River Sow

We were up with the lark, or rather pigeon, and Andrew was practically knocking on the door of M&S for a quick shop before we set off for the day. Casting off for the day around 09:10 we have left the high density of locks behind us, until our return. With just 5 locks today with large breaks in between we spent most of the day cruising.

The first landmark of note was the Aston Marina, a vast expanse of water with hundreds of boats - one of the biggest in the country. The gap between locks allowed the skipper to be served with tea and soda bread, while the younger crew member sat in the well deck and watched Peter Rabbit on Grandma and Grandpa’s portable DVD player!

At the second lock of the day a crew heading the other way offered to work the lock and this gave Sarah a new experience; riding on the boat as it descended! A little way along we passed under Salt Bridge, the most ornate on the T&M, built to a high standard for the benefit of the local gentry. It would seem that nearby Weston-on-Trent still contains those with money, with some large canal side properties and well kept gardens. At the lock on the far side we encountered a vintage boat heading the other way. The well seasoned skipper demonstrating his rather unorthodox way to lower paddles, without the use of a windlass! I’m not sure the CRT would approve. We stopped just beyond here for lunch, just as the heavens opened having been lovely all morning. Had we stopped a few minutes earlier we would have stayed dry all day!

After a lazy start to the afternoon we resumed the cruise which featured just a couple of locks. Sarah and Edward elected to walk along the towpath between the two and crossing over the bridge at Great Haywood junction. This is where the Staffs & Worcester Canal joins the T&M and is a hive of activity, both on and off the water. We moored up just around the corner a short distance from Haywood lock and with views of the grounds of Shugborough Hall. It is a lovely still evening, but the forecast for tomorrow is not good!Read more