Weston On Trent to Fradley

Left Weston early, 6.00 a.m. on a sunny, warm day. We left early to do the deep locks 10'11 and 12' 4 before the rush started. On our way we passed  Ray and Di, nb. Ferndale, moored near Swarkestone. They were just about to set off on their trip to Shardlow for some work to Ferndale. Nice to bump into you both, will catch up properly  in the Autumn. 

After passing the time of day with Ray and Di we headed along to do Stenson lock, a whole 12' 4", one of the deepest broad locks we had done for a long time. Two boats were in the lock when we approached. I went and helped with the paddles and to open the gates. When it came to opening the gates neither gate would open fully! In effect both boats were stuck inside the lock as neither could get around the other to get out the gap between the gates. Eventually with a lot of manoeuvring one of the boats managed to get out, thus allowing the other one to leave. Luckily for us we had no other boat with us, so Andy brought Jojo in and we proceeded to do the lock without further trouble.
After leaving the lock we moored up for breakfast!

Stenson Lock

It's lonely in here!

About a couple of miles further along the canal we were going along quite nicely when a narrowboat approaching us suddenly veered into our bow and forced us into the trees on the right bank, thus causing the stern to swing around and allowing the same narrowboat to hit our stern! Andy was not amused and he let the other boat know so!! Apparently the lady steering had 'turned the tiller the wrong way' we were told by her husband! They did not alter speed or attempt to steer away from Jojo. We realised it was a time share boat from our marina called Black Watch. I can remember everything going in slow motion, thinking they are going to ram us and just waiting for the collision. We thought from the force of the crash that they had done a lot of damage. On closer examination there is only some minor damage to the paintwork. Inside the boat I found all the cupboard doors open, a drawer front had popped off the frame in the galley and everything was thrown on the floor. Luckily most fragile things I had put on the floor before we set off as I know that the incoming water in the broad locks can sometimes throw the boat around. In  the end all we found broken was one wine glass that had fallen out of the cupboard when the doors had been flung open.
This event did nothing to endear us to the 'time share boater'. They were not our favourite boater and remain so!
Having calmed down we carried on our way and came across another Josephine. She was moored by Barton's Turn lock, so we took a picture!


Josephine No 5 on her moorings

No1  meets No5

Whilst doing the lock another boat approached and I realised I knew the people on board and it turned out to be nb. Obsession who used to moor at Aquaduct with us and their son James worked part time in the office. They left Aquaduct soon after us and moved to Overwater, near Audlum. Whilst chatting to them they mentioned seeing Martin and Jackie's boat Headway leaving on it's first cruise around the Four Counties Ring with it's new owners.
We arrived Alrewas on late Monday afternoon. It is a very popular spot and we thought we would have trouble mooring but luck was on our side and we took the last space in the village!
Having achieved this and had an eventful day we decided to teat ourselves to dinner up the pub. We walked to the George and Dragon where we had lunched before a few years ago. The landlady was quite sharp with us when we asked if the specials board was the only menu. She proceeded to say yes and rushed us out of the dining room until she had sorted the reserve tables out. We went to sit out in the bar area and checked out the board again. Nothing really grab us but we thought we would give it a whirl after the day we had had. Andy went to the bar to order food (which was expensive, nothing below £9.50) and was told that someone will come to the table and take our order. The landlady then arrived with place mats etc and asked us if we had dined here before. I said yes a few years ago and she sharply said that they do not take credit cards! To which I replied but you do take debit cards? Only to be told no - cash only. We had cash but her attitude after a long a tiring day was the final straw. We checked out the second pub in the village and they were not doing food! What a way to end the day. But all was not lost as we found a Cantonese takeaway and it was the best we had had for a long time and certainly was half the price of the pub! So if you are ever in Alrewas do not go to the George and Dragon else you might meet the dragon! Next time we plan to try out the William the Fourth pub which we found on Tuesday morning when going to the Co-op.!
Did some shopping in the village and arrived at Fradley this afternoon. We plan to try out the Mucky Duck this evening. Andy has a fancy for Scampi and Chips!!