Dinner with Neil Morrissey and on the Westport Lake

It was a pleasant run from Stone to Barlaston on the outskirts of Stoke on Trent. Filled up water tank at point just below Star Inn and had pump-out at Canal Cruising just above Yard Lock - although full up with their hire boats, they were very helpful and accommodating as we had to moor 4 abreast and they gave Jan time to go to the adjacent Co-op for supplies.

Had a bit of a delay reaching Barlaston due to the volume of traffic on the cut but team work between boats speeded things up.  We have only travelled a few miles but did 8 locks before arriving at the Plume of Feathers.

We stopped here the last time we were up this way and it was a sad pub and had a pint but did not stop long. However in March this year it reopened owned by Neil Morrissey.  Had a good pint of beer this time but rather mediocre meal (I had faggots, Jan had beef-burger) then teamed up with a couple of fellow boaters for a rather prolonged drinking session which explains why there was no blog yesterday (you've got to let go sometimes!)

Passed the Wedgwood pottery factory, one day we will find time to go and have a look around.

Met up with yesterday's boaters at Trentham Lock; deep lock but team work helped again (note from photos above it's the usual practice of females on the locks!!).  However, got to Stoke Bottom Lock and had to queue, took us an hour to get through that one and another hour and a half to get up the remaining 4.

We passed Stoke incinerator today. Not the most interesting photo but important as Chris drove past it every day when he had the business in Stoke. Now we see it from a better angle.

We did notice that some of the old derelict pottery factories are coming back to life.

Weather really hot which made amends for waiting around plus good to catch up with yesterday's boaters.

Now currently moored at Westport Lake above Stoke.  Brilliant place for Spot as there are 'launching pads' for dogs into the lake, but have to keep an eye out for the usual Canada Geese creche.

Catching up with old friends at Stone

Yesterday was a bit of a slog for us. We had planned on stopping at Great Haywood yesterday but the rain was so persistent we gave up and moored near Taft Bridge just north of Rugeley. We had a slow start due to queuing at Colwich, Haywood and Hoo Mill Locks.  Average 5 boats going up at each lock and met 3 or 4 at each lock going down - although Jan likes a chat while turning the locks there was one lady who talked more than worked and delayed the whole stream of traffic. We were also delayed by a couple of numpties trying to simultaneously turn onto the Staffs & Worcester Canal. Lots of shouting and arm waving and no action!!  Lovely countryside along the stretch and some magnificent country mansions and houses - Jan in her nosey element as usual checking out gardens!

Friends come to visit Tilly May

We had arranged to meet up with old friends at the Star Inn at Stone. Zoe, Andrea and Carl from Chris's previous life in Food Testing at Food Analytical Laboratories. It was just like old times. We all spent a lot of time laughing in the face of adversity. Great to see you all chaps, we will meet up again on the way back south. Had a nice meal in The Star. Chris had Gammon Steak Hawaiian just because it was on the menu.

A Damp Day To Nowhere

We hung around at Fradley until lunch time to see if the rain would lift. It didn't.  Waited an hour to fill up with water and set off in the rain. It did not stop all day.  We finally gave up just the other site of Rugeley, mooring in the middle on nowhere and eating scotch eggs and ham salad for tea.  Thank god for boat central heating.  We were able to dry all our clothes before doing to bed.  No photos yesterday, too much water to get camera out, but what a difference this morning.

A Day at Fradley Junction

It is only a short hop from Alrewas to Fradley junction so we wandered into Alrewas to pick up some supplies from Coates the Butchers (a must visit as all meat, pies and veg is locally produced and delicious).

As you can see Spot is starting to get back into boat mode.  Fabulous weather, really hot.  Even with a late start we arrived at Fradley Junction about 11am and found an excellent mooring only a couple of hundred yards from the White Swan (aka the Mucky Duck). A nice pint of Banks and back to the boat to do some cleaning. We had set off without any preparation to the outside of Tilly May so she looked a sad state covered in cobwebs and dull paintwork. This early stop gave us the chance to get a coat of polish on the paint and get rid of a few spiders plus the cotton wool type of willow catkins which covered poor Tilly May.  We will finish the job when we move up and the towpath swops side so we can polish the rest of the boat.

As you can see today is not the best boating weather as it's raining cats and dogs.  We will see what happens later.

Willington to Alrewas

Today the sun beat down on our little band of travellers. It was a grand day. By lunch time Spot was overheating so we stopped at Branston Water Park for a sandwich and took Spot to the dogs' water splash to get good and wet. The canal by the Water Park was alive with misty clouds of midges, fortunately the non-biting kind. Today's destination was Alrewas.

Rather an uneventful journey with not much traffic on the cut - although, speaking of traffic on our way to the water park the road traffic was deafening due to the canal running alongside the A38 Rykneld Street.  Makes you realise the serenity of boating life!

Worth mentioning: those awful heavy, stiff locks from Shardlow through to Barton Turn lock (particularly the worst at Aston and Weston) have been vastly improved.  Jan spoke to a couple of CART engineers at Barton Turn.  It appears the 'people on high' have given instructions to improve the locks and given the engineers the choice of how they are done.  Instead of heavy grease, which attracts stones, etc they now use a lighter oil.  Made such a difference.

T&M Canal Alrewas River Section

We found a spot to moor on the section just above the river lock and went for a meal at The Crown. This pub had just been revamped last time we were here. The beer is very good, I had a pint of Davy Lamp which was light and full of flavour. The food was fantastic. If you know me you can tell by looking at me that I have eaten a few pies in my life.

Jans Seafood Platter

The chicken and leek pie I had at The Crown was one of the finest pies I have ever eaten. Jan had a sea food platter which was also top food and a huge portion!

Willington and the start of the summer cruise

An uneventful trip from home base in Shardlow to Willington. Had to back out of Swarkstone Lock to hook up an old chaps Tilly hat that had blown off just as we were closing the gates. He was made up! wandered off with a big smile wringing his hat out.

Dinner at The Dragon Willington

Had a good meal (as usual) at The Dragon. It seems to be even more busy now they have expanded into the next door house. We managed to get a table but only because we were ready to eat at 6:30. As you can see the food was very good. I had a burger and Jan had BBQ ribs which fed her and Spot. Had a nice pint of Clod Hopper brewed at Repton. Pale and refreshing after a long day on the tiller.

We have made no firm decision as to the final destination of this years cruise we will wing it as we go along.

Cromwell Lock and the Tidal Trent

First Recon to Cromwell Lock. Just north of Newark, this lock separates the tidal Trent from the non-tidal Trent. It is near here we will have to hold up and wait for the tide to be right for our run down to Torksey lock.
Unless you put the postcode of the lock cottage into your sat nav you would never find the lane in Cromwell village to get to the lock. It is a very well kept lock with large areas of cut grade, benches and picnic tables plus the odd brick built bbq.

First view of the lock from upstream on the Trent

The lock keepers were extremely friendly, they explained the best times to head down the Trent and sold us a copy of the Tidal Trent chart. A bit expensive at £10 for an A4 booklet but full if information that I hope will keep us off any sand bars.

The lock itself is BIG but we have done these before when we ventured down to Gunthorpe a couple of years ago. It was the first year we had TM, before we realised we knew nothing about boating.

Generally it would not be practical to moor on the bank above the lock. The area is dotted with rings and mooring points but the water level in the summer us a good 10 feet below the bank. Not much chance of getting Spot on and off the boat. There is a pontoon large enough for a few boats so no problem if we decide to stop overnight.

We sat by the lock to have a picnic, next to the bench was this memorial, so sad.
This memorial is dedicated to the ten men of 300 Troop 131 Independent Parachute Squadron Royal Engineers (V) who tragically lost their lives on 28 September 1975 whilst on "Exercise Trent Chase",  an 80 mile navigation exercise on the River Trent.  Eleven men were in an assault boat on the River Trent during a force 6 gale, with the river in flood, when their assault boat was swept over a weir known as the Devils Cauldron. Ten men were drowned and one survived by clinging on to the assault boat. The scene of the tragedy is marked by a piece of Scottish granite with an inscribed plaque bearing the names of those who perished. Another memorial, pictured below,  was established in Zetland Park, Grangemouth. The men are also commemorated at the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire.

On the way home we found The Muskham Ferry pub just above Cromwell lock. The beer was good the food reviews look good and the pub has mooring for 6 boats so a good place to stop before moving down the river.