The forecast promised us a day with sunny spells, but that we would have to tolerate continuing grey skies until just after 10! Again, overnight there had been more rain and everything was very wet.
Indeed, as we set off at much our usual time (but with a boat just passing as we started to prepare to untie) the brighter sky was just beginning to show itself.
We would pass under railway lines several times during the day but the first one seems to be having quite a makeover at the moment.
Only two locks today,. one just after setting off and one just before mooring. The first one was Colwich Lock, with the sky clearing very quickly. Once the sun was out, it was generally surprisingly warm, especially as the nights are beginning to be noticeably colder.
The better light makes outdoor photos so much better looking!
For most of the morning, the River Trent was never far away, here just the other side of the trees lining the canal. The water level was rather high and the flow quite feisty. Glad we were not navigating on it.
We passed Taft, the home of Peter and Julie, two stalwarts of the Boaters Christian Fellowship (of which we are, alas, largely 'sleeping' members). We presume that the boat moored outside is a visitor (BCF members are welcomed to moor up and say hello) as we thought that their boat as nb Maid of Oak - guess what, a wooden hulled boat!
And for a time an almost cloudless sky!
Just on the edge of Rugeley we passed over the River Trent.
We wanted to call at Morrisons in Rugeley but the two best spaces by the bridge that gives access to Morrisons and Tesco were both occupied so we backed up to the adjoining section which is officially marked as a 7 Day mooring. We should have read our own previous blogs before arriving (not later) as these moorings have been in an appalling condition, above and below water, for many years and we only managed to tie up with a considerable amount of effort. Just as we were getting ready to walk to the shops, the people on one of the boats ahead returned and waved to us that we could take their space any moment now. We were suitably grateful but had to fend off other boats as we did so who would otherwise have slipped in front of us!
By the time all this fussing about had taken place and we had also done our shopping it was close on lunch time. We needed to recover some energy so, a little reluctantly, we stayed put until refreshed. As Mike sat down to read the paper he discovered his specs missing. He knew that he had last had them earlier but fortunately had a back up pair to use.
As we prepared top set off once more, Mike thought to take a quick outside (he thought that he had put his specs in his shirt pocket when we were just about to set off to the shop from the first mooring spot - he never puts specs in there when boating as they always fall out) but found nothing on the grass. Without any expectation he walked back to the 7 day mooring and could see nothing until he reached the last ring that we used and, lo, there they were on the grass, no the worse!
Rugeley Power Station was one of the many that once lined the River Trent, using its waters for cooling - the skyline dominated by huge cooling towers.
With coal now fast being phased out, this one closed operation in 2016 and is gradually being demolished to make way for 2,300 homes, housing for the elderly, commercial buildings and a primary school (see here)
Towers is a business park built on some of the reclaimed land.
Fortunately we followed the general advice to send a lookout ahead at Armitage 'Tunnel' despite the steer on a boat just coming through from the opposite direction telling us that there was nothing behind. Just as we arrived a woman further down waved energetically to us to indicate that we needed to wait!
After passing through Handsacre and then the entrance to Kings Bromley marina, we arrived at our second lock of the day: Wood End. The known mooring spot above the lock was quite full and we suspected that this might also be true of the next place, just above the following lock. So, a short distance after Wood End we took a chance at coming alongside at a part of the bank that would certainly need mooring pins - but would we be able to come close enough? Somewhat to our surprise, we managed to do so. Christine went later for a walk down to the next lock and discovered that the better moorings there are occupied nose to tail.
10.7 Miles - 2 Locks
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