A dull, dreary, damp, drizzly day ...

It was all that and perishing cold too when we got up yesterday and it continued all day as we (together with Moore 2 Life) upped-sticks from Kings Bromley and set off for Rugeley, picking up water on the way at Brereton ...

... entering what was once Armitage Tunnel before its roof was removed in 1971 and ...

... that's Moore 2 Life close behind us ...

... just out of those narrows this scene hasn't changed at all since we've been cruising - Willie Winkie is still holding his solar light!

In the long line of moorings there were at least 4 boats up for sale ...

... as we reached Spode House, the former home of the pottery family

Spode House - Detailed Record ; Hawkesyard Priory and Spode House, Armitage, Staffordshire ...

... and soon into Rugeley past the power station.
We've moored just past the railway bridge and arranged a Tesco delivery for today (Tuesday); I'm keeping my fingers crossed for its safe arrival.
Today has dawned pretty much the same as yesterday and as you may have gathered by now - I don't like damp, grey days!

Sun through the trees

08:52

6th November 2011

at our mooring

Autumn Sky

Taken 5th November 2011 at 16:48 - Trent and Mersey Canal bridge 55
(edited - see comment!)

First of the winter stoppages

 We turned left at the junction where the Coventry Canal meets the Trent and Mersey Canal and are approaching Middle Lock 18

 Leaving Shadehouse Lock - you can see the start of preparations for stoppage on Monday to repair/replace these gates and the ones of the middle lock

Lovely autumn colours looking back towards Fradley.

Moored for the weekend at Kings Bromley.

Up the Junction!

 George, with Ann and Chas (Moore 2 Life) did their own bit of retail therapy this morning - I'm sure that Chas will be revealing his purchases on his blog before too long ... eh Chas?

While I waited for them to return I saw some movement through the bridge ...

... the Swan family set out on their cruise for today!

So graceful. 

Ann and Chas are staying here today as Chas's purchases have to be .... 

erm ...  sorted!

We're soon out into the countryside again; when the sun manages to find a gap in the clouds it warms our backs, but in the shade it's a bit chilly!

That looks very industrial - I wondered if it was a chicken farm ...

... but no, it was intensive pig farming - they seemed to be a lot of piglets packed into such small pens ...

... and the smell .... well you can imagine!  It stayed with us on the breeze for some time after we'd passed by.... yuk!

This very nice old waterways house at Huddlesford Junction looks as if it may have been important in its time.

The junction arm (off to the right in this picture, currently used for private mooring) is under renovation, see Lichfield and Hatherton Canals Restoration Trust Ltd 

Also for sale at the junction is

'Diesel-in-a-Can'

available for delivery to your boat 

Yet another new marina under construction!  We've 

passed by quite a few marinas recently, some new and some more established.

A couple of the new ones either were not completely finished and had few boats moored and even the established ones did not appear to be fully utilised.  I wonder if there really is a need for more?

Approaching Streethay Wharf -

busy as usual ...

'Reckless' The Boat that Guy Built

is still on sale here - price reduced now to £37,000. It's the blue one behind the canopy.

 Boats For Sale - Streethay Wharf

Our destination for the next couple of days is Fradley Junction.

Once the ropes are tied and a very welcome cuppa taken we set out for a walk to see what changes had been made since we were last here

It was only about 4:15 but night was arriving quickly

we walked around the wildlife pool - here's a new addition ... 

a huge dragonfly!

Getting ever darker as I look down the Coventry Canal from the junction 

and so to the Mucky Duck - it was as welcoming as ever ...

we shall be back tomorrow night (hopefully with Ann and Chas) to enjoy a meal and a natter ...

and perhaps on Thursday night too to enjoy a folk music event!

Boats on an Autumn Day

Rock n Roll setting off from our mooring near Polesworth

The water is low, this overflow should be covered with water

Polesworth Abbey | through the trees

Signs of industry of ...



             .... times past

Waiting .....

Moore 2 Life cruising through the autumn trees

Whoops ... it always happens on a bend!

He's indicated that we pass him on his right ...

... safely past!

Moore 2 Life is catching us up

Samuel Barlow at Alvcote Marina and amongst other working boats is ...

... butty Australia deep in the water fully loaded with coal and wood.  For non-boating readers a butty is an unpowered boat which is towed by a powered boat; the butty requires a steerer at the helm.

There are a fair few old working boats moored in this area

The helm of Butty Verbena as she sits ...

... in a line of working boats by Narrowcraft Narrowboats

The place to buy your winlusses!

Poo or Paddington?

Looking back past Glascote Basin ...

... whilst George poses at the lock!

BW boat Shenton doing tree maintenance when we arrived at our mooring yesterday afternoon;
we're at Sutton Road Bridge at Tamworth.
Ann Moore 2 Life and I had some retail therapy at Ventura Retail Park before settling down for what was a very wet night.

The sky last night

18:10 looking towards Polesworth after a showery day