Wheaton Aston

There were several boats moving around before 8 this morning and then a lull until after 9 we set off a little after 10 by which time the sun was quite warm but a cool breeze. We made our way towards Brewood passing this elegant bridge.

Just past this we spotted a couple on the towing path and stopped for a few words, it was Ivor, the ex IWA Chairman. This old Springer is still moored on the Countrywide Cruisers moorings, I wonder if it will ever move, mind you the one to the stern of it looks sunk. It doesn’t look like Countrywide Cruisers have many of their boats out but we have seen one on the move.

If you are in the area and fancy an exciting night out its all on offer at the local Chalet Park.

On to the A5 Aqueduct that could really do with a paint job and the canal side railings repairing, the centre bar is missing for part of the length and the  far end is strapped to a wooden post with the plastic fencing.

Just beyond here is Industry Narrowboats a yard that specialises in traditional boat repairs and maintenance. They have a rather forlorn wooden boat sitting in their yard waiting for someone to love it.

At bridge 18 I had to wait for a boat who had just come up the locks, in the mean time another boater had turned the lock not seeing us coming. The poor chap was mortified that he had turned the lock in our face and couldn’t stop apologising both to Diana at the lock and me as we passed. I noticed there is an awful lot of water going down the bywash at this lock from somewhere, you could feel the flow on the canal. Once through the lock we stopped at the services and then moved on to Turners to top up with diesel.Well its compulsory isn’t it.

This week we have seen one or two imitation, life size human skeletons, we have also seen a few animal skulls with horns or antlers, but today we saw the two combined.

We didn’t go much further before stopping for the night just north of Wheaton Aston North Aqueduct just before bridge 21. Since we have been here we have had a rather heave shower of rain.

Today’s Journey

6 miles with 1 lock in 3 hours

Brewood

Bit of a late get away this morning with the temperature around 9°C This had been a lovely quiet mooring.
The bridges are numbered slightly different around this part of the world, not the usual oval number plate or oblong name you see elsewhere

There is a youth organisation along this stretch and we could hear the youngsters in the woods, at the canal side a couple of instructors were making canoes up into joined pairs.

I have asked many people what use to be here, it looks like steel upstands right on the edge of the towing path that have been cut off at some point.

They are located at the nearest point to the railway track which is literally just behind the hedge.

We had just entered the narrows at Autherley when we spotted a boat coming the other way, so we drew back to give him a clear passage. A Heron sitting on a branch at water level was completely unperturbed by us.

At Autherley Junction we turned right onto the Shropshire Union Canal and immediately came up against the only lock of the day, a stop lock with a fall of about 6”. CRT have recently repaired the bottom gate beam using planks of wood laminated together, I don’t know if they are glued or screwed together to make the required thickness.

On this canal the mileposts carry a third location

Norbury Junction which would have been an important location, also note they don’t give the distance to the end of the canal, Chester, but the major canal town of Nantwich. We carried on for another half hour or so to moor at the 48hr visitor moorings about a mile and three quarters before Brewood. As the crow fly’s its probably about 3 miles from last nights moorings.

Today’s Journey 8.25 miles with 1 lock in 3¼ hours

Latherford

We set off a few minutes before ten after a boat came down the lock, even so by the time we got to Filance Lock another boat coming down well crewed with 4 chaps on board.  By the time we were locking up another hire boat arrived, maybe today would be easier going. As we passed this sad sight opposite Otherton Boat Haven .

Boggs lock looks as if it could be the next one to suffer a beam failure, its really bad where the paddle gear is mounted.

Gailey Lock was fully maned with 4 Volockies, there is no sign that the little shop at the tower is likely to reopen any time. Just above Gailey it looks as if there will soon be a new bridge across the canal

I am not sure what is happening at the Chemical works, I understand that the mooring/stopping restrictions are to be lifted, they have already removed the pipe bridges and works bridge and contractors are laying a race track, sorry I meant surfaced towing path between bridges 77 and 78A, after that you are back in the mud. The work is over running slightly and the path is closed.

We continued on, passing this interestingly painted unit, I can’t quite make up my mind about it. Our original plan was to eat at the Anchor tonight, thankfully I mentioned it to one of the Volockies and he  said its closed for refurbishment, so we made our way passed Hatherton and started looking for a spot to moor for the night.

Today’s Journey

 

6 miles with 6 locks in 3¼ hours

Penkridge

Last night we had a fisherman set up camp just ahead of us and another a short way behind, they were there all night and the temperature dropped to about 3°C and they didn’t get a bit all night. I think every one who comes onto Tixall Wide takes this photograph.

A slow chug the length of Tixall Wide, passed all the moored boats including this wooden beauty.

At Tixall lock a boater had just started filling the lock as we arrived and then a second arrived behind him, as the first was single handing we soon had him on his way and we were on the way up.
The weather was strange, we were in sunshine most of the time but surrounded by very dark clouds. I can’t think of another turnover bridge on this canal, I will keep my eyes open.

The pub at Baswich has changed its name to The Radford Bank Inn and is a Stonehouse restaurant. One of the houses along there looks to have enlarged his frontage a bit.

Deptmore lock was full and this was the pattern for the rest of the day with no one coming the other way. Goslings have been about in plenty today. I had only seen 2 up until today.

The cows were doing well with plenty of calves in the field with their mothers.

The farmer along here has tried over the years to stop the erosion of his field with hardcore etc. on this section he looks to have done his best to compact the offside bank to stop his field washing away.

Park Gate Lock like the others was full, what I didn’t notice was the offside top paddle was not down, and a chap from the boat yard dropped. We worked through the lock closing up behind us and stopped a short way up so that I could visit Park Gate Leisure  but unfortunately they didn’t have what I wanted, but as I reached the lock the top gate was now open and the boatyard were moving a trip boat in backwards for a MCA inspection.  
We carried on to Penkridge where there was a boat about to leave the lock, the first and last of the day. Once through the lock  we dumped rubbish and filled with water, I cant remember the last time I saw one

of these on a waterpoint. Once that was all done we moored just before bridge 85 and walked to TFM Store to get some hose. They sell everything  from beer to Morris Oil which looked a reasonable price.

Today’s Journey

 

10 miles with 6 locks in 5 hours

Tixall Wide

Well I got it wrong yesterday, the temperature was down to 14°C so I fired up the shove, Diana got the dinner in and cooking and what happened, the sun came out, the doors were open and it was 30°C inside the boat, needless to say, as soon as dinner was cooked the shove was off. When we went to bed we had to have the rear doors open for ¼ hour to cool down.

No rush to get away this morning as we were only going to Great Haywood as that was decision point and time.
Yesterday Nanney’s Bridge on the Middlewich branch was hit by a vehicle, closing the canal. CRT were going to examine it today to see if the canal could be reopened, If it couldn’t we have to reroute via the Shropshire Union canal and the only place we could do that id Gt Haywood so we didn’t set off until 11am.
Just a short way ahead of where we were moored are the famous “Bloody Steps” There use to be a much bigger information board there than there is now. There is also another notice under it saying we are entering a smoke free zone, its the first one of these I have noticed, I guess there must be one at the other side of Rugeley as well.

There were several boats moored just the other side of the Aqueduct, maybe this sign is the reason. Word of warning, don’t get close to the towpath between the aqueduct and the road bridge, is shallow a long way out. Just round the bend the lambs were enjoying life bouncing around on the field.

Taff Wharf have the back end of a working boat hull laying upside down on the bank, not something you often see.

One of the houses a short way before Colwich lock has this carved tree in its garden, I have photographed it before but I think this is the best photo so far.

The village church looks an interesting building, maybe we should stop one day and visit it for a closer look.

The boat ahead was rather slow at Colwich Lock after taking some time to get in he was so busy chatting he forgot all about the top gate paddle. There was a single handed lady waiting to come down and we soon had her through and away, by the time I was in the lock another boat arrived above and below so many hands made light work. Up at Gt Haywood lock the top ground paddle was out so slow, just above the lock the Shrugburgh Estate have laid the Sycamore into a hedge, something I have not seen before.

We had already decided to go to Tixall Wide for the night as we expected Haywood to be packed on a Bank holiday, but it wasn’t but there were a few people about who had already had more cans than were good for them and passes by we spoke to said they were being a pain. As we approached the Wide we saw our first family of Cygnets with mum and dad.

We moored at the very start of the wide and checked the stoppage list. Engineers will be checking the bridge tomorrow so we will continue on to the Staffs and Worc to the Shropshire Union .

Today’s Journey

5 miles with 2 locks in 2½ hours

Rugeley

I must say I did enjoy boating this summer, now its  back to 14°C and 12mm of rain overnight. I now have the stove on and its 26°C in here and 14 out.

When we left at 10am I think we were the first boat away, Diana walked up and opened the swing bridge  the crossed the top of Junction Lock to meet me at double lock. I think they have mover the strong stream warning notice as you now see it as you leave the Coventry and turn UP the T&M, it’s to the left of the sign post .

Anyone coming down the flight may have problems waiting for Junction Lock as there is a row of barriers on over the bollards on the lock moorings.

Middle Lock was just about empty and there was a volockie up on Shadehouse Lock with a boat coming down. As we approached Wood End Lock which was against us I noticed there is earthworks taking place in the field adjacent to the towing path.

We met several boats above the locks and even spotted this pony and trap crossing bridge 56.

At Handsacre I spotted a boat winding ahead of us and we followed them at a distance all the way to Rugeley. It was handy when we got to Armitage Tunnel as I had caught him up a bit and could follow him straight through.

Passing the long term moorings just after the tunnel this clutch of Mallards have found a way to keep their feet dry, but its a case of one on, one off.

At Rugeley Tesco had the magnet switched on stopping us against the bank until they had extracted a some of money from our Credit Card. Whilst Diana went into the store to pay our dues I lite the stove for this evening.
Once the magnet was switched off we continued passed Naomi’s Landing, it’s good to see they are supporting Fund the Waterways.

 

We didn’t go much further before mooring for the mooring for the night a short way before “The Bloody Steps”

 

Today’s Journey

8.5 Miles with  3 locks in 3¾ hours