Date: Mon, 2 Oct 2000 22:15:59 +0100 From: Terry Waldron Reply-To: Canals To: Canals Subject: Trip Report part 3 Nottingham to Acton Bridge [ The following text is in the "Windows-1252" character set. ] [ Your display is set for the "US-ASCII" character set. ] [ Some characters may be displayed incorrectly. ] 7 September Up early so decided to get a bit of fishing in before we set off. Caught a large roach first cast followed by two small bream. We are soon out of the built up area and still on narrow canal, on the outskirts there are many ringed moorings, a few are not easy to moor to as they are overgrown with reeds but many would give safe mooring but not close to roads giving access to facilities. Soon we are at Beeston lock where both boats take water, we spot a very nice looking tug, buily by Paul Barber and with a JP3, the owner is only too pleased to show us the boat and runs the engine for us, 2ft 10 draft with a 27 inch prop, built for extensive river use. A nice looking hull with an exquisite boatmans cabin. Hopefully our own boat will look as good. After Beeston Lock we are back to the river, fairly wide in places, we are soon at the junction with the Erewash and the Soar, we go straight over, through Sawley lock and moor for a pump out (DIY at 8 pounds)and diesel 30 pence per litre. Onwards and passed Derwent Mouth and into the first lock of the Trent and Mersey. We pass through Shardlow, three very nice looking pubs, the moorings outside them are on a bend but soon after there are good moorings before the next lock. We carry on and finally moor above Weston lock, a very nice quiet mooring but not advised if you want to go for a pint as it is quite a walk into the village. Fishing very poor here, only caught a couple of tiddlers. 5 September Weston lock to Alrewas Saw our first kingfishers of the trip, 4 in the space of about a mile. Close to Bridge 12 there is a gate house that looks like the narrowboat painted castles. Passed through Burton on Trent without stopping, had considered visiting one of the brewery's but wished to push on a bit further, plenty of time for this in a few years. Went into Alrewas for Fish and Chips, very good but quite expensive. 3 good pubs here all serving food. Gave one a try and had a couple of really good pints of Pedigree. Got talking to one local lady, they are proud of the wildlife on the canal and protect the ducks and geese there. Good fishing here. 9 September Alrewas to Tixall Wide Spent an hour fishing, caught numerous roach and perch, none very large but they seem to like bacon fat as bait. We are soon at Fradley and it is very busy, turnround day at the boatyard, had intended to stop for a couple of pints at the Swan, little room to moor, did manage it 3 out so I could get at least one pint. On through Armitage and Rugely both of which look good for mooring. As we passed the moorings at Great haywood Jack and Shirley (nb Poppy) were moored and spotted my cut web pennant (first ones to spot it on the trip), went for a chat while Sue took Stella round to tixall Wide, lots of boats moored so we just got in as it was opening out. 10 September Quiet day Peter on Midama wanted to watch the Grand Prix so we took Stella back down to the junction and moored, we took a walk to Shugborough Hall. A absolutely red hot day. Only a short walk to the hall from the lock, good to be able to make use of our national trust membership. Hall interesting, parts are occupied and not open to visitors. There is also an interesting museum, this is similat to the Brewers Yard in Nottingham but not as extensive. As we were moored not far above the lock i tried to wind the boat in the canal, but, it was not as wide as I thought so had to reverse to the junction, had to use bow thruster (wife with pole) quite a lot to keep as straight as possible - Stella does not steer very well astern. Moored back at Tixall Wide. 11 September Tixall wide to Bridge 104 T & m Watched reed warblers climbing the reeds on the opposite bank, first time we have seen these. Late setting off and had to wait at the first lock, the lock mooring will only take one boat so three of us had to breast up on the moored boats to wait for the lock. Met lots of boats, mainly Black Prince, doing the 4 Counties. Moored at Stone to get fresh bread, moorings above Star Lock full and only just room for us. Stopped at Roger Fuller's yard to discuss boat building and gave him my boat specification and drawing to price, for those interested in railways he has a 2 foot gauge railway round his boatbuilding yard. Very impressed with his hulls and his attitude to boatbuilding. Stopped at one of the boatyards for pump out and diesel, no luck with diesel. We were oblivious of the fuel situation until yesterday, we have not had papers for somedays and have not seen or heard the news. Meaford lock pounds were very full, not like the last time we were there, we grounded as two pounds were empty. Finall moor close to the Wedgwood Factory, a very nice quiet mooring. The Plume of Feathers at Barlaston is shut and awaiting renovation, there is a large queue of traffic at the garage attempting to fill their tanks. 12 September Bridge 104 to Harecastle When we get to Trentham Lock we can see workmen sitting in their truck, as our friends go through the lock they start work, 3 men to put one small sign on the lock (two to carry the generator and tools and one to do the work) seems a great expense for a small amount of work that could have been done by one man with a rechargeable drill - they left after this small job. Good run through Stoke Locks but watch out for all the debris that accumulates at the bottom lock. Stopped at Stoke marina and tried unsuccessfully to get diesel, stopped at the China House for a pint and lunch - nice meal and not expensive. Set off again and stopped at Longport Wharf, they could give me a maximum of 10 gallons of diesel which topped up my tank (about 30 pence per litre). Got to harecastle at just before 1600 expecting to go through, but, they had just changed to Autumn hours and we had needed to get there for 1500 to go through. Moored and went for a walk to see if I could find the entrance to the railway tunnel, it is evident and I think could be accessed with care through the undergrowth of the cutting. I went round the horse road and over the top and could see the top of the tunnel mouth, will try to get closer next time. 13 September Harecastle to Wheelock Up early and ready for 0800 into tunnel. We followed a small cruiser and Midama, all well until about half way through, the cruiser hit the side and stopped, our friends in front stopped and so did we, stopped for about 5 minutes until the cruiser got going again. Took us an hour to get through, took water at BW yard and said goodbye to Midama, they were going onto the macclesfield and we woul drive to see them for the weekend. Had an excellent run through the locks, most only needed a little filling and stopped at the Broughton Arms at 1150, as they start serving meals at 1200 we had a pint to await our meal - very good, reasonable menu and average price. Stopped again at Rode Heath to see if we could get bread at the small shop, we had heard bread supplies were short but this shop had plenty. Finally moored at Wheelock, went into the Cheshire Cheese, not the best of menus but we had decided that we would have a few pints and eat out tonight so we made do with what they had to offer, it was hot, freshly cooked and cheap, the local beer here is also good. 14 September Wheelock to Barnton A very wet day, soon after we got started we were meeting boats and we met boats all of the way to Middlewich, some we recognised as those we had seen at Great Haywood area. We noticed the pub opposite Rumps lock has now re-opened. Note that the lower gate paddles on this lock are very stiff. Sue had great difficulty in getting the bottom gate paddles of Kings Lock open, another boater helped her. The pounds to Big lock were the fullest I have ever seen them, one was overspilling onto the towpath until I filled the lock. Shared Big Lock with another boat, good run through to Anderton where we stoped so I could see what progress is being made on the lift. The top of the lift is covered in tenting, presumably this is so they can re-preserve the metalworks. At the bottom there is also another large tent, presumably to allow refurbishment of the mechanical parts. Some of the gearing can be seen, it has been cleaned up and ready for installation. It will be good to see this working again. Moored just after Barnton Tunnel. 15 September Barnton to Acton Bridge Early to rise, packed our belongings, cleaned up the boat, had breakfast and set off for the boatyard at Acton Bridge. Our two weeks was at an end and we have to await our next booked period on Stella. Packed the car and drove to Whitley Green on the macclesfield to meet up with Midama again. A good mooring with visitor moorings and a Council Car Park. Over the wekend we went to Poynton one way and Macclesfield the other way before returning to our car and the end of our 24 day holiday. Terry and Sue ---