We resume our journey blog from Fradley's Shade Lock, hoping to trade at Great Haywood for the weekend.
Leafy Trent and Mersey Canal going past Ravenshaw Wood
Woodend Lock was just round the corner and as always, no boats, then everyone turns up out of nowhere! We stopped further up the canal to refuel at Kings Bromley Wharf. Richard slingshot the butty into the side, whilst he headed into the marina.
Armitage Shanks (dating back to 1817) dominates the outskirts of Armitage
The weather was great, so we carried on, hoping to get to Colwich to moor overnight.
Spode Cottage (restaurant) and shops below the canal level
Approaching the site of the old Armitage tunnel, after the road bridge
The protocol is to go and check for oncoming boats before entering the tunnel. I jumped off the butty and ran to the mouth, quickly returning to inform Richard of a boat already committed to the narrow stretch beyond the bridge. We waited and a good job, as another boat followed shortly after the first.
Under the A513, the canal narrows with only inches each side of the boat
The canal remains narrow as it negotiates the rocky remains of the old Armitage (Plum Pudding) tunnel
Spode House ~ famous earthenware firm
Time to let the boys off the butty and we needed a brew, but soon we were working our way around the outskirts of Rugeley.
Beautiful gardens tumbling down to the canal, as we neared the Trent Aqueduct
This is our view from the stern of the butty as we negotiated the 90 degree bend at Trent Aqueduct
Going over the aqueduct over the River Trent
Love this speed camera perched on a pole, seeking out rogue speeding boaters!
We reached Colwich, to moor and do some more painting on the butty.
Leaving Colwich visitor moorings for the short distance to Great Haywood
Lovely cottages
We stopped below the lock at Great Haywood and moored against the backdrop of Shugborough Hall and a chorus of woodpeckers and other wildlife. Our weekend was fairly quiet but then it is still only April, but we bumped into fellow traders in the 'Fudge Boat' and 'All Things Spanish' and got to catch up with them.
Complete change for the 'big boat'~ scumbled engine room cabin sides and fresh green panels. The rest of the cabin will perhaps be red oxide, but we haven't decided yet.
Final base colours on the elum (rudder) and the beginnings of Roses in the stern
Our eldest met up with us at Great Haywood and stayed overnight in the butty. He is now using our car, which saves us parking it somewhere and worrying about it!
Leaving the lock at Great Haywood to continue our voyage to the festival at Norbury in a couple of weeks time....
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