Voyages of Gabriel: Burton to Fradley Junction

Sat 17th Sep Burton to Alrewas

It was a bit cooler this morning as we set off. We noticed an advertising sign for the Old Cottage Tavern to remind us of the folk club we had missed yesterday.

Pub sign on the bridge

Beautiful artwork

The first lock was Branston Lock, where a boat was just leaving ahead of us and a boat was coming down towards us. By the time we left another boat was coming towards us and there was a further boat arriving behind us at the foot of the lock. There was a steady flow of boats both ways, with single locks to space them out. So there were just enough boats at the locks for bit of a chat, but not enough for a lock queue.

Bridge 36 is strangely narrow, with no towpath, as though it is at the entrance to a lock, but it is an isolated accommodation bridge.

Narrow Bridge 36

We were debating whether to stop at the water point at Barton Turn, or whether to wait until Alrewas or even Fradley Junction. As we arrived we passed another boat moored on the visitor moorings. The lady said “Ah! A Canal Ministries boat!” This was La Licorne, a BCF boat, belonging to Vic and Anita. So we stopped to take on water, and we went on board for a chat, a cuppa and a prayer. It was good to meet them.

We continued along the very noisy section by the A38, where we had been by bus by mistake the day before. There were other pleasant people on a boat coming the other way at Wychnor Lock.

Wychnor Church

We had one more short section of the River Trent just before Alrewas, and we had Alrewas Lock to ourselves. We found a mooring on the outside of a bend, so our bows stuck out a little.

The river section

Moored on a bend in Alrewas

Hugo was happy, but he came back with lots of burs and leaves in his fur. There was a derelict pig sty the other side of the hedge, and the church yard was also close by.

Sunset at Alrewas

4 locks, 7 miles

Sun 18th Sep Alrewas

We went to the Methodist Church and had a warm welcome. There was an excellent pianist who was playing there for the first time. Because of this we had one or two “modern” songs like Shine Jesus Shine, which the congregation knew and Blessed Be Your Name, which they didn’t know, so we had to sing loudly. We had an opportunity to pray with the pianist after the service as he was going through a tough time.

Alrewas Methodist Church

After the service

We had a good lunch at the George and Dragon. We had been put off going to the Crown by recent reports on Trip Advisor.

George and Dragon

Timber framed cottage in Alrewas

Later James went for a walk to see which boats were there. He met a local couple who had moved there six years ago after living in Walsall for many years. They said that within two weeks they knew more people in Alrewas than they had known in Walsall in years. A hot air balloon drifted over and everyone was talking about it.

Hot air balloon

No boating today

Mon 19th Sep Alrewas to Fradley

After a cool and wet start, it brightened up and was quite warm.

We started with a visit to the butchers and the Co-op for some provisions. The butcher’s pies were not yet ready, so James returned at midday to collect a huge sausage roll and a chicken balti pie.

We had a fairly uneventful journey through the locks to Fradley Junction, where we emptied two cassettes. Thankfully we did not need the water, as there was a boat already there, and they said the water pressure was very low, so it was taking a long time.