The river’s down so we head off to Branston.

We dropped down the locks either side of Alrewas this morning, down onto the short river section that was closed for a day or so due to that heavy rain.

Bagnall Lock


Through the village


I‘m sure we’ve met the couple on Majestic and Idyllic, maybe sharing locks. But I was actually taking a picture of the heavily overgrown trees opposite the moorings above the lock.

Alrewas Lock and the river section 
The notice on the lock said that the river section was open but boaters should “Proceed With Caution”
The level was down but the stream was running at 2 or 3 mph down to the large weir. Below that it was slower but still noticeable.




We had a bit of a wait at Wychnor Lock where the navigation returns to be wholly artificial rather than modified river, then carried on along the long, noisy straights which are followed by the busy A38 running alongside.


Barton Marina, where we spent the winter of 2012-2013 while Mags was recovering from her stroke.
The one and only time we’ve taken a winter mooring.

The odd Bridge 36.
No room for a towpath, and it changes sides here until Tatenhill Lock. You’d expect it to be a roving bridge, so the boat horse didn’t have to drop the tow.
Ordnance Survey maps from the turn of the last century show the bridge and towpath in the current configuration so it’s a bit of a puzzle.

A boat was just leaving Barton Lock as we arrived, so that was handy and a quick descent, then we had another 40 minutes or so to Tatenhill Lock where we caught up with another boat.

The locks are shallower as the slope of the Trent Valley eases towards Burton, so they’re quick to empty and fill. Another 15 minutes saw us tied up just beyond the new bridge at Branston.

Hot dog


We’ll wait out the showers tomorrow, then into Burton on Monday. I’ve a collection waiting for me in an Amazon Locker at Morrisons, and then we’ll fill with diesel at Shobnall. We’ll probably stay on the moorings at Shobnall Fields for a night or two.

Locks 5, miles 5¾