Rugeley to Huddlesford

Mon 14^th September

Rugeley

Just one crayfish this morning.

It was not as wet as forecast.  We moved the boat up through one bridge and found a mooring near Tesco. We met Ken on a boat called Ayup.  He moors in Middlewich and gave us advice about the Folk and Boat festival next year.  We also met a BCF couple on Ursinity.  And another boat had a dog that was asking to be photographed.

 Dog at Rugeley

We went shopping and discovered that the markets were closed today, as well as the fruit and veg shop near Morrisons.  We got Hazel’s medication from Boots, and some diary pages from Smith’s, and found where Wetherspoons is. After getting some bits from Morrison’s (No cider!) we went back to the boat for lunch.

Then a visit to Tesco for various items we hadn’t managed to get elsewhere, including cider and fire lighters.  We found Christmas items on sale already!

Christmas has come early

We lit a fire. James cooked the crayfish and put them in the freezer.

Only two traps out as there were other boats moored close to us.

We had an email to confirm that we were booked in for the Huddlesford Boat Gathering. Also one about songs for Sunday.

0 locks, ½ mile, 1 crayfish

Tue 15^th September

Rugeley to Shade House Lock

There was just one crayfish in the traps this morning.

Several boats were moving quite early. Thankfully there were no locks for a while or there may have been a queue.  As tomorrow is forecast wet all day with the remains of a tropical storm, we thought we had better move on down to Fradley so that we are within range of pubs, cafés, rubbish, elsan points and a water tap.  We waited for a gap in the boats, and then departed.

 Rugeley Towers

We stopped at the water point near Spode House moorings, as this is a high pressure tap.  Hawkesyard Hall is nearby, and a little research has shown that Spode House and Hawkesyard Hall are one and the same place.  It was originally called Hawkesyard Hall, and then Josiah Spode bought the place and renamed it Spode House. Later, when it became a friary, it reverted to the old name. It is now an event venue.

Hawkesyard Hall

Just before Armitage Tunnel there is strange sculpture which looks plastic. It could be meant to be Wee Willie Winkie or perhaps Ebenezer Scrooge.  Thankfully the tunnel was clear for us to go through this time.

Scrooge or Wee Willie Winkie?

Armitage Tunnel

Bridge 60

Although showers were forecast, we had no rain during our cruise. The only lock we negotiated was Wood End Lock. There were two boats waiting to come up. Two boats also behind us including Vic Mortimer with Connie’s Gift.

Emerging from Wood End Lock

We moored above Shade House Lock, just as a heavy rain shower started.  Vic Mortimer, two boats behind, also moored up.

After lunch we went to dispose of our rubbish. We paused at the gallery to see paintings and artwork and a few meagre supplies.  Then on down to the refuse point to get rid of four bags.  Then a gentle stroll back through the nature reserve to the boat.

Vic told us that a lady cyclist with a golden Labrador had been knocking on our boat. The only person we knew fitting that description was Sue Smith, so we phoned her and sure enough, she and Andy had cycled past. Their boat was in Alrewas and the car was at the Taft, so they were cycling back to fetch the car.

We had a sunny evening and James saw a fox sitting at the side of the field. Shortly afterwards we had a beautiful sunset.

Sunset at Shade House Lock

We left the washing out on the line, as no rain was forecast.

1 lock, 7 miles

Wed 16^th September

Shade House Lock

A disturbed night. First James woke up at 3am with cold feet, and had to put some socks on!  Then at 5am there was heavy rain, so Hazel brought the washing in.  Then as she finished bringing it in, the rain stopped.  Oh, well!  Then at about 6.30am a noisy boat went past. Hugo wasn’t bothered.

 Hugo

There were no crayfish this morning as James forgot to put the traps out!

We enjoyed some Aldi Croissants for breakfast, then James trundled a cassette down to the Fradley facilities.

Moored above Shadehouse Lock

We had no plans to move today as there was heavy rain forecast for later, the remains of a tropical storm.

Several boats arrived who are heading for the boat festival at Huddlesford.

There was another lovely sunset this evening. This time there were two foxes in the field. In the end there was no rain after all today despite severe weather warnings and heavy rain forecast.

Sunset at Shadehouse Lock

No boating today.

Thu 17^th September

Shade House Lock to Huddlesford

We had a dry night, without even any dew.  There were several boat movements before we set off, and we found there were seven volunteers for the five locks.  They suggested that we both stay on the boat, so we had no beams to push or handles to wind.

Volunteers at Fradley

Turning into the Coventry Canal

Swingbridge and water point

We turned right into the Coventry Canal, went through the swing bridge, and tied up at the water point. We left the water tank topping up at the usual slow pace for this location, while we went to dispose of rubbish and empty two cassettes.

We had hoped to stop near bridge 90 to visit the Co-op, but, once again, there were no spaces available.

Historic boat going to Huddlesford

Mary and Jim

We met Mary and Jim Sibley going the other way on Penny from Heaven. It is the first time we have seen their new boat. Hopefully we will catch up them after they return from Stone where they are having the boat bottom blacked.

Our next planned stop was at Streethay Wharf, as we had been told they had an excellent chandlery.  We pulled in the wharf, but were told that a crane was about to be moving a boat around above our heads, and we should come back later.  We decided to move off to bridge 85, where the Nicholson Guide marked a public footpath crossing the canal and going under the railway, joining the A38 a few yards from the boatyard.

We passed Vic who was fishing by his boat, and we moored up as planned, and walked to the bridge.  We couldn’t find a proper way up from the towpath, but there was a small gap between the bridge and the hedge where people had obviously squeezed through. James managed to get through and onto the bridge.  He was trying to work out where the footpath went, when a lady with a horse said “Can I help you?” He replied that he was looking for the public footpath, and she said that it was private property, with no public footpath. 

Back down to the towpath, and back to the boat. We reversed back through the railway bridge, and slowly went backwards to the wharf. The crane work had finished, and we went upstairs to the chandlery.  They had no Owatrol, although they usually stocked it. They did not sell Hempel paints and had no equivalent to the Multicoat we had used earlier.  They didn’t have screws of the right size either.  They did have some toilet blue, so we came away with that. One out of four.

Streethay Wharf

Vic Armstrong and Connie’s Gift

As we approached the festival (a day early) we saw long lines of boats already moored. A man said there were no prebooked moorings except for historic or trading boats. We would have to find our own place.  We carried on past Huddlesford Junction and found a place within sight of Bridge 81 Cheadles Bridge.  By chatting to people we discovered that there is a jam session on Friday evening in the clubhouse.  We obviously need to get a programme.

2 locks, 5 miles, 1 swingbridge

So here we are at Huddlesford Heritage Boat Gathering. More details in the next blog.