Tixall Wide to Stafford

Yesterday, after a week, we left Tixall Wide. It had been a productive time with James catching up on pens and I prepared the gunnels for painting. We are booked in Stafford Boat Club for blacking tomorrow so thought it would be a good time to freshen the gunnels to. I sanded the whole lot, then put Fertan on the bits that had gone through to bare metal. We had a few battle scars this year and one bit particularly bad where there was a horrible stuck out part of piling. 

This has been the view from my kitchen window

On our last night, there were only four of us moored on the wide, a boat arrived late afternoon and decided to moor 10ft in front of us, it was odd as it was probably the only part of piling that wasn't straight and as a result it ended up with the middle of the boat on the stuck out part leaving quite a gap front and back. If it had moored another 20ft further forward it would be been close to the bank.

It was a short journey to Radford Banks moorings at Stafford with just Tixall lock to go up. We had a wander up to the pet shop with Dudley yesterday to stock up on food and came away with another new toy as well - Fox had joined Dudley's Gang.

This morning it was a quick pop to Aldi, it's so handy being really close to the canal, and stocked up to get us through the week we are out of the water.

Tixall Lock

Aqueduct over the River Sow

This afternoon we arrived at Stafford Boat Club and were directed onto a vacant mooring ready to be hauled out tomorrow morning !!

Temporary mooring, with the club house behind us

5 miles and 1 lock

TOTAL 677 miles and 615 locks

Stafford to Rugeley

Last Friday morning we moved LJ the few hundred yards to Stafford Club, where Peter the Habourmaster saw us in. Enterprise arrived soon after we had tied up and we were on our way for a couple of days to West Wales to visit Pam and Pete.

Just arrived at Stafford Boat Club

Moored up for the weekend

Inside the marina

LJ on the canal mooring

On Saturday we headed down to Tenby and had a wander through the town ending up with a bit of lunch over looking the beach. The sun was out but there was a bit of a chilly wind but lovely in sheltered places. In the evening we went out to the local Indian restaurant and enjoyed a lovely curry.

The lovely view from Pam and Pete's

Enjoying dinner at Abduls

Sunday morning arrived and we left for a very important appointment in Tipton. Today was 'Dudley Day' and we were picking up our little 9 week old Patterdale Terrier. We then drove to Tamworth so he could have his first vaccination, this had taken some working out as the second one is due in two weeks and we needed to work out where we would be as we wouldn't have the car then. It was the a drive back to Stafford to introduce Dudley to his new home.

James and Dudley relaxing after the journey

Dudley in his man cave

On Monday I dropped the car back to a very busy Enterprise office, where I had to wait 10 or 15 minutes for a lift back to Stafford Boat Club. The manager was very apologetic, he was also on his own with phones constantly ringing and customers coming in. It was no problem waiting I'm always just grateful they offer the pick and drop back service.

Once I arrived back we said our goodbyes to Peter, the Harbourmaster and made a very short journey to the road bridge closest to town. This was Dudley's first trip and he was so tired he spent it asleep in his bed and didn't know much about it.

Tuesday was his first proper journey and although he was a little nervous was very interested in his surroundings. We stopped for a bit of lunch, which we would have normally had on the move, then continued on to Tixall Wide.

Patiently waitng, the male swan was constantly patrolling

Quick lunch stop, lovely spot just a shame it's so close to the railway

Dudley enjoying the view and sun

We stayed a couple of days at Tixall catching up with pen related work and set off on Thursday, at Great Haywood Junction we turned right onto the Trent and Mersey Canal and soon after Dudley was going through his first lock. We stopped short of Rugeley just before the aqueduct.

Spotted this at Tixall lock

In the garden at Tixall Lock

Dudley having a reassuring cuddle through his first lock

Just before the aqueduct at Rugeley

Yesterday we moved to Rugeley town visitor moorings on the doorstep of the Tesco Superstore.

Another patient swan

Rugeley visitor moorings were very quiet

Dudley is settling in really well and enjoys running up and down the boat, it will be great after he's had his second vaccination and we will be able to take him for proper walks and not just carries. 

11 miles and 3 locks

TOTAL 143.5 miles and 154 locks

Penkridge to Stafford

What a beautiful start to the day with the sun streaming through the windows. It was up and straight off for our short trip down to Stafford. Again lots of boats on the move and we conveniently met a few at the locks coming the opposite way. I'm loving the Staffordshire and Worcestershire Canal, lovely scenery and the locks all seem to be well maintained with paddles not too difficult to raise. It was a couple of years ago we were along here going the other way, it's amazing when things start looking familiar and memories come back.

This field of swans look quite strange

Whilst waiting for a lock to fill a CRT person passed by with iPad in her hand so guess she was out sighting and logging boats. Unfortunately we weren't included in her data gathering - again!! James obtained our sightings a couple of days ago and according to them this year, as in 2015, they have us travelling a total distance of 15 miles over a maximum range of 10 miles. So we have sent an email to them. 

Moored near Stafford

4 miles and 4 locks

132.5 miles and 151 locks