Shobnall Fields to Bridge 47, Alrewas
So glad we were only moored here for one night. Don’t get me wrong, it’s a nice mooring but Tilly and I spent far too long here last year. When I say it’s a nice mooring, it is apart from when the local lads decide to fire fireworks at each other whilst running around in the park! I hope that was a phase last year that has worn off.
As we were making to push off so was the chap on the boat ahead, NB Borderline. We’ve seen the boat about the system, he’s covered it all and bagged the silver propeller locations too. I had a chat with him as I rolled up the covers, he’s from York so there was plenty to chat about.
A boat waved us on, we thought they were coming in to moor where we were, some obscure hand signals were given. We pushed off and headed to the entrance to Shobnall Marina, Oleanna was swung round and then reversed under the narrow bridge. Time for a top up of diesel, £1.33 domestic, 3 bags of coal and a new float switch for the engine bilge pump as the current one keeps sticking on! Whilst we were tucked inside, the boat we thought was going to moor came past us, soon followed by another.
Back out onto the canal we soon passed where we’d moored for a night last year. This had been the furthest west we’d achieved in 2025, today we were continuing onwards, no rumours of Alrewas Lock closing due to low water levels.
At Branston Lock the two boats ahead of us were disappearing into the distance and not that far behind us was NB Borderline, long gone are the days of not seeing another moving boat!
A question had come through from the print company about my portals for panto, the chap I was talking to couldn’t find the right words to describe the query, he forwarded it by email and it immediately made sense. A few minutes to do a visual in reply, now hopfully it was sorted.
At Tattenhill Lock we’d caught up the boat ahead, they were travelling with the boat infront, so three, now four crew to work them up. Were we all aiming for Alrewas? Yes. News had come through this morning that there was plenty of room, so hopefully there’d be enough for three!
I hitched a ride to Barton Turn Lock, again helping the two boats ahead. Alongside this lock is an honesty box. Years ago I bought some alpine strawberry plants here which have carried on going and now fill an urn at the house and two troughs. I hope they will survive the rest of the year, they are not guaranteed to be watered now we’re back on the boat. Today there were jams, possibly pickles £3 a jar. Alongside in a box were punnets of tomatoes for £1. A good variety of sizes, they were worth the £1, I boughht some.
We pulled in soon after the lock, giving the boats ahead chance to get away and time for lunch and a sit down for Mick. Next it was time to play the A38 game, both of us stood at the stern of Oleanna waving to lorries as they passed at speed. Sadly the hedge was too high for many of them to see us, not one beep from a horn but a few waved back.
At lunchtime we’d been overtaken by another boat who we met at Wychnor Lock, a single hander who took his time. He was a touch bemused as he’d not been able to find the bins that he thought were shown on his app. I have to say I don’t remember there being bins here and the door he’d been trying I think is someone’s garage.
A message was sent ahead, we’d just ascended the lock. I opted to walk to Alrewas, a stretch I’ve not walked before. Across the raised walkways with their white railings which come in handy when the River Trent is in flood. At the lock the single hander had an extra pair of hands, Adam from NB Kingley Vale. As we worked Oleanna up the lock I of course got a phone call from the set builder, he wanted to talk toilets! A suitable subject with boaters about, but I couldn’t answer his questions until I had my drawings to look at.
NB KV was moored close to the lock, but we didn’t find a space until we got round near the church. Possibly a better mooring for Tilly, although she didn’t stay out long. It was nice of someone to put out all the flowers, but all the grass is too short and there’s very little friendly cover to pounce in and She said I wasn’t allowed to go digging!
With panto questions answered, a chat with Frank, a spruce up and an early dingding for Tilly, we headed back to find NB Kingley Vale. Here Adam, Adrian and Macc their border terrier greeted us. There was a guided tour round their boat, still under a year old, a glass of wine and food time for Macc, woofers don’t do dingding! A very lovely boat, plenty of head room, possibly an inch higher than Oleanna.
We all then headed to The Crown for some food, a corner table so Macc could have some space of his own. Burgers, fish and chips, beers and wine all followed by puddings and accompanied by plenty of conversation. We’ve met Adam a few times, but before today we’ve only managed to wave to Adrian as they passed on NB Briar Rose at the beginning of lockdown in 2020. This year both boats had been travelling in the same direction, but we were two days behind them. However, Adrian has been referred to the fracture clinic in Burton, their cruising plans had changed, so they’d set a course to head in our direction. It was really lovely to get chance to spend an evening with them, we just hope that Adrian’s appointment comes through quickly.
7.2 miles, 5 locks, 50 L diesel, 75kg coal, 1 float switch, 2 infront, 2 horses, 1 unimpressed cat, 1 boater talking toilets, 1 pause for lunch, £1 tomatoes, 1 guided tour, 2 burgers, 2 fish and chips, 5 glasses wine, 5 pints, 4 puddings, 1 very pleasant evening.
