Tomas was the first out of bed this morning and Henk was pleased to see he had, at last, trained Tomas to get out of bed early at seven o’clock! Tomas and Liz efficiently packed and we set off to a local café for breakfast. This was recommended by a walker along the tow path yesterday afternoon whilst we were trying to kill the ducks! We had a hearty breakfast and then returned to the Bell Inn where Liz and Tomas caught the bus to Lichfield. Henk and I will miss their bright company and it was good to have them along and help with the steering and the locks.
Whilst waiting for the bus a ninety year old gentleman came along also catching the bus to Lichfield so he could place bets on the horses. He was amazing for his age and as he was a long-time resident of Whittington he filled us in with the history of surrounding buildings. We enjoy meeting locals as we do pick up quite a bit of information.
The weather was overcast all day with late, light rain. We did ten locks and we managed well without Tomas and Liz. However, it’s a lot slower with only two but when another boat is coming up the lock as we go down we help each other with the opening and closing of the lock doors and the lowering and raising of the paddles. It’s a good opportunity to pick up tips of good places to stay and eat.
I walked between a number of locks on the tow path rather than having Henk steer the boat to the side of the canal. It was good exercise and good to be walking out in the countryside again.
We seem to be passing more owner/occupied boats and far less hired boats than when we have been previously seen on the canals. Maybe it’s just the canal circuit we are on at present.
We passed through the very busy and good-looking Fradley Junction which took us from the Birmingham and Faseley Canal onto the Trent and Mersey Canal. We had to wait for a while to get through the locks because of the number of boats at the junction. Today’s canals edges were wilder with lots of wild berry bushes.
At three thirty we found we were motoring towards a Little Chef on the canal and we couldn’t resist mooring next to it and slipping in and having afternoon tea. We love Little Chef! It was a good break as we had been going since ten o’clock without stopping.
When we started again the rain was getting heavier and we took the suggestion of a boat owner at the next lock and moored next to The Bridge Inn at Branston (home of the pickles!). We arrived at five thirty and we were ready for another cuppa and a rest. We didn’t venture to the pub until seven thirty and by this time it was heaving with people. We got the last table in the corner and enjoyed a huge pizza.
Overnight it rained and the temperature has dropped a bit but we were snug in the boat. We have decided not to include Nottingham on our itinerary as it is an off-branch from the canal and it would take seven hours return. We were also going to have a rest day there. This gives us extra time to look around at other places on the way.
Pictures: Fradley Junction; Liz, Tomas and I waiting for the bus outside the Bell Inn; Henk motoring along the canal whilst I walked long the tow path.
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