Day 4 - Barton Turn to Alrewas

Denis went down with a virus overnight, so Jan did some more solo practice through Wychnor and Alrewas Locks and the river section before Alrewas village, one of the most beautiful parts of the journey so far.  Direction arrows point left and right as the route winds through water meadows, alongside weirs and squeezes through a very narrow bridge section alongside a curving bank where on a 55' boat the steerer has to take care to avoid scraping the bow or stern going through.  Alrewas Lock on its stone banks appears like an island rising out of the meadows, the entry to the very pretty Alrewas village.

Bridge at Alrewas by the watermeadows

Denis recovered sufficiently for a walk to the village centre and the butchers (for sausages), the Co-op and the George and Dragon for lunch.  In the early evening, we walked back by the lock and along the river to the bridge and sat on a bench under the hill by Wychnor church for a while in the late sunshine.

Many boaters recommend the butcher's shop at Alrewas

Day 3 - Willington to Barton Turn

We set off on in bright sunshine from Willington marina at 10am, negotiating the very tight turn onto the canal, admiring the marina's newly planted wildflower meadow and encountering the first narrow locks of our journey in Burton on Trent. As is often the case, the canal passes through a place without seeming to, so although Branston Lock is only just southwest of the centre of Burton, it is picturesquely rural.

Branston Lock top gate

Jan working the gate

We found some shade for lunch by the towpath at Branston Water Park and enjoyed watching two cats let out from their respective boats for a stroll and roll on the grass.  The canal then runs alongside the A38 Ryknild Way and a railway line for several noisy miles; fortunately we found a mooring for the night just south of Barton Turn Lock, with a thick hedge providing some sound insulation.

Days 1 and 2 - Willington

Heavy rain all day, so I moored up in Willington Marina - Denis arrived at 5 and we stayed Sunday too, as the weather was still wet.  Buskers performed on the new bandstand, brave souls given the conditions and some very accomplished.  Fingers crossed for better weather!  The marina is now looking well established - the many trees and shrubs have filled out and softened the landscaping - and is well run and friendly, good value for £11 per night.

New complex at Willington Marina, with the bandstand to the left

Stenson Lock

Newly sign written, courtesy of Robert Naghi

Moored at Stenson for bacon butty, with Mercury behind

Sawley to Great Heywood and the Four Counties Ring

I've done some solo training since our trip last year, so aimed to do the first section solo from Sawley on Blue Adeline before joining Denis in Burton upon Trent. I was feeling nervous but capable, probably not a bad state to be in and a big change from how inadequate I felt four years ago, when even going to the fuel jetty on my own seemed impossible.

Since then, as well as the Leicester Ring I've done numerous river and canal days both training with and crewing for Ray Cullis of Trent Boathandling - my mentor and the person who above all helped me gain the confidence to steer well.  I also trained with Mick Gavigan of Planet Narrowboats to learn his simple and elegant methods for solo boating.  I've learned a huge amount.  As they say in books, the mistakes are mine alone!  

The 6 double locks at the start of the Trent and Mersey Canal are, to my inexperienced eye, fairly challenging, increasing in depth as they do from the shallow (Shardlow is 4'5") to the whopping Stenson, at 12'4" the second deepest on the T&M.  Also, the last 4 locks, Aston, Weston, Swarkestone and Stenson have bridges over the canal immediately by the bottom lock gates which makes it necessary to climb the ladders to work the locks rather than walk the boat in.  I don't like climbing lock ladders much, but choosing the side of the lock with the ladder at the most accessible from the stern means I can climb up from there rather than the roof.  

Derwent Mouth and Shardlow locks are both fairly easy to manage: steer slowly in, stop the engine and jump off with the centre line and windlass, hand the line over the gate machinery and gently bring the boat to a halt and secure the line; open the ground paddle on the opposite side (contrary to most double locks) half way until the water covers the cill, open whichever gate paddle will keep the bow in, all the time watching the boat and adjusting the rope if needed.  All very slow and careful and the boat hardly moves to and fro at all.  

At Aston, I choose my side to enter the lock and another boat came in with me.  I climbed out and tied up, then got so distracted as the water rose that the line got crossed and jammed, fortunately quickly released when the paddles were closed by my companions and the bottom ones opened slightly. Very easily done and a salutary lesson in what can happen when concentration lapses.  My fellow steerer said that he'd done the same and his boat had tipped to an alarming angle before being released.

At the approach to Weston lock, there's a new ramp leaving only enough room for one boat to moor to the bollards, which means a rather awkward tethering to the handrail supports.  I stayed on the boat this time at the suggestion of my companions, but they opened the ground paddles fully straight away and we steerers had to reverse furiously to stop the boats hitting the top of the lock.  Exhausted by my efforts as a newbie soloist I moored for the night at a favourite stop just above Weston.  Setting off at 8 next morning would get me to Swarkestone in time to ascend it by myself and in peace.

This is a beautiful section of canal, where the banks are tree-lined and in the early morning, full of birdsong and tiny newly hatched ducklings and moorhens in scurrying flotillas, jays, a buzzard and the evening before, a pair of kingfishers.  The morning was fine and clear, with the forecast of rain and thunderstorms later and I could feel the change of air coming up from the south as the boat chugged westwards.

Swarkestone was as I'd hoped completely deserted, apart from a cyclist leaning over the bridge parapet as I steered into the lock and climbed the ladder.  Fortunately, he helped me with the (very heavy and stiff) lower gates as I'd have had difficulty closing them on my own.  I secured the boat, opened the opposite ground paddle half way and then fully, let the water reach the cill and then opened the opposite gate paddle a few notches, keeping an eye the whole time on the boat and rope.  Apart from gently rising, she was steady as a rock.

I'm very pleased with the new windlass, which is a type I haven't tried before - a 4-holed steel one, very light and the extra length helps with stiff paddles.  

Another very attractive stretch of canal past Ragley and then Stenson, with the wonderful sight of four CRT volunteer lock keepers on the bridge waving me in and letting down a rope to pick up my centre line.  As the sole boat, I asked them to open opposite side ground and gate paddles only, to keep the bow steady and they obliged, so Blue Adeline enjoyed a stately progress in that normally very fierce lock and then I enjoyed a bacon butty in the lock side cafe.  Coincidentally, Mick Gavigan's boat Mercury was moored just above Stenson and we were able to catch up and have a good boaty chat.

Tuesday - Day 29

After a quiet night on Romajech on this section of the towpath, we had coffee with David and Hazel on board and then waved goodbye as we set off on the last stage of the journey.

A peaceful wending of our ways through the rest of Loughborough and on towards Kegworth although the route was not always clearly indicated or, indeed, visible until the last minute. Saw a brief flash of kingfisher as it flew up from a dive, but Mike missed it.

Locks not too bad but not looking forward to Kegworth Deep Lock. As we arrived at the lock, a young couple walked up and offered to help. They had a young baby who was being carried in a sling by her father. They were very sweet and the father was climbing over the locks very surefootedly with his daughter, Virginia Rose. He told us he was into free running and had good balance but my heart was in my mouth watching him.

Chatted while the lock filled and we thanked them for all their help. It looked like rain and they were walking back to Kegworth and were tired and thirsty, so we offered them drinks and a lift, which they accepted with delight. They loved the boat and chattered all the way. Let them off at Kegworth Shallow Lock with much waving and many smiles. A lovely encounter.

On to the River Trent and up to Sawley Lock, which is not the easiest to access from the river side. Entered the Marina with grace and polish due to the ineffable skills of the helmsman and were safe in our berth by 4.30pm. The end of a brilliant adventure with wonderful friends and company all the way.
Feeling a little sad but also starting to plan our next one. Cannot wait! Now to get through all that washing and cleaning.

Monday - Day 28

Romajech left Pillings Lock Marina in sunshine and with no regrets. Said a fond farewell to Blue Adeline - it doesn't seem like four weeks since we set off on our Intrepid Adventures.

Nosed out on to what looked like an empty canal and promptly had two boats appear at speed from the left. Held back until all was clear and ewe were off to Loughborough to meet up with family. Romajech pottered gently through the Leicester Navigation and on to the Grand Union at Loughborough - a mix of rural and industrial landscape but no locks! Just as well with Mike's back problems. 

Moored opposite my brother and sister-in-law's house on the canal and waved to them as they were in their garden. Felt like royalty again! Spent a happy family day, ending with wine and coffee back on Romajech. Watched two swans and their three cygnets floating along the canal in the moonlight.