrow old entry bridge ( the basin was once an arm down to the river). We also bought the new Pearson’s Guide to The Stourport & Black Country Rings & BCN.
At Branston Lock we met a boat coming out, hoorah! We passed NB Silver Fern from our boat club at Branston Water Park, a pleasant mooring on the edge of Burton. Lots of new housing opposite, where once it was an unspoilt valley.
Through Tatenhill Lock, beside the noisy A38, we reached Barton lock, passing two boats on water points. The Little Chef and CRT waste disposal have gone, sold to become a lorry park. The boat in front let us pass through first, so we carried on to Wychnor Lock and the lovely water meadows. Past rural moorings, we kept right at the river weir and crossed to Alrewas river lock. John avoided two oncoming empty working boats by pulling in to the side. They need the deeper centre channel.
We moored on the scenic bend by church and graveyard, then walked around the village in the sun.
Liana cooked us a hearty lunch of pork, apple sauce, mash and mixed veg.
Tuesday June 3 at Alrewas
It rained throughout the night, as predicted, so we are hiding inside, reading and writing our diaries. We should be seeing friends Michael and Wendy for lunch at Fradley, but they may need to pick us up from Alrewas if the rain continues! Torrential rain and cloud had left batteries at 82%, so John ran the engine for 50 minutes to bring them up to 98%.
Wednesday June 4
Thursday June 5
Friday June 6
Saturday June 5 Stafford Boat Club to Penkridge 5 miles 5 locks
The sun was shining through the clouds at 0900 when we awoke after a rainy night. We set off, enjoying the fields of cattle and sheep. Several times, brief rain squalls made us consider stopping, but the rain soon stopped each time, so we wore our coats and carried on to Penkridge.
The market was still operating, but much of the stuff was rather tawdry. We bought nothing and finished up at The Littleton Arms for lunch.
