Wolseley Bridge to Great Haywood (Trent & Mersey Canal)

Tuesday 28^th to Thursday 30^th July

Taft Bridge

Tuesday morning we moved around the corner to the moorings by Wolseley Bridge. Mid morning I walked up to the Nature Reserve and met my friend Jane and we had a good wander around the reserve and then we had lunch in the garden centre which was next door. It was a really nice day together, Kev stayed on the boat and made a few more items to sell and on Wednesday we stayed put and did a few jobs and Kev was getting things ready to sell at the weekend when we get to Great Haywood.

Off We Go

Thursday – We are on the move today just a couple of miles up the canal to Great Haywood. 

The sun was shining and it was already very warm as we set off along the canal.  It was a bit quieter this morning so we didn’t meet many boats.

Waiting at the Lock

We soon came to Colwich lock.

Quiet Canal

A boat was just going up the lock so I walked up to the lock and when they had gone out and shut the gate, I emptied the lock, opened the gates and Kev brought the boat in.  I shut one gate then attempted to shut the other gate it was really heavy and I was struggling then a friendly cyclist stopped and gave me a hand so that was good.

Colwich Lock

Smuggler's Friend!!

A boat came along wanting to go down so we went out and left the gates open for them.

We chugged on along the canal past Little Haywood and then Shugborough Hall came into view so we knew we were nearly at Great Haywood.

Shugborough Hall

Coming to the Footbridge

We moored below Haywood lock and Kev went to see if there were any spaces above the lock as we want to trade this weekend and you get more footfall there.

Coming into Haywood Lock

There were a few spaces so we untied and headed off to Haywood lock.  We went under the footbridge and then we were there. 

Haywood Lock

There was a boat going up the lock which had broken down and was being towed by another boat, so by the time they had got the broken down boat up the lock and tied it back on to the other boat and pulled it out of the lock quite a queue had built up waiting to go down, at least four boats were waiting.

Our New Signage

One came down the lock and then it was our turn.  In we went and as it is only a shallow lock, we were soon through and on our way to the moorings leaving all the kayos behind us.

We moored up a few boats from the junction.

Mind the Gap

Set up for Trading

In the afternoon, we walked down to the marina to collect some paint we had ordered from them to black our boat with when we go into dry dock in 10 days time.

We then walked back up to the farm shop and café and sat on the terrace by the canal in the shade as it was so hot and had an ice cream. I went in the farm shop and got some cooked ham and a few other things so we could have a ploughmans for our tea.

We are staying here for the weekend now and do some trading from the towpath and maybe sell a few items, the weather forecast is good so hopefully there will be lots of people about.  

Moored at Great Haywood

Rugeley to Taft Bridge (Trent & Mersey Canal)

Monday 27^th July

Blue Sky at the Moment

We were going to move this morning after we had finished our shopping but it rained on and off all morning so we abandoned the idea.

Off We Go

Tree Overhanging the Canal

We had lunch and mid afternoon, it brightened up and the sun came out, so we decided to move a couple of miles up to near Taft Bridge where there is a lovely mooring just for one boat and if that is taken there are other nice moorings a bit further on.

Passing the Bloody Steps

We set off along the canal under a bridge and leaving Rugeley behind us.

Coming to the Aqueduct

We then came to the bend in the canal where the bloody steps are, past them and over the aqueduct we went and on along the canal.

Black Clouds are Coming

We had a few spots of rain but nothing much and then the sun came out again.

Passing a Swan

View from our Mooring

We went on a bit further and was glad to see the mooring spot for one was empty so we moored up there and within five minutes of us getting here, the heavens opened and it poured down but we were inside all nice and dry so how lucky was that.

We are staying here tonight then tomorrow we are moving around the corner to Wolseley Bridge and I am meeting my friend Jane at the Nature Reserve for a walk around and lunch at the garden centre so looking forward to that.

Moored Near Taft Bridge

Plum Pudding, Armitage to Rugeley (Trent & Mersey Canal)

Saturday 25^th and Sunday 26^th July

Leaving the Plum Pudding

Yesterday (Saturday) it was my birthday, so we went for a walk in the morning up to the Butchers, when we started out, it was dry so we didn’t take coats but half way there the heavens opened, luckily we were near a bus shelter so we stayed in there until the rain stopped and the sun came out.  In the evening, we went in the Plum Pudding for a meal and our Audlem family, Jane, Malcolm, Dave and Anthea joined us, we had a lovely evening with lovely food and great company.

Here He Comes

Passing the long term boats

Today we are on the move just a couple of miles to the town of Rugeley.

Armitage Tunnel

We set off along the canal and just around the corner is Armitage tunnel, well it used to be a tunnel until they removed the roof some years ago.  It is very narrow and only room for one boat so I walked ahead to check it was all clear, it was so Kev came through.

Two Bridges Coming Up

Old Power Station Amongst Houses

We went past the long term moorings and stopped at the water point. Once the tank was full, we set off again.

Moorhen collecting reeds

Under a few bridges we went and past lots of canal side houses and then we were approaching Rugeley.

Moorhen & Youngster

The moorings were quiet so we found a space to moor up easily.

Another Bridge

Buddleia by the Canal

In the afternoon we walked up to the Aldi and Morrisons to get a few supplies.  They were both quiet so we went straight in wearing our masks and it was good to see that the majority of other shoppers were wearing them as well.

Coming into Rugeley

Outside of Morrisons is a fruit and veg shop. Their fruit and veg is really good and a good price so we got peaches, nectarines, oranges, English raspberries and strawberries, grapes, a pineapple for 39p! and some veg.

We are staying here tonight as we need to pop to a few other shops before we leave then we will head on tomorrow morning.

Moored at Rugeley

Fradley Junction to Plum Pudding, Armitage (Trent & Mersey Canal)

Thursday 23^rd and Friday 24^th July

Thursday we stayed put at Fradley Junction and just went for a walk up the lock, then onto the Coventry Canal to the first bridge and then back along the road to Fradley Junction. We stopped in the cafe for coffee and toasted tea cakes.

Coming into our first lock

Moored at the water point

Today (Friday) we are leaving Fradley and heading back to the Plum Pudding Italian restaurant at Armitage.

Kids watching the boat come up

Our friendly lock keeper

We wanted to fill up with water, get rid of rubbish, etc., and the services was just across the canal from where we were moored.  There were two boats there so when one moved, over we went. The other boat started filling up their water tank, this tap is not very fast and the water trickles out, it didn’t help that the boat filling up had one of those expandable hose pipes that fits into a box, it took for ever.  Eventually it was our turn and we have a normal hosepipe but it didn’t come out much quicker.

Gemma Panda at Fradley Junction

Passing the Junction

We have four locks to do today, so when we had finished at the services, I walked up to the lock, a boat was just coming down, so we had to wait our turn.

There was several children at the lock wanting to help with the gates and were fascinated by the workings of the lock.

There were a few volunteers on the locks so that always helps.  There were a couple of boats in front of us so passage was slow up the locks at Fradley. We went through the second lock and onto the top lock at Fradley.

In Fradley Top Lock

Boats breasted up

The lock keeper helped me with the lock and eventually we were leaving Fradley behind us.

At the top of the locks in the moorings there was two boats breasted up in the narrowest bit, we got through okay but it made it more difficult, we just had to be careful we didn’t go too far over as it is shallow there and you could easily get stuck like a boat did the other day so the lock keeper said.

We went on along the canal and it was very warm and the sun came out, although when we first set off to the water point, it was very overcast and misty rain, but it has turned into a lovely warm day.

We were then approaching Wood End lock where there was a queue here as well with two boats in front of us and a couple waiting to come down. 

Quiet stretch of canal

Lovely Sunny Day Now

We both went up to the lock to help and got the two boats in front of us and the couple waiting to come down through the lock, although it seemed to take for ever and then it was our turn but guess what even though there was three boats behind us waiting to come up, not one of them came up to help so I started to do the lock on my own, I think this is why it was taking so long to get through here because no-one was helping anyone else, very selfish.

Queue at Wood End Lock

The chap on a boat coming down helped me so that was good.  We came out of the lock and they came in and still no-one came to help!

Coming to a bridge

At last we were through and on our way leaving it all behind us which was good as we were both losing the will to live!  We had another four miles to do from here which seemed daunting as it had taken us over three hours to get water, do four locks and travel one mile but hopefully now there weren’t any more locks we could get on.

How do you see to steer!

We passed Kings Bromley marina and went under a few bridges then passed through Handsacre.

We went on and the chimneys from the old power station at Rugeley came into view.  We were soon passing through Handsacre and past the toilet factory at Armitage, around a couple of bends and the Plum Pudding Italian restaurant/bar came into view. 

Rugeley Power Station

There was one boat on the moorings so plenty of room for us. We were glad to tie up after all the waiting around at locks and water points this morning, all in all it had taken us over 5 hours to get here and has never taken that long before, I needed a lie down!

Willow Curtain

On a Friday they serve food all afternoon and evening so we decided to go there for an early tea.

Gemma Panda at the Plum Pudding

We had tapas style dishes, sweet chilli chicken wings, slow cooked honey soaked belly pork, home battered cod goujons and Arancini Pomodoro washed down with Guiness for Kev and Whitley Neill Raspberry gin for me, sat on the terrace by the canal.  It was all delicious and the quality and quantity was as good as ever.

We are staying here until Sunday as tomorrow is my birthday and our special friends from Audlem, Jane, Malcolm, Dave and Anthea are coming to see us in the evening and we are all going for a meal here so really looking forward to that then we shall head on a bit further back up the canal.

Moored at the Plum Pudding, Armitage