Big Trip - Day 6

The first of September, and there was a distinct autumnal chill in the air this morning.  We we're awake early so got up and decided to get going, setting off at 7.40.  There were a surprising number of boats on the move at that time.

It seemed to take a very long time to get to Fradley, but when we did a boat was coming through the swing bridge, and left it for us.  We went through, I closed it, and Adrian made the left turn onto the Trent and Mersey.

We followed a boat up the two locks.  Shade House Lock has a very small bridge at the tail.

At Wood End Lock, we followed the same boat up.  They had a job to get the bottom gates to stay closed, and we had the same problem.  In the end, I held them from the boat, while Adrian opened a top paddle as soon as possible.

At Armitage, the Armitage Shanks factory appeared to be in full production, and even though everyone does it, I also took the bog standard photo of all the loos packed up ready to go out.

At the narrows, I went ahead to check there was nothing coming, and then phoned Adrian to say it was clear.

We continued through Rugeley, which has the power station cooling towers looming over it, and then across the Trent Aqueduct.  It was pretty breezy by now, and a bit chilly.  Last lock of the day was Colwich Lock, which always seems to have a queue.  A boat was just going in befo us, and there were two waiting at the top.

We stopped for the night at Great Haywood, just below the lock, with views across the Trent towards Shugborough Hall.  There's a cricket match going on in the grounds.  The Internet signal is terrible, so I'll post small photos now, and replace them with bigger ones when we're in a better signal area.

20 miles, 4 locks.  (92 miles, 41 locks)