Willington

Today's Canal : Trent and Mersey

As expected from the weather forecast, today was very overcast but still pleasantly warm. If it were nor for making the photos less interesting, it would have been a good climate for cruising. With no shops especially close to the canal through Burton-on-Trent, we looked to the Co-Op in Willington for our next re-stock. If we managed a stopover in Willington (not guaranteed as it is usually a popular place to moor for as long as can be got away with! All the best spots are restricted to 2 days, or not at all opposite the winding hole right in the centre of the village.

We set off a little after 9:30 and by a quarter to ten we were at Branston Lock. As with the others between Fradley and Dallow Lane (the next on from here) this was a rather shallow lock. So much that the roof of the boat did not come low enough for Mike to be able to use it to cross from lone side to the other - as a shortcut to going all the way around!

Looking back with a zoom shot.

At this pipe bridge, just as we entered Burton-on-Trent, there is a reminder of how the town became famous. William Bass funded his brewery in 1777 and it grew to be one of the largest brewers in the world. In has long since lost its independent corporate identity - who knows who owns it now, it keeps changing! Nevertheless its iconic red triangle remains a widely known symbol.

Just before the entrance to Shobnall Marina is another reminder of the town's past - Marstons and Pedigree, one of its brands of ale. It was a later entrant, founded in 1834 and it too has been the subject of many takeovers. One of the more recent left it loaded with impossible debts and the main Marstons plc divested itself of the brewing and concentrated on being a pubco. It operates in over 1300 outlets.

The bridge across the entrance to Shobnall Marina is a clear reminder that there has been a boatyard here for a long time. The Bond End Canal at one time linked the canal to the nearby River Trent. This link was important to the various breweries nearby. The current marina is all that is now left and Jannel Cruisers was established here in 1973.

At Dallow Lane Lock a couple of young lads, equipped with windlasses. were keen to help boats through and had already made the lock ready for us and we sailed straight in! OK, so not part of the official volunteer lock keeper scheme they were still most useful and pleasant. From here to Shardlow, the locks are broad - harder work! (some especially)

Just after ;leaving the town the canal crosses over the River Dove on an aqueduct. Like Alrewas, the land here allows the river to split into several stream but this is the principal crossing.

Alongside is Eggington Bridge, which once carried the A38 - the new road is a short distance behind. This bridge was probably built in the 15th century although there is thought to be evidence of an  earlier version a couple of centuries earlier. It is just possible that the Roman Icknield Street crossed here.

We continued on to Willington, principally so that we could pick up a few larder items from the Co-Op in the village, not far from the main visitor moorings. It is, of course, a popular place to stop and at first we wondered if we had made a strategic error. After passing quite a few boats we tried to fit into one space but it was not quite long enough. A fisherman set up there was rather pleased as we had to carry on! Shortly after, a man on one of the long term moorings pointed forward to a suitable place and we were able to pull in with no difficulty. (No photos for the rest of the day - a unresolved technical glitch means that several are still awaiting download onto our laptop.

Later, after lunch we walked to the Co-Op and which we found to be quite well stocked. They also had a special offer on desk fans. We did bring one from home as the weather had been forecast to be hot, but it does need to go back at the end of this trip so having one to leave on board will be convenient, even if it is only of use for part of the season.

Assembling the fan was rather trickier than buying one! As with so much these days, it came in several pieces with not entirely complete (or correct) instructions on how to assemble. It even needed Mike to get out a screwdriver! Oh well, may be Trump will succeed in killing off the world trade in cheap China-made goods . . . Instead we can buy one from the UK or EU at three times the price!

The most spectacular event of the day was sadly missed by our photographer-of-record! Mike had almost finished preparing tonight's meal and was just whipping up some Elmleigh to go with raspberries we found at the Co-Op. Cristine arrived and held the electric whisk whilst Mike knelt down for the umpteenth time to get something, we now forget what! from the cupboards, As he creakily levered himself up he managed to catch the bowl of cream (which had not yet turned firm) and tipped most of it everywhere - and we mean everywhere! 

Clearing up was a major undertaking and only a fraction of the cream was left for the meal. To make ,matters worse, as Christine returned to the whisking, the cream suddenly curdled and we then had a irrecoverable butter-like mess. It was at this point that we had had this experience before with Elmleigh Light - we only bought it because the usual version was out of stock at Morrisons back in Hinkley! Some people are just slow learners.

7.6 Miles - 2 Locks