2024 trip - Mercia Marina to Braunston

The next few miles is to the village of Whittington, where there's a Co-op and quiet towpath mooring. We pass the junction with the Wyreley & Essington Canal, currently being restored to link up with the city of Lichfield and other canals some in the process of restoration - though possibly not in our lifetime! - and others already navigable. The reedbeds are extensive on this stretch In our village, there will soon be many more pylons to link with offshore wind farms - perhaps we'll come to consider them attractive? The soon (?) to be restored Wyreley & Essington, at present a cul de sac Canal activism - more funds are needed to keep the system in good repair The lockkeeper's cottage at the junction - rather a grand one Attractive bow 'flashes' In Whittington many gardens back onto the canal, sometimes with owner's boats too Many yarnbombed PO boxes have Olympic themes, so Whittington has gone with... elephants!

Set off early, to avoid obstructing the bridge and cruised the couple of miles to opposite Streethay Wharf, where there's a boatyard and small marina. We stopped for lunch and decided to stay the night - this often happens!    A perfect sky Love these arches of trees over the water Streethay Wharf, now a boatyard but originally for hop drying and coal carrying Evening view from our mooring

Closing the - very stiff - bottom gates at Bagnall Lock, above Alrewas Four locks later, after turning onto the Coventry Canal at Fradley Junction. The turn is guarded by a hand operated swing bridge.  The well known boaters' pub The Swan in the background Denis closing the swing bridge Mooring for the night was mostly taken, so we squeezed in by the bridge - will be off in the morning early

One of many thatched cottages and other pretty houses in the village   The Jam Butty is a famous waterways sight - the owners make conserves, often from fruit etc foraged from the canalside The fabulous products on sale So true! On one of the canal bridges Looking at the bridge ahead of our mooring at Alrewas.  A dutch barge style narrowboat is passing underneath Denis with the newly painted pole - certainly was handy yesterday After lunch at The George & Dragon with our friends Gina and Lee, who were out for a few days and moored a few boats away

After a night on the towpath opposite Barton Marina - we'd been to the Red Carpet Cinema there a few weeks ago and thoroughly recommend it - we started the long straight stretch of canal alongside the A38 to Wychnor Lock.  From there, the route joins the River Trent for a very pretty section through watermeadows before locking up at Alrewas Lock and (we hope) finding space to moor in the lovely village. 'Proceed with caution'.  We're travelling upstream and hope the current is manageable - it hasn't rained for a few days Originally the Wychnor lockkeeper's cottage, now privately owned     Sluices control the river level This part is like a slightly wider canal, with permanent moorings on risers.  The engine seemed quite sluggish, until we realised whilst in the lock reeds had wrapped around the propellor - a couple of quick bursts of reverse and they were cleared Up on a hill by the river, the originally Norman Wychnor church Cow Bridge leads from just below the...

Coming up at Dallow Lock, our first since leaving the marina.  It's so shallow, we can hop onto the boat roof to cross the lock :) A sad relic, thoroughly burned out We often use the facilities at Shobnall Marina, always friendly and well kept Marston's is no more, but will this well known sign remain?   Branston Lock in what used to be a rural setting - it still is very green and pleasant One of many huge distribution warehouses outside Burton Much house building too, in the river valley near Branston Metres of newly installed coir along the canal here - helping to support banks while vegetation becomes established  Video of possibly the smallest bridge on the Trent & Mersey (click to play)   Looking back at the bridge       After going up the lock at Barton Turns, we moored for the night on the towpath.   Alongside the lock is this famous pub with its evocative sign