Fradley Junction to Penkridge

Thursday 7th May 2009

Yesterday we made our way from Fradley Junction to Rugeley and I for one was never more happy to come to a stop. The wind was so powerful that, on the open stretches, it was difficult to control the boat. Fortunately we had no locks to worry about and, since our moorings were between buildings, we were well sheltered.

The centre of Rugely is only 200 yards away from our moorings, so I decided to go with Wifey to the local Morrisons. Unfortunately I had a lot more faith in my legs than I should have, because the walk was agony. The problem is, if I don’t take a walk occasionally I seem to suffer more muscle pains than if I don’t take that walk. I seem to be between a rock and a hard place in this situation.

Anyway, back to Rugely, which has the canal passing through it and the River Trent passing it to the east. The town can, unhappily, lay claim to at least two murders, one of which was committed by a poisoner, whilst the other was the death of a young woman back in the early 19thC.

The town also boasts two churches, both of which ar by bridge 67. The parish church was built in 1822 to replace the other one which is a ruin of its former 14th C beauty. The infamous, but beautiful, Cannock Chase, which covers an area of 26 square miles, lies to the south of the town. Spode House, the home of the famous pottery family stands next to Hawkesyard Priory, which was founded in 1897 by Josiah Spodes grandson and niece Helen Gulson when they lived at Spode House.

There, I think that’s enough about Rugeley, which used to be called Rougeley, except to say that, as with many towns in the U.K. it too has suffered from the downturn, having lost several shops since we last visited.

Great Haywood Junction, which is about a mile north of our mooring, is the centre of the Great Haywood and Shugborough Conservation Area. Shugborough Hall lies to the west of the canal and once housed a family named Anson. Back in the 1740’s a gentleman of that name circumnavigated the globe. About 100 yards south of Haywood Lock is an old iron bridge, which goes absolutely nowhere. Many moons ago though, the bridge, which crossed the river and canal, was built in order for the Ansons to drive their horse and carriage to church on Sundays. Prior to that time the poor dears were obliged to walk the 300 yards. How ignominious for them, what!

Sunday 10th May 2009

Due to circumstances beyond our control; namely the high winds of the past few days; we stayed at Great Haywood until this morning. Having arrived there from Rugeley on Thursday morning, battling head winds and cross winds for most of the journey, we did not feel obliged to suffer the same discomfort on Friday and, since we had much the same situation on Saturday, we decided to stay put for another day. Today however, the winds had dropped to a whisper, as predicted by the weatherman, so we upped sticks and took a slow cruise to Acton Trussel on the Staffs and Worcs canal, which is where we are now. We’re moored between lock 42 and bridge 94.
Now, I don’t know if I’ve mentioned this before, but I wonder if our readers give any though to what we boaters do with ourselves when we’re moored up. Of course it depends very much on our surroundings and the weather, but in a general sense we make every effort not to make any efforts, if you see what I mean. Anyway, for those of you who are interested, the following is a breakdown of a normal day.

Wifey being the lazier of us two, she rises about 07.30, which is about an hour after yours truly. Naturally, being the first up, I take doggy out for a quick nature call and I also do breakfast, which will consist of cereal on Monday to Friday, crumpets on Saturday and boiled eggs with toasty soldiers on Sunday. This morning we deviated somewhat from the norm because Wifey managed to find some Asparagus Spears, which she wrapped in bacon and roasted in the oven for use instead of toast to dip in our eggs.

Assuming we’re cruising in the morning, which we try to avoid at weekends, then we decide where to head for and, assuming no hold-ups, we’re usually away by 8 or 8.30, prior to which Sheila will take Rusty out for a proper nature call. Today, since we’d been sitting around for three days and despite the fact that it’s Sunday, we headed off for Acton Trussel after that. If possible she’ll also pop into a local shop for a paper before we go.

On arrival at our destination the day will very much follow thus: first thing is a cuppa. This really is a must, after which Wifey will take Rusty for another walk. Our mutt gets a little impatient to get out and sniff around in the new locale, so she really doesn’t have much choice. If we are lucky enough to have a daily paper to read, Sheila will be hard pressed to read it before Rusty’s nagging gives her the pip and she gives in.
Sometimes we’ll have a bite to eat about 1.30, then a proper meal later, say around 6.30 or so. At other times we’ll have a late lunch, or early dinner about 3.30 or 4.00 and a snack later in the evening whilst watching TV.

If there’s anything that needs doing to the boat, such as cleaning or, like today, a spot of varnishing, we’ll get stuck in to that. But most days we’ll chill out by sticking our noses in our books, or I might get the laptop out and catch up on emails, or the blog, or some additions to my recipe book. This is going quite well, I’m pleased to say and you’ll all get a copy when it’s finished.

Our evening starts at 6 pm when the BBC News comes on, but that depends on reception in the area, you landlubbers really do have it easy where TV is concerned. From 6 through 10 pm, assuming there’s something worth watching having tuned the aerial in, we’ll be sat in front of the box then it’s off to bed to rest up after a really exhausting day. Alternatively, we’ll probably stick noses in books again. And so it goes from day to day with just a few variations.

Sundays, as you know, I’ll do my very best to find a pub and enjoy a few pints of Guinness and a packet of nuts. Today is not one of those days unfortunately and they seem to be just a fading memory these days. My poor old knees are not getting any better and so, with great regret, I really have to be quite close to a pub otherwise I have to go without. Aaah!

The guitar practice has slowed down recently, but I’m trying to catch up now. I’ll never be a rock star or C&W singer now, but I’m hoping to at least find my way around the fretboard with some dexterity – eventually! I also have to find the inclination to start painting, that’s the water-colours and/or the canal art, both of which I really do want to get stuck into. We need a couple of paintings of roses and castles for the back doors and I have no plans for paying someone else to do them for us.

There you go, that’s our day, more or less. Now you know. More tomorrow, or not, as the case may be.

Monday 11th May 2009

And here we are at Penkridge. It was touch and go this morning as to whether we would go for it because the wind was pretty strong. But, since we will soon be in need of a pump-out, and the next place we’ll be likely to get it done is at Gailey and the weather is supposed to worsen for the rest of the week, it seemed; to paraphrase our esteemed PM when he was Chancellor; prudent to get moving.

Of course, the fact that there’s a decent watering-hole just a short walk away, and one that I can manage without too much distress, must have had some bearing on our decision. If the weather holds fair for tomorrow we’ll continue on to Coven – via Gailey for said pump-out – and another decent pub. This boating lark is not all doom and gloom.

Naturally we took advantage of The Boat, which is the nearby pub and, prior to doing so, Wifey trotted off for a bit of shopping. Unfortunately, it being a Monday, the butchers was closed, but we’re not desperate for meaty stuff and can wait for the next opportunity.

This is quite a pleasant little Staffordshire town, which boasts most of the usual amenities, including a Lloyds Bank, Post Office, Co-op and station amongst other things. According to Nicholsons blurb, the church of St Michael dates from the 11th C but with a restoration having taken place in 1881. It also holds an 18th C Dutch screen which was brought over from Cape Town and the tower is believed to be dated from around 1500. And that’s about to be said for Penkridge, except perhaps the line of private moorings called Tom’s lying opposite and the Infants School just beyond that. All in all a very pleasant stopover.

Now, having succeeded yet again in accessing the Internet, I shall proceed to post this blog. Hopefully the rest of the week will be pleasant enough weather wise, both to you and us.

Kind regards from:

Dave, Sheila and Rusty.