Armitage to Handsacre - Trent & Mersey Canal

Armitage Tunnel

Very Narrow and Rocky

Going under Road Bridge

It was a glorious sunny morning as we set off along the canal and we soon came to Armitage tunnel which had its roof removed years ago, it is very narrow and there is room for only one boat and you should send a member of your crew ahead to make sure nothing is coming the other way, there was a boat in front of us so we followed them through, they were lucky as they didn't send someone ahead and it was clear, if we had done that, there would have been a flotilla of boats coming the other way!

Local Shops Mooring

The Plum Pudding

Passing the Armitage Toilet Factory

We went through the narrow tunnel and under the road bridge and out into the sunshine and on our way.   We chugged past the Plum Pudding Italian restaurant, we were tempted to stop but resisted, but will do so on our return, past the moorings for local shops and also the Armitage toilet factory under another railway bridge and moored up at Handsacre just before The Crown pub which is right on the canal.

Me and our Visitors

We had some lunch, then went for a walk up the road to the Butcher/Bakery, it is a really good shop and was very busy, we bought a few things then walked back down the road and in the driveway of one of the houses was a car covered in artificial grass, it was advertising their business, looked very strange, that’s what happens if you let the grass grow under your wheels!!

Michael's Fish Bar

The 'Green' Car!

Having Fish & Chips

We stopped in The Crown on the way back for some refreshments.  We took our shopping back to the boat then walked back up to the post office as we needed to get some cash and forgot to get it on our first walk.  I then received a text from Sharon to see if we were on the boat as they were up at Great Haywood where their boat is in the marina there and as that is only a few miles from us, they were going to pop over and see us.

Moby Dick!

They arrived late afternoon and we had a drink and a catch up, Kev and I were having fish and chips for tea from Michaels Fish Bar next to the Crown pub so John, Sharon and Smugs said they would join us.  We all had haddock and chips and they were delicious, some of the best we have had.  It was a lovely sunny evening so we sat in the front of the boat to eat them. 

Yum Yum

We saved Smugs some chips and he really enjoyed them, well we couldn't leave him out.

The Crown Inn

We watched the F1 qualifying and then it was time for John, Sharon and Smugs to go back to the marina and their boat.  It was really nice to see them again, a lovely surprise visit.  They will be heading out on their boat for their summer trip in a couple of weekends and coming down this way so we may meet again on this trip and if not this time, it will be in the not too distant future I am sure.

We are staying here tonight and also tomorrow, then heading off on Monday.

Moored at Handsacre