Willington to Alrewas

We awoke to a beautiful sunny morning. Swans pecking at the boat for food (fed them digestive biscuits last night - bad move), swallows whizzing past the side hatch. A water topup at the CaRT facility and on out way to Alrewas. Alrewas is one of our favourite stops. The flood meadows and the village are so beautiful.

Railway Cottages at Willington

The journey was uneventful. The large periods of chugging along by the side of the A38 make this section of the Trent & Mersey a little noisy, but it is nice to move onto single locks. The contrast between Stenson 12 foot double lock and the tiny 3 foot 6 inch single Dallow lock is welcome. 

The Usual Audience at Dallow Lock

At Tatenhill lock we met a couple who were 1 week into a life changing adventure. They had sold up and bought a boat from Northampton to become live aboards - very excited! By the time we reached Alrewas we were both well cooked by the sun. One mooring left just after the lock so chairs out in the shade next to the hedge and a well earned bottle of ice cold Peroni. Dinner in The Crown on Post Office Road. This pub had just been refitted a month before the last time we were here. It turned out that Thursdays are fish night. Jan had a dressed crab starter that was fantastic and could have fed both of us. I had traditional fish & chips that was large and very well cooked with a light crispy batter. Finally sat by the boat watching the sun go down until about 9pm when we went to bed knackered. Terry Darlington is right - 9 o’clock is the boaters midnight!