Not finished with the Trent yet!

Thursday, 09 September 2010 19:33

Gosh, that was a really early start ......

I was still in bed when John cast off yesterday! I did have permission from him and our travelling companions, as I hate rushing around in the mornings and I do like my cuppa first thing!

However, when I eventually popped up out of the back hatch it was a lovely day again. I had missed Willington, Mercia Marina and the stop at the sani-station! I was awake enough to take over the camera in time for the River Dove aqueduct, with the lovely brick arched bridge carrying the Derby Road over the river too.

Derby Road Bridge from the aqueduct

The aqueduct was built by James Brindley in 1776, but I missed photographing the plaque on what looks like a WWll pill box at the end.

Burton on Trent has lost its industrial feel and the only hint of its past are the two breweries that stick up over the roofs of the houses. The 1885 Claymills Pumping Station would be worth a visit if it was in steam - wow, five Lancashire boilers (Crofton on the Kennet and Avon Canal has a Lancashire Boiler too!).

Claymills Pumping Station sign by Bridge 29

But only one boiler in working order! I had to content myself with this virtual tour - clickety click

We passed a canal side restaurant, come fast food "joint", and this sign on the towpath made us chuckle. However, I have heard boaters recently who referred to mooring as parking!

Parking sign

There is a mural at Horninglow Basin and two at Dallow Lock (7), our first narrow lock. It is right under a bridge and John had to stoop to cross the gates.

John at Dallow Lock

Ahead was Shobnall Fields, a very pleasant green interlude in Burton on Trent.  In 2011 the IWA National Waterways Festival will be held here and I am sure that the moorings will not be exclusively for geese!

Shobnall Fields

As we left Burton, we saw a taste of Cornwall - Westfield Transport from Truro at a huge distribution centre. Many a time we have seen them on the M5 and counted them as some count Stobbart lorries!

Westfield Transport lorries

At the rural Branston Lock, we met two BW "operatives" who were checking the paddle gear after a report of one being broken. Sadly for them, it was a waste of time as all the paddles were working, as Geoff proved as he came up behind us!

Geoff at Branston Lock

Tatenhill Lock is another rural lock and here I drooled over a car that was for sale. John kindly took a photo as I went to work the lock - he says he has put in an offer - ha ha!

E Type Jag

The Barton Turns area, where travellers would turn off the old Roman Road Ryknild Street to Barton under Needwood, is the large Barton Marina and then Barton Turn Lock. Here there were some "volunteer" lockies who helped us and another narrowboat through. It was the "nearest thing for the last two years that they could do to having a narrowboat themselves".

I think they left before Petroc arrived!

Wychnor Lock was the beginning of an interesting stretch - the bridge over the tail gave no hint of the wider waterway above. Beside the lock is a small old wooden warehouse and the remains of a small crane.

Wychnor Lock bridge

Above the lock we entered the River Trent again! It had been alongside the canal on and off since the beginning of the Trent and Mersey Canal. Once through the strangely shaped Cow Bridge, the canal curves around through the flood plain with towpath bridges lining the bank.

Cow Bridge

Footpath Bridges

The River leaves again over a large fast running weir - and the approach to Alrewas Lock becomes a little more canal like!

River Trent weir

We were fortunate to find a mooring above Alrewas Lock and after a little bit of narrowboat shuffling there was room for Petroc too. This is a very popular part of the Trent and Mersey Canal and we were glad that we had set out so early; we were moored up by just after 1pm and could watch all the other boats searching for moorings. I am amazed that there are still so many hire boats around; it must be the DINKies and the RSKH (retired, spending the kids' inheritance) brigades!

This was our first mooring before the "shuffle"

Trent and Mersey Canal, Willington to Alrewas

5 hours 55 minutes, 13.04 miles, 6 locks