Acton Trussell to Penkridge (Staffs & Worcs. Canal)

Tuesday 18^th August

Our Starters

We had a lovely meal last night at the Moat House.  I had potted hot smoked salmon and Kev had twice fried chicken fillets with Korean sauce, main course, mine was marinated chicken skewers, Indian style sauce, Bombay potatoes and kachumber salad, Kev had a burger with all the trimmings and skinny fries.  

Main Courses

We even managed a dessert, mine was salted caramel cheesecake with peanut Choc chip ice cream and Peanut tuilles and Kev had chocolate orange torte with buttermilk and honey ice cream and honeycomb and a chocolate tuille.  I also had an orange and cacao gin made by Sipsmith, it was delicious and the best thing was they brought our drinks and a few minutes later, our server brought two more of the same drinks, she said that the person at the bar had poured them again by accident and so we might as well have them for free as otherwise they would only throw them away, we didn’t refuse!

Our Desserts

It’s a really nice place, great quality, very friendly and good service.  We were chatting to one of the waiters and he said they had 108 people in for food last night, says it all really, it’s well worth a visit when passing by.

Off We Go

We had rain in the night but we were glad to see it had stopped and the sun was shining when we got up as we are moving on this morning.

We left our mooring and set off along the canal to our first lock, we have four to do today.  I opened the gates and Kev came in.  A boat turned up waiting to come down so I had some help and by the time we were coming out of the lock, another two had turned up, they all seem to be going that way this morning.

Coming into our First Lock

White Ducks on the Canal

We chugged on along the canal and on this stretch a road runs right alongside the canal.  We then came to Park Gate lock where there was a boat coming down so when they came out, we went in.  There was boats waiting to come down this one as well so again I had help.

We went on and under the M6 motorway and was soon approaching the next lock, Longford lock, a boat had just come out of the lock and they had kindly left the gates open for us, so Kev dropped me off on the towpath and went into the lock. There was a boat waiting to come down this lock as well so that made our passage easy.

In Shutt Hill Lock

Road Alongside the Canal

Coming to Park Gate Lock

Going under the M6

Park Gate Lock

We were soon through there and on our way again and soon approaching the outskirts of Penkridge.

Sign at the Lock

Coming to a Bridge

We had one more lock to do, Penkridge lock.  When we got there a boat was just coming down, so once they were out, it was our turn.  A couple of boats were waiting to come up behind us, so I had help with this lock as well.  The services are right after the lock on the offside, so we came out of the lock and moored up in the services to get water and empty the loo.

Coming to Longford Lock

Once the water tank was full, we untied and moved a bit further along to the visitor moorings and we were glad to see there was a space for us.

In Penkridge Lock

Coming into Penkridge

In the afternoon, we walked into the village where there is a Butchers, a Bakers, a Co-op and a small Sainsburys.  We stopped for a coffee in Kaffiene, a nice café where we have been before and they were doing the 50% off so nice cheap coffee today!

We are staying here tonight and also tomorrow as there is a big market here on a Wednesday so we will have a wander around there and move on a bit further on Thursday.

Moored at Penkridge