JUST POOTLING ALONG

 

We made it to Fradley on Tuesday and Nick very kindly took us out for tea at the Mucky Duck, the beer was good, with Camden stout on for the Captain and Nick. The food was nice too and we spent a very pleasant evening together.

Next morning, just as we were ready to set off, they passed us and moored on the water point, I wandered up to say my good byes, only to discover Alison was having trouble opening the hatch to access the tap, we use our waterways key for this, but the lock was just spinning. About ready to give up, I look at the back and found a latch, which when turned opened the hatch. Great, or so we thought, but oh no! there was no tap inside to turn the water on, very strange, as I was sure I had seen other boats using the water point. More investigation and I discovered a stop valve at the bottom of the pipe, which when turned let the water flow, I got a bit wet at this point, as it was unexpected and the flow of water was a little fierce. But problem solved. We said our goodbyes and headed through the little swing bridge, turning right to the first lock of the day.

There was a queue for the lock, and we ended behind and all electric boat called The Ace of Spades, a reference to the Motorhead record of the early 1980’s, I know this because the name was accompanied by a picture of Lemmy, the lead singer with the band.

Lemmy

https://youtu.be/wTWET5aJMoE

Me being me, I headed to the lock to help the volunteer lockee lock the boats waiting up and down. The crew off Ace of Spades came forward, and it was apparent she was not well, she explained she wasn’t having a good day but would help were she could, I told her not to worry, I would be happy to help them through the coming locks. Luckily there were lockees on next 2 locks, but as soon as I could leave the Captain in the capable hands of the volunteer, I walked to the next lock to lend a hand.

I walked a lot that day, and at the final 2 locks of the day I managed to get there and help them out.

We moored for the night in Alrewas, and the Ace of spades moored in front of us. We had a chat with Andrea and Chick. She was so grateful for our help and asked what our tipple was, but I told her not to worry, I was more than happy to have been of service and didn’t expect anything for it. We eventually headed back to our boat for a well earned lunch. As I was just finishing mine, Andrea knocked on the boat with a bottle of wine for me, and a couple of little bottles of rum for the Captain, again I assured her it wasn’t necessary but she insisted. What a lovely gesture.

Of course we headed to the pub later, and I was pleased to see a Slimming World meeting just starting in the village hall, so I popped in (I need to get weighed now and again to keep my membership valid) I wasn’t so happy when I came out, but not surprised either, and that’s all I am saying about that!

It didn’t stop me going for a pint though. At the first pub and our favourite, the George and Dragon we met with a problem, not for the Captain for a change but with my drink. The pubs coolers were broken, so all the lagers were warm, and you know you cant drink lager warm. The barmaid made sure we were aware of this when we ordered, unfortunately I really fancied a pint of cold crisp lager, so we decided to move on to the next pub, the William IV, a nice drink but very quiet so we decided to go for the hat trick and try the final pub in the village The Crown, very nice in here indeed and very busy.

We left next morning without seeing Andrea and Chick again and headed on to the water point, no problem here at all. Then the first lock of the day which takes you down on to a river section of the canal. Again I headed off to help and had a nice chat with the crew off NB Minty, they were going down the lock only to wind and head back to their mooring in the village. As there wasn’t another boat waiting to come up I turned the lock in our favour, whilst doing this another boat turned up behind us, the crew jumped off with a windlass but didn’t come to help me with the lock, but just stood and watched, nowt a strange as folk. Luckily a boat turned up below the lock and its crew came up to help, so one in and one out. As we left the lock the reluctant crew actually did come forward to help lock the boat up, very strange behaviour.

Our aim for the day was Burton upon Trent, and Shobnall marina for diesel, this is one of the cheapest and friendliest marina’s on the system, and the Captain was very happy with the price. We then moored at Shobnall fields, but we didn’t head out as we were staying in Burton the next day for shopping and a pint (or 3). There is a Lidl within easy walking distance of the canal, and a couple of great micro pubs. The Weighbridge, and Outwoods Brewery, we tried both of course.

https://www.facebook.com/p/Shobnall-Marina-100063568994555/?locale=en_GB

Our time on the narrow canals had come to an end as our next lock, Dallow lock was the last of the narrow locks, after this the locks we are doing wide and deep. It was here we met Gina and Steve on NB Kathryn, we are related by marriage, her son and my daughter, it was a lovely surprise and we had a quick catch up whilst doing the lock.

Willington was our home for the night, and another couple of great pubs, The Green Man, and the Dragon which is right on the canal. It was a lovely afternoon and we sat in the Dragon’s beer garden and had maybe 1 to many, as they had Dark Drake by Dancing Duck, which is one of the Captains all time favourites.

The weather for the next few days was given out to be very windy and wet, but it didn’t turn out quite as bad as predicted, and after a night at Swarkstone (no pub) we made it easily to Shardlow. We passed the Ace of Spades and waved to Chick but there was no sign of Andrea.

When we came to moor we had to ask the boat behind us to move up a bit, as they had left a gap at the front of them, which meant there wasn’t quite enough room for us to get in behind. The Captain off NB Wanderer was happy to do so. We were soon in the pub, The New Inn, with a pint of Titanic Plum Porter for the Captain and Madri for me.

https://www.thenewinnshardlowpub.co.uk/

More high winds forecast for the next day so we stayed put as we needed to go into Shardlow marina for a pump out, and we know from experience that this is hard to do even without 40mph gusts of wind making steering the boat difficult.

25½ miles, 15 locks, 1 moveable bridge, 2 canals and 1 river the Trent.