Lucky, lucky day.

Lucky (1).
It’s been a cracking day, far better than forecast with sun for must of the time, very little wind and no rain.

Lucky (2).
All of the six locks we’ve done today were empty when we arrived. Either a boat had just come down, or was just about to. And three had boats waiting at the top, so I could leave the top gate open. Result! This meant we were able to do the 3 miles and 6 locks to Gailey in just 1½ hours.

We left Penkridge in sunshine at 10:15, with just 5 minutes to go to the first, Filance, lock.

Leaving Penkridge moorings

Meg and I walked around the corner, so the gates were open ready for Mags to steam straight in. And this set the tone for the day.

Mags comes into Filance Lock

With clear skies last night it turned chilly, down to about 5°, but it didn’t take long to warm up to a very acceptable 16°. Still staying in shorts for a bit, yet.

Out of Penkridge the canal passes Otherton Boat Haven, then through Otherton Lock and parallel to the M6 for just over ½ a mile. Groundwork was going on on the embankment at one point and there were a few cut logs part way up, but there was a lot of activity with earthmovers and other heavy plant around, and I don’t think they’d have wanted me up there liberating firewood. But if you’re passing at the weekend….

At Rodbaston Lock the canal and motorway diverge as the navigation follows a staggered loop out to Gailey around Calf Heath. The heath is just 10 feet higher than the canal above Gailey but the canal sticks stubbornly to the 338 foot contour.

The delightfully named Bogg’s Lock
Tug-style NB Persia waits above to take our vacated lock.

Rodbaston, Bogg’s, Brick Kiln and Gailey Locks all occur within just over half a mile, then there’s a long, level pound to and past Autherley Junction. So Gailey Lock was our last for today, and indeed our last on this canal.

Heading towards Gailey Lock, NB Canny Fox having just left.

The almost compulsory shot of Gailey Top Lock, with the Roundhouse behind

The unusual building was the toll house for this stretch. The Staffs and Worcester has some unique architecture, further south the Bratch Locks have an octagonal lock-keepers look-out.

With the hire base above and it now being out of season, it was pretty congested around the lock.

The canal spends the next 4 miles or so describing a wiggly “S”, avoiding the rising ground and passing Hatherton Marina and the entrance to the Hatherton Branch on the left.

Hatherton Junction
From here the Hatherton Branch ran for 3½ miles through 8 locks to link up with the Wryley and Essington Canal. From here branches ran south to join the Birmingham Canal Navigations and east to join the Coventry Canal via the Lichfield Canal.

The Lichfield and Hatherton Canals Restoration Trust is seeking to restore both navigations, creating an east-west link from the Staffs and Worcester and the Coventry, and also re-establishing the connection to Birmingham. It’s an ambitious project with quite a few obstacles to overcome.



We were intending to moor near Coven, but spotted a very pleasant bit of piling near Bridge 74, so pulled in there. It was only about 1 o’clock, but I’ve not wasted the afternoon. I finished the book I was reading (John Grisham’s The Racketeer, a very good read) then chopped up the remaining rounds of wood that were still on the roof. It’s all stacked in the cratch now, and my roof rack is nearly empty, just waiting for some more logs.

Moored near Bridge 74

A change of canal tomorrow, up to Brewood, maybe.

Locks 6, miles 6

West and South in sunshine and showers.

The Staffs and Worcester Canal heads west for a start, following the River Sow to Stafford where it swings around Baswich Hill and heads purposefully south. We got away at 10:45, after I’d been to see NB Rock’n’Roll off to Fradley. George and Carol had been joined by Kevin and Ann, who will be taking over ownership in the spring when the Rocker’s new boat is finished.

Mob-handed today, a brew for starters….

…then ready for the off.

Our trip took us through Tixall Wide, a very popular mooring spot in the summer, but looking a bit abandoned today with only two boats on the bank.

Tixall Wide
There are two stories of how the Wide came about. When the canal was cut in 1771, the landowner, Thomas Clifford, had had his grounds landscaped by Capability Brown, and didn’t want a “ditch” in view of the Hall. He would, however consent to a broad stretch which would look like a lake…
Or
…. the lake already existed on the proposed route of the canal, and was merely incorporated into the navigation.
Either way, it’s a splendid spot to moor. The canal had the last laugh. Although the 16thC gatehouse still stands, the Hall was demolished in 1928.

Tixall Lock is the first on the canal heading south, and is also a pretty location.



Chas and Anne will easily recognise the picture above, they’ve a painting of the same with Moore2Life in the lock.

We crossed the Trent on an aqueduct near the junction yesterday, today it was the Sow we passed over. Normally clear and visibly full of fish, today, after the rain, it’s brown and silty as it rushes to join the larger river.

Over the Sow aqueduct

The weather up to now had been dull, but we soon had drizzle and heavier rain as we headed towards Milford. The canal along here is narrow and shallow, making for slow going. At Milford Bridge the towpath swaps sides over a turnover bridge.

Milford Bridge
Effective, but not as elegant as it’s northern cousins on the Macclesfield Canal.

Reedy on the left, shallow on the right

The railway is a constant and often intrusive companion on this westerly leg, but the electric blue flash of a kingfisher dashing ahead of us is adequate compensation.

The canal turns left to head south between Stafford and Baswich. It was on this bend that a now abandoned navigation connected the canal to Stafford. The Stafford Branch Canal and Sow Navigation took boats to a coal wharf in the middle of the town.

Stafford Branch Junction 
From here a short channel led to a lock down into the River Sow, made navigable upstream into the town and downstream a short way to a flour mill. Opened in 1816, it was finally closed in 1920. The link channel has been mainly infilled, and the river silted, but there is a proposal to reinstate the connection. It would be good to be able to cruise into Stafford, rather than get the bus!

Even if restored, it’s unlikely that it would be usable today. There’s a little too much water in the river for safety…

The weather improved as we headed south, now it wasn’t the rain in eyes that was a nuisance, it was the sun! Not complaining, mind.

Stafford Boat Club has a fine mooring basin and clubhouse on the Hazelstrine Arm.

Stafford Boat Club

The arm also marks the end of the built up area around Stafford. A mile or two up the canal it skirts the dormitory village of Acton Trussell. Lots of recent housing encroaches on the left bank, but it’s all very tidy. I think there must a local by-law that insists on perfectly manicured lawns!

Acton Trussell





It always reminds of a setting for The Stepford Wives….

Even the church has been banished to the southern edge of the village. Dating from the 13thC, it’s just sooooo old!


St. James, Acton Trussell

Now we’ve lost the railway, the M6 starts to make it’s presence felt as it slowly converges from the west. Just above Park Gate Lock it crosses the navigation.

M6 Bridge, sunlight reflecting off the water ahead.

Longford Lock is on the fringes of Penkridge, our last but one for today. We moored above here in November 2010, waking to a crust of ice on the water before moving on into Penkridge for shopping. Little did we know that we’d be there for the next 17 days before breaking ice out to Gailey, stopping another 4 weeks there.

Penkridge Lock took us up to the 48 hour visitor moorings in the village.

By our standards it’s been a long day in harness, 4½ hours is twice our norm! but it’s been a good day.

Overnight here, then on to maybe Coven tomorrow.

Locks 6, miles 10

‘Tis a bit damp….

Rain with wind, wind on it’s own, rain on it’s own, hail, thunderstorms, my word, what a weekend. And we’re not moving much. I take pity on those that are having to cruise in such grim conditions.

Two crews we know have done just that, first there was George and Carol on NB Rock’n’Roll, appearing out of the drizzle yesterday afternoon…

…then Terry and Pam of NB Rooster’s Rest arrived up the Staffs and Worcester in a rare spell of dry weather this afternoon.
Both had cruised through very heavy showers in the last couple of days.

We did too, but only for a matter of a few hundred yards after we filled with water. Mags was inside, catching up with last night’s soaps as I reversed off the wharf to head up the Staffs and Worcester Canal, and the heavens opened.
In a matter of seconds I was wet through. We only had to go as far as the moorings near Swivel Bridge, though, before I could get inside and get changed.

The calm before the storm, filling with water.

River’s up. Crossing the Trent

Last evening George and Carol joined us for dinner and post-prandial drinkies. We had a fine evening, chatting and catching up with the news. They’re meeting up with the soon-to-be new owners of Rock’n’Roll tomorrow and cruising down to Fradley with them. Another wet day, guys!

Meanwhile Terry and Pam were heading north from Penkridge, arriving here mid-afternoon. They joined us for a brew, but urgent family business meant they couldn’t stay here overnight. Shame, Pam is such a breath of fresh air, always happy and joking.
Hope you got to Wolseley Bridge before it got dark. You might have trouble at Alrewas, though. The flood gates further down the Trent are closed, so it’s likely that the river section below the village will be running high.

We are planning to move on tomorrow, up towards Penkridge and the Shropshire Union at Autherley Junction. We’ll head up the SU, getting through Tyrley and Adderley locks before the winter stoppages commence. Then it’ll be Hurleston Junction and on to the Llangollen for a couple of months. Well, that's the plan.....

Locks 0, miles ½

Professional anglers and a chance meeting

After a wet night this morning was dull but dry as I opened the front cabin doors to take Meg out. Sitting there, calm as you like on our front rope, was this little chap.
After all those blurry shots of kingfishers I’ve taken over the last seven years here was an opportunity to get a good one; and the only thing at hand was my phone! I didn’t dare move in case he took flight. So I finished up with another out of focus, poorly composed photo. In my defence, it was taken through the glazing on the cratch board, which was spotted with raindrops and partially obscured by a large cobweb. The focus kept latching onto the glass instead of what was on the other side.
Still, it’s the closest I’ve been to a live one!

I took Meg up to the the Co-op for a paper, then we played ball in a small park on the way back.
Our route took us up the “Bloody Steps”, up which the body of the unfortunate Christina Collins was carried, after being dragged out of the canal. Christina was travelling by boat in the summer of 1839 to join her husband in London when she was raped and murdered by the three crew. She’s buried in Rugeley Parish Churchyard.

Meg checks out the Bloody Steps
The perpetrators were quickly caught, tried and two were executed while the third was transported to the colonies.

We got off around half past ten, under the bypass bridge and on towards Wolseley Bridge.
Just around the corner there was this guy standing there, not moving a muscle as we approached and passed.

He was completely focussed on breakfast, which he caught just as I switched the camera off. Typical, no co-operation.

We filled up with diesel at Taft Wharf near Bridge 86, still cheap at only 76p, picked up ½ a dozen free range eggs at £1, then pressed on to Great Haywood.

Wolseley Bridge, carrying the A51 over the Trent.

Autumn colours…
















Near Little Haywood we spotted a familiar boat and pulled in to have a chat to Tony and Jacquie, NB Timewarp. Tony has painted a lot of boats and gave me some tips before I started Seyella, so I wanted his opinion on my work. He was politely complimentary, liking the way the colours work together.


Tony and Jacquie and Callie the dog
They’re shy….

Colwich Lock had been ready for us, a boat was just leaving as we arrived, and this should have been the only one today as we intended to moor on the straight across from Shugborough Hall. But try as we might we couldn’t get close to the bank even though we’ve moored here regularly in the past, so we went up Haywood Lock and pulled in on the visitor moorings. It’s pretty quiet here, only another three or four boats tied up.

This boat pulled out behind us, but didn’t get far before pulling in again. Something seriously wrong, or maybe he’s expecting enemy aircraft?

Into Haywood Lock….

….and talking to visitors













Locks 2, miles 3¾

Dull day, bright company.

Today has been overcast and gloomy, the morning mist barely lifting at all. In fact a typical autumn day.

 We pushed across to the water point at the end of the Hawkesyard permanent moorings to fill with water and await our Tesco delivery. Today we had Tescowoman rather than Tescoman, arriving just about smack in the middle of the delivery window.


With everything stowed we were just getting ready to move out when a boat arrived for water. It was Mike and Jo on NB Sarah-Kate.


We’d not met before, although they are regular blog readers and friends of friends. So we had a good chat while their tank was filling, then we followed them into Rugeley where we had a post-shopping tea and cake break around lunchtime. We could have chatted all afternoon, but they wanted to get to Great Haywood this afternoon so set off at around 2.

Morrisons in Rugeley has long been the boater’s provision shop, but they’ve now got competition on the other side of the canal. A brand spanking new 24 hour Tesco has opened, just a couple of weeks ago.
I didn’t need it today of course…

You can see how murky the day has been, the power station’s chimney and cooling towers disappear into the low cloud.

We pushed on out of the town, intending to moor near Bridge 86, but I decided to pull in on the relatively new offside moorings near the Trent aqueduct.

Moored near the Trent
There are well-spaced mooring rings here for maybe 5 boats, although Maffi wasn’t very impressed with their location and the way they’re installed…
Actually the bypass isn’t very noisy from here, and there’s a Co-op less than 10 minutes away.

Tomorrow we’ll head in to Great Haywood, picking up diesel (and free range eggs) on the way at Bridge 86.

Why the stop in Rugeley for shopping when we'd just had a grocery delivery? Well, it wasn't for nourishment of the body, more the mind. I've been reading a series of books by Simon Scarrow, about the Napoleonic Wars and the two main protagonists, Napoleon himself and the Duke of Wellington. Although based on actual events the books are fiction, but very enjoyable reading. I've read the first three, and am looking for the final one, leading up to and including Waterloo. Alas, WH Smiths didn't have it, so I'll have to wait a little longer.

Locks 0, miles 2¾

Choosing days for cruising…

With the weather doing it’s best to confuse us at the moment, it’s a matter of close attention to the forecast before deciding whether to move or not. Today was one of the better ones this week, yesterday was a day of heavy showers from late morning on.
So we stayed put yesterday, although we did cross over to the services and back in a bright period in the evening, leaving moving on till today.

Coming up Junction Lock, C&RT chaps fixing a new rail alongside the road

There are 5 locks around Fradley Junction, we did two on Tuesday, leaving the remaining  three for today. From the river section at Alrewas the canal is raised about 70 feet through 9 locks this side of Rugeley. It swings away from the Trent river valley, heading first south-west then north-west towards it’s final destination at Preston Brook. The river lags behind, height-wise, not making up the difference till up near Stone.

From Alrewas the river heads almost due west, through Kings Bromley, approaching the artificial navigation again at Rugeley, although still 20 feet or so below. I’ve often wondered why Brindley chose the long way round via Fradley, rather than following the river valley as it does up to this point. Any ideas, anyone?

Shadehouse Lock, top of the Fradley locks
I’ve just given Mags a shout to look this way, she was contemplating Shade House, alongside the lock, still for sale. She really fancies it, but it’s a bit beyond our budget…

Pause for a mo..
Ray, late of NB No Direction, has just cruised past on No Direction. He’s on his way back to moorings at Kings Bromley Marina after a survey for the new owner. We had a quick chat, he and Jayne are settling in nicely down south.  Keep well, both.

Woodend Lock is the last of the locks before the 10 mile long level pound to Colwich. Above the lock was ex-FMC tar boat Spey, and I know this one’s an historic boat, Amy!

NB Spey

The canal cuts along the edge of Ravenshaw Wood (don’t you love that name??), before heading back into civilisation at Handsacre.

Ravenshaw Wood, just starting to turn Autumnal…

Unusual artwork in Handsacre

Armitage Shanks sanitary ware (toilets!) factory in Armitage

Wanna brew?
Yes, please!

We passed through the opened-out Armitage Tunnel and moored on the long straight alongside the Rugeley Road. It’s a bit traffic-noisy here at the moment, but it quietens down later. We’re meeting a Tesco delivery across the canal in the morning.

We had a bite of lunch, then I set to and spent an hour cutting and chopping the logs that I collected the other day. That’s better, now. We’ve had to burn only solid fuel for the last 24 hours, having run out of cut wood and not being able to use the chain saw where we were. Broke my heart, that!

Locks 4, miles 6