About an hour and a half this morning to the three locks before Fradley Junction. If you go straight on there are a lot more locks but I turned at Fradley onto the Coventry Canal which is lock-free for 11 miles to Fazely Junction. Fradley had CRT volunteers out in force making it a stress-free … Read more »
Blog
Day 40 Aston to Armitage
The marina office doesn’t open until 10.00 on Sunday and as usual I was up at 7.00. So after breakfast, feeling fit once again, I scrubbed the boat roof and side decks. Cleaned shower tray, replaced bathmat with clean one (and washed the the other)cleaned the cooker, emptied loo and filled water tank. Left about … Read more »
Day 39 – Aston Marina
Last night I stopped just before the flight of four locks north of Stone, so this morning I made short work of them then cruised toward the town centre. At the next set of four there was a queue but for the first time the boat in front was short enough (35′) for us to … Read more »
Day 38 T&M
It’s an interesting contrast going back via the T&M rather than the SU. The Shroppie is beautiful in places and deservedly popular, but the T&M has it’s charms too. The rural sections are as pretty as the SU and the industrial sections are interesting. The T&M was largely financed by Wedgwood and his Etruria Works … Read more »
Day 37 – Too many locks
I may have lost count, and still haven’t managed to buy a Trent & Mersey guidebook to confirm but today started with the Wheelock flight of eight locks, followed by six locks in three pairs then a flight of 10 ending at the Red Bull CRT service station (and Red Bull pub). I think that’s … Read more »
Day 36 – Middlewich and Trent & Mersey
Once again I’ve chosen an overnight stop with no internet connection so I’ll upload this sometime tomorrow. Mind you I thought that last night too. I did have a connection for a large part of the day, but I was busy boating. My Shropshire Union Guide speaks warmly of Venetian Marine just above Cholmondeston Lock, … Read more »
Day 35
There was indeed a pub at Willeymoor so I had a beer, crisps and a chat with the landlady. Not a great night, up twice with cramp and up for good before 7.00. On my way before 8.00. Locks on this stretch are spaced out, Willeymoor, Quoisley, Marbury. Then past the repaired breach at Wrenbury … Read more »
Day 34
Sometimes I moan about too many locks but today I had a long drag with none at all and was almost glad to have to pass a few lift bridges to break up the trip. There’s an odd thing about Llangollen Canal lift bridges, they have the landing stage on the opposite side to the … Read more »
Day 33 – The Return
The final concert and finale of the Choir of the World and Dance Champions were on Saturday night, so Sunday marks the beginning of the end of my trip. There was no internet connection at Frankton where I stopped so I’m writing this a day later. Linda and Gill came to see me off, but … Read more »
Day 31 – Free Moorings
The Llangollen Wharf and Basin count as a single location and CRT limit stays to 48 hours. I moved out on Sunday and back Monday morning then out again on Wednesday morning with Linda walking ahead to check the single working section and Gill along for the ride. Between the narrow section near the wharf … Read more »