Wolseley Bridge to Great Haywood (Trent & Mersey Canal)

We are on the move today only a few miles to Great Haywood and although the sun wasn’t shining, no rain at the moment, quite chilly though, more like Autumn than Spring!

Off Along the Canal We Go

A couple of boats came by so we waited for them to pass and then we set off along the canal and soon came to Colwich lock.  The boat in front of us was just going into the lock, so I went and gave them a hand and just as they were going out another boat came the other way so Kev and I did the lock for them and they went on their way and Kev brought the boat in and up we went. 

Waiting Below Colwich Lock

In Colwich Lock

Just as we were leaving the lock, another boat was coming down so we left the gates open for them and went on our way.

We were soon approaching Great Haywood and you get a lovely view of Shugborough Hall as you chug along this section, it is now owed by the National Trust and used to belong to the Earl of Lichfield’s family.

In Haywood Lock

Shugborough Hall

Next we came to Haywood lock and there was a boat just coming out so in we went.  We filled the lock and there was a boat waiting to come down, so we chugged out and left the gates open for them and we moored up in the visitor moorings just before the junction with the Staffordshire & Worcester canal.  These moorings are very popular and usually full but today there was plenty of space which was good as it is nice and open here and we have never been able to get a space before.

Nice Cottage by the Canal

We walked up to the services to empty the elsan and got rid of the rubbish which had built up over the last few days and then back to the boat.

We watched the Grand Prix and just chilled out.  We went for a walk up to the Farm shop and had a coffee in the cafe.  We are staying here tonight and also tomorrow and then going into the marina here at Great Haywood on Tuesday as we have to go back to Weston for a few days.

Moored at Great Haywood

Tafts Farm to Wolseley Bridge - Trent & Mersey Canal

Passing the Boaters Christian Fellowship HQ

We are on the move today, although not very far just up to Wolseley Bridge where the The Wolseley Centre and Nature Reserve is. 

Craft Centre

It was another overcast day and a few rain spots but we set off anyway.  Just up from where we were moored is NB Dexta, the diesel boat which is moored at Taft Farm so we pulled up alongside and the lady who runs it came down.  She is really friendly and also breeds sheep and pigs and sells the meat at the farm along with eggs.

We filled up with diesel and then went on our way just along the canal and moored up just after the bridge.

Nice Sculpture

Goose on her Nest

We walked up to the Nature Reserve and on the way is a small Craft Centre so we had a look in there on the way past.

River Trent

The Broadwalk

Mum and Babies

The Wolseley Centre has a visitor centre and gift shop and is set in 26 acres.  There is a network of accessible footpaths which weave around the grounds and you can take a picnic beside the three lakes or the River Trent which runs through the grounds.  There is a broadwalk around the pools and alongside the River Trent.  There are also some natural sculptures and willow creations around the grounds and lots of benches to sit down and enjoy the tranquility.

There's 12 Under There!

Garden Centre

We had a good wander around and bumped into an old chap who we saw here a couple of years ago when we were last here, he comes every day and knows the reserve really well.  We had rain on and off while we were wandering around but it didn’t really come to anything.

We saw a couple of geese on nests and there was also a duck with 12 babies and they went into a shallow bit near one of the pools and they all washed and then when we came back around they were all under their mum and she was asleep, obviously siesta time!

Next door there is a garden centre so we went in there and had a wander around and had a drink in the cafe then walked back to the boat. 

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

Moored at Wolseley Bridge

Armitage to Tafts Farm - Trent & Mersey Canal

Thursday 26^th April

We are on the move today only a mile or so up to Rugeley so we can do some shopping and wait for the laptop to be ready as we can easily walk back from there.

The sun was shining but it was a bit breezy.  We went across to the other side of the canal where the tap is and filled up with water then headed off up the canal and soon we were at Rugeley.  We moored up in the visitor moorings.

Going under the Railway Bridge

Another Bridge Coming into Rugeley

We had ordered a couple of things from Tesco Direct as there is a large Tesco in Rugeley right by the canal so we walked over there, got a few supplies and picked up our items.  We walked back to the boat, had some lunch then headed out again up to the Aldi and Morrisons.

We got everything we wanted and headed back to the boat.  We heard from Joe and he said the laptop would be ready this afternoon.  We just chilled out for a bit and then we heard from Joe that it was ready, so we walked back down the canal to bridge 64 and followed the path up to the road and into the business park, unfortunately Joe’s office was the farthest away but we were soon there and picked up our laptop.  We had really good service from him and he seemed really knowledgeable and we would definitely recommend him, his company is called Symmetry IT Solutions in Rugeley.

We walked back along the canal to the boat, it was a lovely sunny evening and the forecast for tomorrow is not good and we were planning to move on, so we decided to go this evening, so when we got back, we got ready, untied and off we went.

Sign Near Aqueduct

The Bloody Steps

We chugged on through Rugeley and then came to Brindly Bank aqueduct where the canal crosses over the River Trent and also on the opposite of the canal is some steps called “The Bloody Steps”.  They are called this as in 1839 Christina Collins was travelling to London to join her husband and booked a passage on a narrowboat, but unfortunately the men on the boat she was travelling on killed her and left her body in the canal and legend has it that locals carried her body up the steps and into the Talbot Inn and apparently sometimes blood can be seen seeping down the steps!

Crossing the Aqueduct

We carried on over the aqueduct and along the canal and moored up just before the diesel boat Dexta which is moored at Taft’s farm.  We will fill up with diesel when we leave on Saturday.

We are staying here tonight and also tomorrow as it is supposed to rain most of the day and then on Saturday we will carry on

Friday 27^th April

When we woke up this morning, it was raining and did rain for most of the day, so we were confined to barracks.  We just had a lazy day and sorted out the laptop and caught up with the blog.  Tomorrow hopefully it will be dry and we will chug on.

Moored At Tafts Farm

A Couple of Days at Armitage

Tuesday 24^th April

We are staying put again today as we are still waiting for our laptop to be fixed.  It needs a new hard drive so probably won’t be fixed until Thursday.  It wasn’t a vey nice day and rain was forecast so we decided to have a day on the boat.  Kev is doing up a table for the front so he spent some time rubbing it down and putting on undercoat, I did some emails and generally we just chilled out.  We went out for a walk in the afternoon and then just chilled out for the rest of the day.

Wednesday 25^th April

It was a better day today weather wise so we went for a walk along the towpath and up into the village of Armitage to the Butchers and Bakers shop there.  There was a few caches on this stretch so we did them as we walked along.  We bought a few things then walked back down the road to the Plum Pudding Italian restaurant and had a spot of lunch.  They do a full menu but also they do a bar menu so we had a few dishes from that menu, they do belly pork in honey which is absolutely delicious and a really good charcuterie board, they also have a good gin menu and I had Strawberry Gin called Puerto de Indias from Spain and lovely it was too.

We were walking back to the boat and the sky went very dark and we had a short sharp shower, we ran for cover under the road bridge and chatted to a man with two lovely dogs which were Coltrievers (cross between a Collie and a Retriever), the rain stopped so we all carried on and we hadn’t got far when the heavens opened again and we got soaked, luckily it only lasted a few minutes and then the sun came out.  We got back to the boat and chilled out for the rest of the day.  Joe the chap who is mending our laptop rang to say he had got the hard drive and was working on it.  Hopefully the laptop should be ready by tomorrow.

Top Fradley Locks to Armitage (near Water Point - Trent & Mersey Canal

Monday 23rd April

Coming to Wood End Lock

The sun was shining this morning when we got up, but there was a chilly wind.  We set off along the canal and soon came to Wood End lock which has a nice cottage next to it.  The lock is not very deep so we didn't take very long to get through and on we went.

We travelled a few miles and then we were passing the Plum Pudding where we had a lovely meal last week.  Not far from there is Armitage tunnel which is very narrow and no room to pass, so I got off the boat and walked along there to see if it was clear and it was, so Kev came through on the boat and I got back on and we chugged on a short way past the tunnel and moored up near where we had moored on the way down.

Coming into Wood End Lock

Very Narrow in this Tunnel

We then set out to find the computer place.  We did go the wrong way first but then headed in the right direction and soon found it.  It was in an office building, so we went into the reception and a chap called Joe came out to see us.  

We told him what had happened and he said he would take a look and get back to us and said there would be no problem in retrieving my photos, he was very nice and friendly and seemed to know what he was talking about so we left the laptop with him.

We saw on Mr Google there was a co-op not far away so we went to find it, and it wasn't far away in an area called Brereton and Ravenhill.  We walked through a park and apparently there used to be a colliery there.  We found the co-op and got a few supplies then walked back to the boat via the canal towpath.

We will be staying here now a few days until the laptop is fixed.

Going Through Armitage Tunnel

Alrewas to Fradley (above top lock) - Trent & Mersey Canal

Sunday 22nd April

We are on the move today and the sun was shining as we set off along the canal.  Last night the water dropped about 6 inches and we were on quite an angle, it felt I was walking up hill to the bathroom so Kev went out and let out the ropes so we were away from the side and a bit more level.  The water went up overnight so when we woke up, we were floating again.

In Bagnall Lock

Coming to Fradley Locks

We have seven locks to do today, the first, Bagnall lock was just around the corner from where we were moored, so I walked up to the lock and a boat was going up in front of us so I helped them and the lady from that boat said she would stay and help me with the bottom gates as they won't stay shut and it needs two people one to hold them shut and the other to go quickly to the other end and open a paddle so that’s what we did after Kev came into the lock.

Going up Fradley Locks

Lots of People Watching Today!

We chugged on along the canal and got to common lock.  We got through there okay and on we went and then came to the start of the five Fradley locks. We went up the first two locks and stopped at the services to fill up with water, get rid of rubbish and empty the elsan.

When we were ready, I walked to the next lock where there was a volunteer, there are usually volunteers on all these locks but not today, just our luck!  At least we had help on one.  This is a very busy area and as the sun was shining there were lots of people watching us go through the locks, so we made sure we looked like we knew what we were doing!

Lovely Day at Fradley

We worked our way up the locks and were soon at the top lock and guess what it started raining, so we got through the lock and luckily there was a space in the visitor moorings above the lock, so we tied up there.

We had some lunch and the rain stopped and the sun came out again so we walked back down the locks and had a look in the little shop by the pub and got an ice-cream and walked around Fradley pool.  We then had a coffee in the cafe and sat by the canal for a bit, then walked back up the locks to the boat.

We are staying here tonight then off to Armitage tomorrow.

Moored at Fradley above the Locks

Visit to the National Memorial Arboretum

Saturday 21st April

Armed Forces Memorial

We are staying put today and are going to walk to the National Memorial Arboretum which is about a 20 minute walk but we have to cross the A38 so hopefully we can get across there.  We walked down through the village to the A38 and there was a safety island we could cross at, it was quite hairy getting across but we made it.  We also had to cross a railway line but fortunately it wasn't a mainline so over there and then we were at the Arboretum.

Royal Air Force Memorial

The Arboretum is set in more than 150 acres of formal gardens, wildflower meadows and maturing woodland.  It was first opened to the public in 2001 and contains more than 350 memorials for military and civilian organisations and associations together with tributes for individuals.

Lovely Bench

We went into the visitor centre where we picked up a map and then we set off into the grounds.

They have a huge memorial in the centre dedicated to the Armed Forces.  It is done in a circle with tall trees planted all around and it is on a hill so you go up steps to it.  It is very moving with all the thousands of names listed for all the conflicts up to the present day.

Christmas Truce Memorial

SAS Garden

We followed the paths around and looked at the many memorials including the Royal Air Force memorial, there was a lovely bench dedicated to the Ulster Constabulary Widows Association in the area relating to Northern Ireland.

We had some lunch in the cafe and then carried on wandering around.

Lewis Collins Plaque

Gulf War Memorial

There was a lovely garden dedicated to the Special Armed Forces and there was a plaque there for Lewis Collins of Bodies and Doyle fame who completed 21 SAS Selection as a civilian volunteer.

There was many memorials in different sections, the 1914 Christmas Truce memorial representing when English and German troops sung carols, played football together, exchanged gifts and chatted together then went back to the trenches and the next day carried on fighting.

Shot at Dawn Memorial

Parachute Regiment

The most moving memorial was the one to the Shot at Dawn, so very sad as lot of them were sick and couldn't fight but their illnesses weren't recognised and so they were shot.

It had been a glorious sunny morning but during the afternoon, it went cloudy and then started raining, so we made our way back to the visitor centre and walked back to the boat calling into the butchers in the village on the way back for some sausages and bacon as it isa very good butchers and we got back without getting too wet.

Railway Memorial

We really enjoyed our visit to the Arboretum, it is a very beautiful moving place and well worth a visit, we shall certainly be going again when we next visit this area.

When I went to do my blog this evening, our laptop died and wouldn't boot up, what a disaster as I hadn't back up my photos for a while.  We are off to Armitage on Monday and we found a computer firm there not far from the canal so we will go and see them and hopefully they can fix it and recover my photos.

Fradley Junction to Alrewas (Trent & Mersey Canal)

Fradley Church

Fradley Church

Yesterday (Thursday) we stayed at Fradley Junction and walked along the towpath and up into Fradley village, there is not that much there, a post office/shop and a lovely little church.  We had a look around the church but unfortunately it was locked so we couldn’t go inside.

In Keepers Lock

And Out He Comes

In another lock

Today, we are on the move just  a couple of miles down the canal to the village of Alrewas.  We went over to the water point first to get water and get rid of rubbish and then we set off to the lock.  There was a boat in front of us so we had to wait a bit, he was a single hander so we gave him a hand and then filled the lock and Kev brought the boat in and down we went.  I walked to the next lock as it wasn’t very far and helped the single hander again then a boat came up and then it was our turn.

Swan on a nest

We chugged on along the canal and it was another lovely warm sunny day although not as warm as yesterday.

After a bit we came to the next lock which was not very deep so it didn’t take long to go through there and on we went to the last lock for today, Bagnall Lock.  There was some CRT workers there doing something to the lock paddles so they did the lock for me which was good and so I walked on down the towpath.

And round he goes

Kev came out of the lock and turned around in the winding hole and we reversed back into the visitor moorings.

In Bagnall Lock

We had lunch then went out for a walk up into the village and stopped off at the Butchers, they also sell bread and fruit and vegetables.  We got a few things then walked on to the Co-op and got some salad stuff and then took it back to the boat.

Alrewas Church

Coming out Bagnall Lock

We then walked up to the Church which is mainly 13^th-C and 14^th-C construction, notable for the old leper window, which is now filled by modern stained glass.  There was a multi-cache in the church yard, what we had to do was find some answers to some questions which would give us the coordinates to the cache.  We soon found the answers, punched in the coordinates into the GPS on our phone and headed off to find the cache.  It was on a public footpath near a stream and we found it okay.

We then walked to Alrewas lock which is the start of the river section and sat on a bench there and watched a few boats go through the lock.  We chatted to a nice lady walking her dogs who lives in the village and then headed back to the boat.

We are staying here tonight and also tomorrow then heading back up the canal on Sunday.

Moored at Alrewas