Mon 7th September
The Taft to Shugborough
After we had stowed all our equipment, we set off, and it
was by now late morning. No one was around when we passed the Taft so we had no
one to wave at. Ferrous was still there, but with no one on board. Edwin had
been given a lift by car to Shugborough Hall.
Ferrous at the Taft
When we reached Colwich Lock, there was a boat already in
the lock, coming down. Apart from that we had the lock all to ourselves. We gave a wave to the guy who always seems
to be around here. He looks like Father Christmas with a yellow high viz
jacket.
Colwich Lock
Giant Rhubarb - an
invasive plant from Chile
We moored between Colwich Lock and Haywood Lock, with a
pleasant mooring overlooking the farmland of Shugborough.
Edwin came walking past on the way back to the Taft from
Shugborough Hall.
1 lock, 2 miles
Tue 8th September
Shugborough to Tixall Wide
There was an early mist to greet us this morning
Misty morning at
Shugborough
Shugborough Estate in
the mist
We set off and travelled half a mile up to the visitor
moorings (rings) to visit the shop in Great Haywood for a few provisions. It is
very well stocked for a small shop.
Then we had our only lock of the day – Haywood Lock. This lock is very awkward to cross. There is
no footbridge, and the lower gates are very high. When the gates are closed,
there is a step up (or down), but when the gates are open, this step is not
accessible and getting up and down is not easy. If you walk across the top gate, there is a large greasy cogwheel
sticking out into your path, which can make a mess of your clothes.
We used the facilities at Anglo Welsh – dustbins, a tap, and
a hole in the ground. Thankfully they no longer seem to charge to use the hole.
Then we left the Trent and Mersey and entered the Staffs and Worcs at Great
Haywood Junction.
Great Haywood
We found a mooring at Tixall Wide, which had a fairly low
edge, but it was on a slight curve.
There was a guy on Dragonfly 9 painting his boat sides further
along, and he had some room fore and aft. He said he was just about to turn round,
and he would bring his boat back in a bit further along to make room for us. How helpful! We moved along after 30 minutes or so.
We discovered that Edwin on Ferrous was also here,
just briefly for lunch, as he was on his way to the Black Country Festival. He
had passed us while we were shopping. Also here was Vic Mortimer, on a cruiser
called Connie’s Gift. He was spending his time fishing.
Our first job was to wash the port side, removing muddy cat
paw marks etc. Then we had to sand it,
especially where we had scratches and scrapes, which were gaining rust. Then we
had to wash it all again and allow it to dry before applying the first coat of
raddle black. This was the paint left
over from when the boat was new, and the covering was very poor. We left it overnight to dry.
James put two crayfish traps out to test the water and see
if there were any crayfish.
1 lock, 1 mile
Wed 9th September
Tixall Wide
In the traps in the morning we discovered a solitary
crayfish. This was a surprise to Vic
and us, as we had not heard of anyone catching them here.
James applied a second coat of raddle black to the port
side. This gave better covering, but it was getting very sticky towards the
end. He added the remains of the Owatrol we had, but there was not as much in
the can as we thought. We were running
out of the raddle black and had no more Owatrol.
We discovered that Andy and Sue on Springwater were moored at
Great Haywood and were due to come past on their way to the Wolverhampton
21. They stopped for tea and a chat.
They had not been in time for the event at the Taft, as they had been up on the
Pennines.
Andy and Sue
We turned the boat round to do the starboard side.
Moored at Tixall Wide
Evening sun
Inspired by this morning’s find, James put four crayfish
traps out.
0 locks, 0 miles, 1 crayfish
Thu 10th September
Tixall Wide
There were two crayfish in the traps this morning.
We washed down the starboard side, and sanded it. We have a
Black and Decker Mouse, which works off the inverter without having to run the
engine. It is ideal for these kinds of jobs.
It does make a bit of noise, but the boat neighbours either side were OK
with it.
Then we washed it down again, and allowed it dry, before
applying some paint we had bought in Braunston during our car hire
weekend. This was called Hempel
Multicoat, which is primer, undercoat and topcoat all in one. It went on very well, but we used 70% of the
tin.
The starboard side looks much better than the port side. If
we had some Owatrol we could have either done a second coat, or applied a coat
to the port side. So we need more
paint, and some of the fabulous Owatrol, to apply another coat to each side. It will have to wait until another time.
James went to talk about paint to the man on Resolution.
Meanwhile, Hazel had walked back to Great Haywood and
visited the farm shop, returning with some milk, vegetables, and a steak pie,
which we consumed for supper.
James put the crayfish traps out again. It was a beautiful evening.
Evening ducks
Mac from Dragonfly 9 came round for drinks.
0 locks, 0 miles, 2 crayfish
Fri 11th September
Tixall Wide to Shugborough
We had another beautiful misty morning. We have had fantastic boat painting weather,
completely dry except for dew in the morning.
Morning mist at
Tixall Wide
Sadly there were no crayfish this morning. The paintwork
from yesterday was nicely hard and we were very pleased with the finish.
Mac from Dragonfly 9 had finished his painting, and
he set off towards Great Haywood.
We followed eventually, saying farewell to Vic, who was
still fishing.
Out through the bridge at Great Haywood, we reversed up to
the facilities, where another boat was just leaving. Again we used the tap, the hole in the ground, and the bins
Then we went down through Haywood Lock, where there was a
short queue.
Moored on the rings below, and went to visit Shugborough
Hall. We first crossed over the historic packhorse bridge called Essex Bridge.
Just upstream the rivers Sow and Trent merge.
We had a guided tour of the ground floor first, and then
lunch in the cafe, followed by the servant’s quarters and Patrick Lichfield’s
private apartments. After a short
stroll round to the riverside gardens, we caught a bus to the farm and mill.
The tea shop there closes at 3.30pm, just before tea time!
We walked back to the boat, and moved on half a mile to the
mooring by the Shugborough fields.
James cooked and prepared the three crayfish, and put them
in the freezer. We need a few more to make a meal, so we put four crayfish
traps out again.
1 lock, 1 mile
Sat 12th September
Shugborough to Rugeley.
There was heavy rain in the small hours making a noise on
the roof. James woke early, and pulled
the traps from the centre of the canal into the edge to avoid boat propellers,
and went back to bed. When he finally
got up there were four crayfish in the traps.
We had a cooked breakfast today. There was a heavy rain
shower mid morning, as forecast, and we set off after that. There were lock queues at Colwich (as usual)
both ways.
Colwich Lock
There was no one in sight at the Taft. Amy Em was moored there.
We stopped at the fuel barge by Taft Bridge, as the diesel
price was 60p per litre. We bought 130 litres plus a 6kg gas bottle and six
eggs.
The boat with the yappy dog and the one with the nosey cat
were still moored opposite.
We moved on into Rugeley and moored by the nearest bridge to
Aldi, on mooring rings. The rings were
exactly level with our bows and stern, so that when a boat went past we surged
backwards and forwards. We used both
centre lines to put springs on.
Hazel went shopping and got her mended glasses back from
Specsavers (£20 – not bad) and the vacuum bags we had ordered from Wilko.
There was a school football match opposite the boat, with
lots of shouting and chanting going on.
Crayfish traps out once again.
Hugo met a local cat, so there was some brief caterwauling.
1 lock, 4 miles, 4 crayfish
Sun 13th September
Rugeley
We had 5 crayfish in the traps this morning. A beautiful sunny day.
We walked to Victory Church, where we went earlier in the
year. Pastor Will was speaking this time – a powerful preacher. The worship was good and up to date. There
was a song we need to learn – Worthy is the Lamb https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dsiDukXIeVY
Victory Church
counting down to the start
Following a recommendation, we walked half a mile to the
Stag’s Leap pub for lunch, which was very pleasant. We then went to Aldi where we bought a fair bit, and then back to
the boat.
James put the crayfish traps out again
No boating, 5 crayfish
An interesting journal with great pictures. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteThanks Ron for the encouragement
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