I don’t tend to share about more personal things, but we both feel strongly about this, and now “Mission possible 2” is complete. Both Eric and I have had our second vaccine, 10 weeks after our first in Leicester. We had followed the instructions and booked both at the same time, but when the fresh advice came through to have number 2 at 8 weeks, everything fell into place for us to re book in Stoke, and the even better, the Tunstall centre is within an easy walk from the canal. We did make our nurse laugh when she asked if we had travelled by car, “no we came by boat”
Complementary masks and stickers
We’re still keen to maintain our social distances and wear our masks, and we’re still keeping shopping trips to a minimum and washing our hands with more zeal than we did 18 months ago. But it is getting harder to remember that we still need to take care.
And here’s a tray of freshly fully cooked scones to celebrate.
Having achieved the first of our commitments by getting the Boat Safety Certificate, it was time to move on to Stoke for “mission possible 2”. But with 4 days to do the 10 miles, we were going to take our time enjoying this bit of canal. We paid our respects to poor Christina Collins, a passenger travelling south, who, in 1830, was “meddled with and murdered” despite having reported her fears to the canal company office in Stone. Her sculpture by the bridge has been cleaned up since we saw her last October.
Stone bottom lock overlooked by Christna.
Stone itself, was a prominent place on this canal when, in 1755, a group of Liverpool merchants and Staffordshire potters, sponsored Thomas Brindley to survey the land with a view to linking the Trent and the Mersey rivers together. However it wasn’t until 1764 when Josiah Wedgewood and his partner Thomas Bently, realised the potential and took the idea forward. In 1766 an act of parliament was passed and the Grand Trunk Canal company was formed. With its headquarters here, the Stone section was opened in 1771. Amusingly, the celebration party proved to be a little too exuberant as £1000 worth of damage was done “by repeated firing of the cannon”. A whole lock and bridge fell in causing CRT to issue a navigation closure notice… (Ok I made up that last bit about CRT)
Despite initial opposition to the canal from packhorse owners and river navigators, Stone grew and thrived bringing a huge economic upturn for the small market town. And not just for the potteries.
Beer is still brewed in Stone,
After all the rain we’ve had , it looks like summer might be putting in an appearance and it’s a joy to wake up and want to set off cruising
Oh what a beautiful morning…
Good bye swans, thanks for having us.
Past the Wedgewood factory, thanking Josiah for his part in getting this Canal built, but not stopping to for a visit this time.
I don’t think this is the original building
However we did moor up to do some essential shopping at the Trentham Estate, a destination shopping complex incorporated into the Trentham Hall and Gardens. (About a mile’s walk from bridge 106) It’s focus is more on garden centre type concessions, rather than the high street fashion, and we needed a Mountain Warehouse to pick up a replacement pair of shoes for Eric. Footwear sorted we moored for the night at Sideaways, on the long straight section that’s just ripe for development before Stoke. It’s close to the railway and is what we call a functional overnighter. So gave us the breathing space we needed before the final push through the graffiti covered neglect that sadly seems to be the norm on the outskirts of some towns and cities.
You’ve got to hand it to them, not all graffiti is bad
However it’s not all bad, someone along the line has realised what an asset a well maintained Towpath is to the community and has given us a warm welcome.
May is the first full month since we increased our
Solar Panel capacity from 640W to 1kW.
May has not been a good month for Solar power but we
still got more than twice the power we used for propulsion from the sun. It is noticeable how much less we need to run
the generator to keep our batteries charged.
It is now quite practical for us to cruise and live on our boat for a whole week without running the generator. Since we cook with an electric oven, electric hob and use an electric kettle, that is impressive.
Don’t tell Cheryl but I now have a cunning plan to add
two more panels bringing our capacity up to 1.5kW so that a greater proportion
of our total electricity usage comes from the sun and we can run out generator
even less.
Cruising stats
35:41 hours cruising
56 miles covered
39 locks
13 days cruising, 18 days moored
Genset use 19hrs
Rain – too much ! !
Electricity
usage
Total 238kWhrs
Propulsion 40kWhrs (17%)
Domestic 197kWhrs (83%)
Sources of
electricity
Solar Panels 89kWhrs (38%) (over twice what we used for propulsion)
Genset 148kWhrs (62%)
Power required for propulsion
1,138 watts per hour cruised
725 watts per mile cruised
Note: Cruising time is based on time from unmooring to starting to moor up. It excludes stops for water and fuel, but includes waiting for locks and sitting in locks waiting for them to fill or empty.
Our deadline destination was to reach Stone. Because way back in early April we booked to have our 4 year Boat Safety Scheme examination done there. Give or take a few miles, that’s about 80 miles and 50 locks. According to ACC canal planner it could take us less than a week if we put our minds to it. Up the Grand Union Leicester line and the River Soar, then turn left for a few miles upstream on the River Trent, and finally onto the Trent and Mersey Canal. 7 weeks later we have finally made it. We had been looking forward to mooring up at Great Haywood to visit the Shugborough Hall, but alas Covid booking requirements and dreary weather meant that I only caught a glimpse from the canal, and the rather lovely Essex pack horse Bridge over the Trent as I hopped off to work us through the lock.
Shugborough Estate
We enjoy the Trent and Mersey, being so long, there’s a real diversity of things to look at, so one day we will be back to exercise our National Trust cards, and actually go inside the Hall. That is, of course, if we don’t get seen off first, as this rather aggressive swan foolishly tried to do.
Trespassers will be pecked
We’ve ruffled a few feathers in the past, but never been attacked whilst in the boat, but this rather over protective father certainly made it known we weren’t welcome anywhere near his offspring. Perhaps he was offended because I didn’t take a photo of them. Unlike these cuties that were being shown off in Stone.
Obligatory cute swan with cygnets photo
We needed to moor close to a convenient parking space for our BSS and as luck would have it there was space on the 5 day mooring next to M&S, ideal for Mike our examiner. He came, examined and passed us without any problem. We get the impression that this boat MOT requirement is more concerned to ensure that your boat shouldn’t be a hazard to any neighbours, rather than checking it’s integrity for your own safety. Mind you, it wouldn’t be practical to insist every boat is hauled out of the water to look for thin patches on the hull structure. And narrowboats don’t have break pads to check, though perhaps an oral exam that anyone helming a boat understands the need to slow down well before they pass a moored boat might might not be a bad thing. Being so close to M&S did have other advantages besides its car park. They had over stocked on strawberries so at 50p for 500g I couldn’t resist.
What a bargain
And I made the Stone Strawberry jam.
4 jars of stone strawberry jam
This will be labelled up and eaten during Wimbledon fortnight with scones and clotted cream.
The canal and the river Trent follow a fairly close trajectory, which makes sense both geographically and economically. Great rivers have always provided opportunities for settlement and industry, however it was the building of the canals that allowed for economic expansion with a horsedrawn barge being able to carry up to 50 times more cargo than a cart, and with probably fewer breakages and a speedier transit. This is one of the things that we love about continual cruising on the canals. The canal’s transport links create a sense of purpose, yet one minute we can be moored in the most idyllic rural haven without a care in the world sitting on the towpath with my spinning wheel.
Moored by Tuppenhurst lane, Handisacre
but the next day we will be passing through our countries industrial necessities. Why does travelling past the Armitage toilet factory always make me chuckle, perhaps it’s a sign of me being a boater or perhaps it’s my inner child escaping.
What a convenience having the canal so close
And of course, where there is industry, there are also people, who are endlessly fascinating to watch, especially those who choose to adorn their space with a wackiness that just begs to be captured, and as Naomi’s Landing fb page is advertised on a big banner, I’m sure she doesn’t mind being a boaters talking point.
Naomi’s Landing at Rugeley
Especially as Dr Feelgood and Nurse Rached are so keen on vacinating everyone. I only hope when my turn comes the syringe isnt quite that big.
Even the NHS need to take some time gongoozleing
We think the Dancing Sheep manequins have the edge over the Top Gear team at Charity dock on the Ashby. But you still can’t beat a real sheep. These beauties were at Tuppenhurst lane farm.
The content sheep at Tuppenhurst farm
We took a several days to get from Fradley through to Stone, taking some time in Rugeley to meet friends in a pub for lunch and take advantage of the very convenient Tesco. Life is starting to feel strangely normal. Or is it? Is this boat moored or parked?
We were still playing dodge the rain as we our journey continued. It’s quicker to walk from Alrewas to Fradley, as its only 2 miles but the 7 locks have the potential to make it into a 2.5 hour cruise. But we struck lucky with most of the locks in our favour and the volunteer lockies were on good form helping the many boats through the flight, while chatting to the gongoozlers.
Just before turning left onto the coventry
We decided to stop on the 14 day visitor mooring above the top lock, and just as Eric was tying off we were approached by someone with a big grin on his face and the opening statement “I built your boat”. It turns out Sam is one of Tim Tyler’s team of steel fabricators who built our hull. It was a real treat and honour to meet him and thank him, telling him just how much we love Firecrest. We weren’t able to invite him on board to look around, but he was able to peer through the portholes. I think he enjoyed being able to see a completed boat.
A chance meeting
Just after he’d said goodbye, we were joined by another Braidbar boat
Gettinf to know the Potters too
So after a lovely few days chatting we continued our journey, with the most southerly point of the Trent and Mersey being 10 minutes out of Fradley . Believe it or not the sun was shining as we set off, not that you’d believe me.
The glorious south!!!!
I had walked ahead to set Woodend lock and got soaked. I could have done with one of those decorative teapots being full of tea.
At least the rain had stopped
It’s usually a pretty place but the rain was dampening our spirits, and we had just seen the beautiful countryside decimated in preparation for HS2. Mind you we are very philosophical about HS2, we’ve always accepted that the building of this mammoth infrastructure will be far worse than we think the actual negative impact of HS2 will be in years to come.
HS2 here you
But after all, what did people say about the canals ripping through the countryside 300 years ago.
We moored up expecting rain but were rewarded with a few precious moments worth of blue sky as I looked across the water meadows.
The view from the visitor moorings by the lock
We had seen the church perched on the hill as we cruised through Wychnor
St Leaonards, Wychnor
So I took the opportunity to walk back along the river section for a closer look.
River reeds
I climbed up the hill and found some info boards in the adjoining fields hinting of the archaeological significance of mediaeval settlements, but the village was wiped out during the plague, I didn’t stick around to investigate more. Alrewas however survived and became a thriving village with some stunning timber framed thatched cottages
Shakespeares cottage
And Coates, one of our favourite butchers shops.
Coates Butchers, worth a visit
We can recommend the pies, sausages and rump steak, however we suspected the local camel would taste a bit wooden.
We think the wise men must be on their summer holidays
We wondered if there’s an equivalent term for boaters who look wistfully at houses like gongoozlers watch narrowboats. And where does that place us with our modern electric boat, hankering after an old thatched cottage.
We didn’t make it up to the national memorial arboretum this visit, preferring to follow ratty’s advice on this Canal side cottage.
Simply messing about in boats
So we had to smile when we came across another Braidbar boat, appropriately named.
Usually we love this time of year, with ducklings and spring flowers, but this May it’s been a struggle just to accept what is, is. The weather has really put a dampener on our spirits. We’ve had some lovely meetings up with friends and family, but all with shadows of having to be careful, not to get too close, and will it be warm and dry enough to meet outside. Equally so, this has impacted on our cruising, and desire to explore. But we still realise just how lucky we are to live this life and really how little serious impact Covid really has had on us personally. We cruised up to Shobnall Marina in Burton to fill up with diesel.
It really is a great little marina and Chandlery, if not least because diesel prices are so good, 69p/l, mind you it’s a skill getting in and out of this place as it is situated on the now disused Bond End arm cut. So it’s a sharp right under the bridge, and a reverse out.
The weather dictated our next stop, fearing imminent rain, we stopped to overnight at Branston Water park. But after a heavy downpour the sun came back out again. Giving us magnificent clouds to enjoy.
I was a bit worried Branston had become more of a safari park, than a nature reserve, when we saw this lioness sitting on the towpath.
But it didn’t deter the family of geese guarding Firecrest
And we snatched half an hour’s sunshine to walk through the woods around the lakes.
We continued our journey the next day past the lovely Tatenhill lock, where its cottage is now a desirable Bed and Breakfast.
The next stretch of canal runs a close parallel to the A38 so for an hour or so, we just have to grin and bear the noise of heavy traffic. Grumpy me would like to say “we were here first” but actually the A38 follows the roman road here, so in this instance we accept the road was here before the canal. We returned to tranquility as the river Trent and the canal mingle again for a short while. And today there were warning signs to “enter with care” as levels are in the amber zone, but looking at the flow and comments from oncoming boats, we weren’t too concerned and passed through safely.
We stopped on the 48 hour Alrewas moorings to sit out another day or two of threatened rain.
And again enjoy the dramatic clouds in between the deluge.
It seems like we are planning our cruising around the weather forecast these days. This time last year we were bemoaning the fact that we were locked in the Salthouse Dock in Liverpool when the sun was cracking the flags and it was perfect cruising weather.
12 months ago in sunny Salthouse Dock not allowed to cruise
But this year, April showers have turned into May monsoons. Ok perhaps not that bad, and the bright moments have been snatched and glorious.
Sunset at Swarkestone
We cruised up to Burton, travelling alongside Deep Dale Lane, which always makes us chuckle. We’re wondering if the signage is warning cars not to fall off the road into the canal, or warning boaters of the to be on guard for cars landing on their boats.
Deep Dale Lane
I’ve never seen any signage warning the sheep to take extra care,
Ewe better be careful
And sadly yes, I have seen more animals floating belly up, than cars going for a swim. Perhaps this heron is on sentry duty keeping an eye. Herons are used to canal life but usually fly off at the last moment so it was quite a treat to get up close and personal to this one standing on the side at Dallows lock.
Quite magnificent birds
It’s always a relief to see Dallow’s lock as we cruise into Burton. It’s the first of the single locks, which are so much easier to work through. But we moored up shortly after this in Burton.
14 day mooring in Burton
This stretch of Towpath is maintained by the homeowners who take great pride in their section, even the Armco edge had been neatly trimmed. But oh boy when it rained, the footpath took on the appearance of a new canal in its own right. We called it the Baby Burton Branch
The Baby Burton Branch
If it hadn’t been so miserable I’d have made some paper boats to float down in. Instead we sat inside and waited until it was dry enough to continue another few miles west.
With a bank holiday on the horizon we know that would only mean two things, “weather” and boaters leaving the marinas for the weekend, not that we mind either, both add to the spice of life, but we opted to moor up somewhere peaceful so we could watch the world go by.
Dandelion Row
And just as we expected the heavens opened
I’m glad we were under cover during this deluge
But the rewards were dramatic skies
I still wasnt risking going out for a walk
Our mooring spot, just below bridge 13 allowed us to look over the hedge to the rather magnificent Swarkestone Pavilion
Swarkestone Pavillion
This grade 1 listed building was thought to be built as a wedding gift in 1630 by sir John Harpur for his new wife lady Catherine Howard. It was a grandstand overlooking the bowling green of Swarkestone Hall, which is no longer there. Nowadays it’s a holiday home let by the Landmark Trust. I looked it up thinking it could be a fun venue for family get together, but despite its grandeur, it only sleeps two. Mind you, I wasn’t the only one to see it’s potential, the Rolling stones used it for a photo shoot of their album the Beggers Banquet, I’m not sure if this photo actually made it onto the album but it’s what came up on a Google search, disclaimer, I wasnt actually the photographer that day, I was still in nappies!
