Wound up in Willington.

Rain fell in the early morning but I was hopeful that it would clear through by the time we wanted to be away.

As I was getting helen's tea these birds wandered past. They are bigger than you think when you are at eye level. Greylag geese.

We were ready to go at 09:00 and the weather seemed to play ball too, as the rain, though still falling, was very gentle and soon after we got away it stopped all together. Getting away early'ish also meant that we were ahead of the works boats Jellicoe and Monutbatten, moored just ahead of us.

As we approached the A38 we seemed to be travelling faster than the lorries and cars on the dual carriageway.

Shobnall Basin was the start of a connecting canal to the River Trent. The Trent was navigable from Roman times and after improvements a wharf was erected on the Trent at Bond End, where the people who served Burton Abbey, bonds men, lived. Warehouse were built and a good trade built up. In 1766 the canal started to be built and efforts to have the start of it at Bond End were not taken up. The canal through Burton was completed in 1770. The Burton Boat Company had decided to build a connecting canal of about 1 mile long and was finished 1769/70. The Grand Trunk Canal refused permission to join them and a bar was maintained and boats had to be loaded/unloaded until it was removed in 1794. The railways came and put paid to the traffic and it was closed and mainly infilled in 1874.

Just by Shobnall Basin is the bridge with the Marston's advert on. Pedigree has had a resurrection of late with a re-branding and now called an Amber ale. It is said to be the same recipe, but whether it tastes the same I'll leave to you to decide.

There were a pair of greylag geese by the last narrow lock on the Trent and Mersey. Apparently they are descended from captive geese of old and it is now hard to know which are feral and which are truelly wild. In Scotland most fly in from the other countries. Most photos seem to have them with dark eyes but the ones that I have been close to today seem to have blue eyes. Is this something to do with their mixed race?

This is one way to keep the boat clean. It would seem that they don't pop out for the odd day trip as it must be a bit of a pain to take off and then re parcel up the boat, especially on a windy day.

This is Monk's Bridge at Stretton over the River Dove. Records back to 1225 show that a John de Stretton built a bridge at his own expense. The arches on this bridge would not have been able to have been built at that time as they are too wide. It is thought that this bridge dates from the 15th Century.

The blackthorn trees are well in bloom now and make a great show. I wonder if there will be an abundance of sloes this year. The leaves are really coming through now, but the blackthorn blossoms before the leaves show.

We have stopped in Willington as there is a chance a friend will be able to come over to see us, and the sun has come out with just the hope of seeing them!

Barged on to Branston.

We had a signal okay for the 'Line of Duty' time last night. Is it just our generation that does the set piece television viewing these days? If I miss it when it is actually aired I very rarely ever go back and watch it on catch up, or other means. After all it is just a TV programme!

A couple of boats passed us going our way, and even a couple coming up the Trent. This is the view from the lock at Alrewas. It was very deceptive as there was a roaring current a little further down where the River Trent actually joins before tumbling over the weir and leaving the canal once again. We were pretty worried about the strength of the current pushing us towards the weir, but as boats had come up we decided to chance it.

As we got round the corner the full strength of the Trent in torrent hit us! With full speed we headed crab like across the current to try to keep in the channel.

One past the weir the danger passed and the river assumed it's normal tranquil state, thankfully It was nice to see Wychnor church, knowing that we were now safe once again.

As you pass the moorings at Wychnor the funny bridge has a very restricted access with the only navigable section right by the tow path. I'm not sure whether it is just restricted headroom, or that there is limited water under the bridge.

We reached absolute safety when we got to Wychnor lock. Helen is recounting the dangers of the passage towards Alrewas as we wait for the them to leave  before we could head on down. I love the little warehouse/shed by the lock with the remains of a little post crane on it's corner.

The canal now runs next to the Ryknield Street Roman Road, now the A38. In fact there seems to be a a question about whether it is called Ryknield Street or Icknield Street? It runs from Bourton on the Water at the Fosse Way through to Derby and beyond. We have traveled the road many times and have passed down the canal a few times too. It is a lot quieter in the car than standing on the back of the boat!

There seems to be houses being built on the edge of Barton Marina and there were plenty of  boats still in there. We did leave the boat in there for a week and Helen remembers what she bought in the shops there!

At Barton Lock there is this lovely house. It is called the Wharf House and was built in the 1700's and was made Grade II Listed in 2014. I assume it was built for the canal. There is a building close by that could well be a converted warehouse that is end on to the canal.

We dropped off the rubbish as the remote bins by the cafe just when the canal leaves the A38 and continued on towards Tatenhill Lock. I think that this must be an original bridge but is very narrow as there is no tow path going under the bridge. This would mean the horse would have to be let go as they passed over.I can't think that the boatmen were very happy with this style of bridge.

At the lock there is a little basin before the actual lock. I'm not sure why it was designed like this. Was it a small wharf that was for loading aggregates on boats as on either side of the canal are old or working gravel quarries.

We tied up by Branston Water Park and after digging out the battery locker and checking everything, plus, Helen hanging some curtains and other little jobs, and helping tie up Mountbatten and Jellico working boats up ahead of us. We then took a turn round the lake before heading to the Bridge Pub. Only one beer on but the food looked good. We didn't eat there though.

All the way to Alrewas.

When Stephen was with us yesterday we took a stroll up to the junction and then around the reservoir. We had never  been taken a turn round the water before.

There are good paths and plenty of fishing stands too, but nobody out today. There was a pond dipping spot as well. Does it still provide water for the canal?

When you study just about any bird their plumage is very detailed and interesting and has a beauty all of its own. As can be seen in this greylag goose.

A couple of hire boats came up the locks and passed us before we got off ourselves. It was a lovely sunny day but there was more wind and directly in our faces, so a little chilly.

One of the hire boats heading up Junction Lock. I wonder which way he is going to turn at the top?

Almost opposite our mooring was one of the entrance to the woodland, lakeside walk that had nice gates to it.

Down by Common Lock the new marina is taking shape. It looks like they have only excavated one of the bays so far. It is interesting to see the depth with no water, and I wonder how far the piling goes down!

It looks larger than 60 berths but then it is hard to know where the water will be. The service block is up though. Maybe next year.

We were soon down into Alrewas and out of the wind once through Bagnall Lock.

There was plenty of room to tie up on the tow path round the bends and bridges through the village but we decided to moor nearer the lock to take advantage of the sun. Bit breezy here though.

Happy Mother's Day/Mothering Sunday to all those ladies that make the world go round. It is a shame they are so busy being Mum's that they can't run the world for us too. Helen, where are the keys? In your pocket you idiot!!

Found Fradley.

I had a last dash in to Wilco's at 09:00 before setting off a little later. It was overcast and quite cool, but looked promising for later.

I was pleased to see that this old corn mill dating from 1863 has found a buyer who seems to have made a start on refurbishing it. Nothing was done in September last year. It had been empty for several years when it was put on the market for £1.2 million in 2013! It is in a conservation area and should make a great residence.

Spode House was built for Josiah Spode of  pottery fame. When he died in 1893 he left it to a Dominican religious order who built a priory in the grounds. Itthen resorted to more hedonistic pursuits as a spa and a golf course around the grounds.

Armatige Tunnel was opened out after some collapses due to mining subsidence and now it is just a rocky narrows that is not too bad from this direction, but coming the other way means that you can't see if it is clear until you are in it.

Spode Cottage was a pub steakhouse and grill. It is a Grade II Listed building but was bought for around £499,000 and converted to a six bedroom house. The car park was dug up and changed back to a garden.

Armitage Shanks, the company, was formed by amalgamation of the two companies in 1969, but Armitage had been on this canal side site since 1817. There always used to stacks of new sanitary ware and toilets, but maybe this has been altered by the 'just in time' thinking. (See what I did there?).

These gaunt sentries seem to waiting for spring just south of Kings Bromley Wharf.

It seems very early for rape to be in flower, but I'm not sure. It makes for a cheerful sight when it is a bit gloomy though.

Much like the avenue leading up to some grand house the trees frame the canal and give it a certain gravitas. 

Woodend Lock, first of the day, done and dusted. No queuing today. I can't remember ever not having to wait for at least one boat at this lock.

It was fairly busy at the junction today. I bit of sun, but still a little chilly in the very slight breeze. I had to wait for the boat coming up before dropping down Junction Lock and tying up on the visitor moorings.

We were here to rendezvous with an old chum who popped out of Brum to meet us. It was great to catch up with Stephen and we are looking forward to the next time when we hope Marva can accompany him. All round a very nice day with tea and cake and a stroll round the reservoir.

Roughly in Rugeley.

Last nights meal was a special two steaks for £14 night and very enjoyable. I woke up to a foggy day but it soon cleared when the sun got up and it was another cracking day when we got away about 09:30.

Very shortly after we left the visitor moorings we saw these little fellers. I can't remember when we saw our first ducklings last year but these are the first we have seen. Yesterday we saw our first heron and swallow too! Later on when we got to Rugeley there was another brood of ducklings too.

A little way further we passed Weston Wharf. There is always an interesting collection of boats here at the old wharf where coal was brought in for the salt brine works and then to take away the finished salt too.

This gentleman was strutting his stuff in the sun. They are magnificent really. If this was in the tropics they would make documentaries about them.

After passing down Sandon Lock we found nobody at the services at Great Haywood so we stopped to top up the water and get rid of the little bit of rubbish we have made. Helen took the opportunity to pop over the road to the farm shop to get something for lunch etc. Pricey, but I hope that they taste good too.

As we passed down through the lock Helen had the first person ask if she was from Hull. Not because of the name of the boat but her accent! I think this is the carriage road bridge to Shugborough Hall so a little bit special.

Shugborough Hall dates from 1693 but was altered a lot in the 1760's when the Anson family, with Admiral Anson RN a member of the clan. It looks lovely in the sun. There were no boats on the moorings overlooking the Trent and the Hall either.

Colwich Lock also looked nice in the sun too. Mind you just about everywhere looks good with the sun out.

Just after Wolseley Bridge is Bishton Hall. Last time we passed this way it was the St. Bede's Prep school, where you could bring your own pony! Last year it closed and the contents were sold off prior to it being refurbished as a 'venue'. Bishton Hall seems to have been mentioned in the Domesday Book. This building dates from the 1750's with the east wing added in the 19th Century.

From Great Haywood the Trent and the canal remain close and a little after this photo the canal crosses on an aqueduct as you approach Rugeley.

Once moored up we went for a walk round the town and to do a little shopping. Rugeley used to have two coal mines Brereton and Lean Hall. When at school I visited Lean Hall, that only closed in 1991, for an underground trip. If I hadn't liked the life at sea I could have been a miner I reckon. This on is of a Deputy with his staff. There is also a rescue miner and a miner from the 1930's and 1940's. They are 9ft tall, made of concrete and each weighs 2 tonnes. They are by Andy De Comyn and cost £55,000 when they were erected in 2015.

Being close to the supermarkets we got a few heavier things, and after a pint repaired to the boat. Master Chef final tonight so luckily I got a picture otherwise my life wouldn't be worth living!