We had a lovely evening with the Tidys, which included a bit of planning for what we hope we might do next year. But then we had a rather disturbed night, as Macc started whingeing in the early hours and when I took him out he was a bit unwell and sorry for himself. He was up again before 7, and as we walked down to the lock I was surprised to see Bargus, the fuel boat, getting ready to reverse into it. When I was out with Macc again a little later, Kat was having a delivery of coal and gas.
It’s Adrian’s birthday, so he had cards and a present over breakfast. Bargus headed for Junction Lock, and we thought we’d allowed enough time before we also set off, but Kat was selling coal to one of the cottages there while sat in the lock. I loved the way her dogs kept their eye on her as she headed off with the wheelbarrow.
There were lock keepers on the three locks up through Fradley, so we had help to turn the lock. There was another delay at Middle Lock though, as Kat had a customer just below. We were quicker through Shadehouse Lock, and then when we got to Wood End she was just leaving. This lock used to have teapots in the alcoves, now there’s artwork.
There’s quite a nice section through the woods next, but the stretch through Handsacre and Armitage isn’t really a favourite. At least there weren’t many moored boats, because Handsacre can all get a bit tight. Then we passed the Armitage Shanks factory, where there was plenty of factory noise.
Adrian got off to check whether anything was coming through the former tunnel, which is now only a tunnel because of the road going over. There’s still a narrow rocky section afterwards, but at least this way you don’t have to walk far to be able to see through.
We crept past the Spode House Moorings, and then a boat came through the bridge at the far end. This was good timing, because it’s one that is at a very strange angle that you can’t see anything.
We moored up at Rugeley, in a space right before Bridge 66. We tried a few feet further back, but the something in the water that Pip on Oleanna reported the other day was still there. Once we were secure I had a poke about with the pole and managed to move the thing, which revealed itself as a trolley. I couldn’t get it out though so have reported it to CRT. After lunch I took Macc for a walk. I’d seen a story the other day about a gold painted mile post in Rugeley, but actually there are several. We’d passed three on the boat and a fourth is just ahead. Apparently no-one seems to know who’s done it.
Macc and I went to find the remains of the original St Augustine’s Church. It was replaced with a bigger church opposite in 1923, and various bits of the 12th Century building were demolished.
There’s an unusual tomb in the graveyard for two sisters, Elizabeth Cuting who died in 1695 and Emma Hollinhurst who died in 1696. Their effigies on top of the tomb show them tied in shrouds; this led to a local legend that they were buried alive in sacks by Oliver Cromwell — although the fact that he died in 1658 rather got him off the hook. Apparently the truth is that corpses were required to be buried in wool, but these ladies preferred linen, so they defied the Act of Parliament.
On the way back we passed the Chancel School, which has a narrowboat in the playground.
This afternoon I have been to Tesco for a big shop and Aldi for much needed wine, and Adrian has been to Morrison’s for a prescription and a flu jab. The earliest appointment tomorrow was 10am and we’ll be long gone by then, so I’ll get one somewhere else.
7 miles, 4 locks. (272 miles, 178 locks)