Great Haywood (below lock) to Great Haywood Junction - Trent & Mersey Canal

Yesterday (Friday) we stayed put and got the bus to Stafford to do some shopping and also to renew our train pass as we are off back to Weston again next week and then to Plymouth for another funeral, Kev's aunt so we need the train pass to get our discount.

Leaving Our Mooring

Today, we are moving up to the junction so we untied and set off to Haywood Lock, there was a boat coming down and he was a single hander so we helped him through and then it was our turn.  This lock is not very deep so we were soon through there and we went around the corner and moored up just before the junction.

Views of Shugborough Hall

We had lunch then went for a walk up to the Spar shop in the village and popped in to the farm shop on the way back to get some bacon for our breakfast tomorrow.

Lovely Views Today

We are off into the marina on Monday where we are leaving the boat while we go back to Weston and so ends our trip for this year.

It has been really good especially with all the lovely hot dry weather.  We left Great Haywood back in April and are now back where we started.  We have covered three Counties, Staffordshire, Warwickshire and Leicestershire and done 225 miles and 102 locks.  We spent several weeks on the lovely Ashby canal which we really enjoyed, it is so rural and has many small villages and some great farm shops and tea rooms.

Coming into Haywood Lock

We met up with our friends Gerry and Honor who moor on the Gloucester & Sharpness canal and spent a great evening with them, we also met up with Pat, Patrick and Poochie on Diligent Too and spent some time with them on the Ashby, it was nice to see them again and we saw our good friends John, Sharon and Smuggler several times over the Summer, a couple of times they came by car and the other times we moored up together, it is always great to see them and spend time together.

Coming from the Lock

We had lovely little Harry the Jack Russell to stay and Sheila, Tony and Brock brought him to us and we had a lovely day with them, then when it was time for Harry to go home, his mum and dad Jane and Malcolm came to fetch him and then took us out for a fantastic meal, we had such a lovely evening with them, good food, great company and lots of gin, just perfect!

Great Haywood Junction

We are going to be staying on the Staffordshire & Worcestershire canal and part of the Shropshire Union canal for the Winter, the same area as last year as it worked out really well for us.  Hopefully I will be starting work shortly and Kev will spend the Winter chugging around and staying put for a few days and doing jobs on the boat.

 This will be our last post for a while but we will post from time to time so you can all see how we are getting on.

Thanks again for following us, it makes doing this worthwhile when we know our friends and family enjoy seeing what we are up to, we will be back travelling the canals and rivers next year and hope you follow us then.

Moored at Great Haywood Junction

 Kev & Sheila
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Wolseley Bridge to Great Haywood (below the lock) - Trent & Mersey Canal

Thursday 1^st November

We are on the move this morning, it was drizzly and overcast at first, then it cleared away and the sun came out so we set off from our mooring.

Another Bright Day

Cows by the Canal

We chugged along the canal and soon came to Colwich lock where there was a boat just going in the lock.  I got off and walked up to the lock and helped the chap.  Another boat came the other way so the boat in the lock went out and the other boat came in.

Waiting Outside The Lock

Coming into Colwich Lock

Then it was our turn  and Kev brought the boat in, I shut the gates and started filling the lock.  As I was doing this, three boats turned up to go down the lock and not one person came to help until the lock was full and I was opening the gate, never mind par for the course these days!

We came out the lock and went on our way past Little Haywood and then we were approaching Great Haywood and moored up in a nice open spot with views of Shugborough Hall.

In Colwich Lock

We had lunch then went for a walk up to the village and popped into the Spar shop then walked down to the farm shop and had a wander around there and then went in the café for a coffee and sat on the terrace by the canal as it was a sunny afternoon.

We then walked back down the canal to the boat.

We are staying moored down here for a couple of days then we will go up through the lock to the junction on Saturday.

Moored at Great Haywood

Rugeley to Wolseley Bridge - Trent & Mersey Canal

Yesterday (Tuesday), we stayed put and did some shopping and went for a walk.

Round The Bend We Go

Coming to the Aqueduct

This morning we are on the move just a few miles to Wolseley Bridge and the sun was shining as we set off.

Passing "our Bench" in the Nature Reserve

Passing NB  Dexta

We chugged on along the canal and over the aqueduct.  The canal was quiet today and we didn’t see many boats.  The River Trent runs alongside the canal and we passed the bench we sit on when we visit the Nature Reserve which is the other side of the River Trent.

We passed NB Dexta the diesel boat, under the bridge and moored up at Wolseley Bridge.

Bank Vole

Bird Feeders in Nature Reserve

Greenfinches

Heron in the River Trent

We had lunch, then walked up to the nature reserve and had a nice walk around there, it was a lovely sunny afternoon.  We went into the bird hide and watched the birds on the feeders, two Greenfinches, some Blue Tits, a Robin and a Chaffinch.  We then walked on through the reserve and watched the Bank Voles running around their home which is a big pile of wood and even saw a Heron standing in the River Trent so plenty of wild life around today.

Next to the Nature Reserve is a garden centre so we popped in there and had a wander around, had a coffee in the café then walked back to the boat.

We are staying here tonight then off back to Great Haywood tomorrow.

Moored at Wolseley Bridge

Plum Pudding, Armitage to Rugeley - Trent & Mersey Canal

Monday 29^th October

Getting Diesel from Auriga

Going Under Road Bridge

We are on the move today after a weekend moored outside the Plum Pudding Italian Restaurant as I went back to Weston last week to visit family.  I came back on Saturday and got the bus from Stafford back to Armitage where the Plum Pudding is.  We had Sunday lunch there and it was excellent, it’s a great place and well worth a visit. Sunday morning the diesel boat Auriga came past so we stopped him and got some diesel, he’s a very friendly chap and we shall definitely use him again.

Armitage Tunnel

Passing Rugeley Power Station

We are only going a couple of miles today to Rugeley and the sun was shining as we set off but quite chilly.  We approached Armitage tunnel which used to have a roof but it was removed some years ago, it is very narrow and no room to pass but we didn’t meet any boats today so we were soon through there and then stopped at the water point to fill up the tank.

Another Nice Morning

Passing Auriga

Coming Into Rugeley

We then went on our way under a few bridges and we passed a few boats coming the other way.  We were approaching the railway bridge near Rugeley and coming the other way was the Auriga the diesel boat, we passed okay and then we were at Rugeley where we moored up.

We spent the afternoon shopping, it’s a good place to stock up on supplies.

We are staying here for a couple of days now and chugging off on Wednesday.  The old Power Station at Rugeley is going to be knocked down to make way for new houses, so when we come back down this way again which probably won't be for a year or two, it will be gone, it is such an iconic sight and you can see it for quite a distance so you always know when you are getting to Rugeley when the towers come into view, it won't be quite the same when they are gone.

An Iconic Sight

Fradley (before Swing Bridge) - Coventry Canal to Handsacre - Trent & Mersey Canal

It was another dry sunny day when we got up.  We did the washing and filled the tank with water as we were moored near a tap and our hose pipe just reached so that was lucky as we didn't have to move up to the water point.

Here He Comes

Going Through the Swing Bridge

We then untied and set off, I went to open the swing bridge that will take us onto the Trent & Mersey canal, but a boat was coming in, so he opened the bridge and came through, then it was our turn.

Back onto the Trent & Mersey Canal

I left Kev to shut the bridge and I walked up past the Swan Inn to the lock, we have three to do today.  Kev came out onto the junction and turned left and came up to the lock.

In Middle Lock

There was a boat coming down so when they came out Kev went in.  There was a volunteer on this lock today so he helped me and we were soon through and on to the next one.

I can see you!

The lock was empty so I opened the gates and Kev came in.  I shut the gates and opened the paddles to fill the lock, no one was coming so we shut the gates and went on our way along the canal.

Coming into Shadehouse Lock

In Wood End Lock

After a short while we were approaching Wood End lock, there was a volunteer on this lock as well and she had the gates open for us, so I got off at the lock landing and walked up to the lock and Kev went in the lock.

This lock is not very deep so we were soon through there, there was a few boats waiting to go down so we went out the lock leaving the gates open for the next boat.

Another Bridge

Lovely Autumn Day

We chugged on for another couple of miles, it was a glorious sunny day with lovely blue sky and then in the distance we saw the chimneys of the old Power Station at Rugeley so we knew Handsacre where we were mooring was not far away and sure enough around a few more bends and we were there.

Rugeley Power Station

We moored up, had lunch then went out for a walk, up to the bus stop to check the times of the buses to Stafford then on up the road to the shop.  We then walked back to the boat.

I am off back down to Weston tomorrow until Saturday so I am getting the bus from here in the morning to Stafford, then the train to Bristol.  Kev is staying with the boat and chugging up to the Plum Pudding at Armitage to meet me there on Saturday.

Moored at Handsacre

Kings Orchard (By Marina) to Fradley (before Swing Bridge) - Coventry Canal

Saturday 20^th October

Sun Peeping Through The Trees

We are going about four miles today back up to Fradley Junction.  It was another dry day but still a bit chilly as we set off along the canal, the sun was peeping through the trees so another sunny day ahead I think.

Is This A Bridge Or A Tunnel!

We chugged on along the canal under a few bridges and one of them was more like a short tunnel than two bridges put together.  We passed a few boats coming the other way and after a few miles we were approaching Fradley Junction and we moored up before the swing bridge which takes you out to the junction and onto the Trent & Mersey.

Nice Reflections in the Water

We had brunch then went out for a walk, we walked down past the cafe and over the bridge and had a walk around Fradley pool then out onto the canal and back down to the cafe and had a coffee sat by the canal watching the boats go by.

Sitting by the Lock at Fradley

It was a lovely sunny warm afternoon so we walked up to the top of the locks and sat on a bench in the sunshine, we then walked back down and found another bench as it was too nice to go and sit in the boat.  We did go back eventually as it was getting a bit chilly and it was time to light the fire.

We are staying here tonight then off up three locks and four miles tomorrow to Handsacre.

Moored at Fradley Junction