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