Friday 27 July 2012

A leisurely journey to Tixall Wide

After an enjoyable musical evening and meal in The Swan at Fradley Junction last night, we managed to get an early start this morning (for us anyway) leaving at 8am!

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Having just left Fradley we’re taking to new water this year at last.  The wild “Astilbe” along the banks is superb at the moment and the Rose Bay Willow Herb is just starting to look it’s best.

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The “crew” putting his back into it at Wood End Lock.  The sun was bright but it was a chill wind first thing this morning.

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It wasn’t long before we were at Armitage – home of the Armitage Shanks who we couldn’t really do without!  The canal runs right past their factory.

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Soon we were in the Armitage “tunnel”.  Subsidence by coal mining caused its collapse and it is now partly covered by concreted and partly open to the sky.

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It’s very narrow in places and concentrates the mind a bit!

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Some great engineering and architecture at Colwich Lock.

After getting through the lock at Great Haywood we turned left onto the Staffs and Worcestershire Canal  and were amazed to see the number of hire boats still at the Anglo Welsh yard.

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We counted seven as we went past, no wonder why the canals seem to be so quiet with so few hire boats about.

We arrived at Tixall Wide at 1.30pm and were surprised to see plenty of room for us so we moored up, put the washing out on the line and went for a walk into Great Haywood.  When we got back, James washed the roof and cleaned the sides as well as doing a few other jobs.  We are now sat in front of the TV waiting for the Olympic opening ceremony to start. We will probably stay here tomorrow  as there’s more work to be done (painting gang planks and things) and then move again on Sunday.

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The view at Tixall Wide from the side hatch this evening.

5 comments:

  1. Bloody hell, that is an early start! Ali only thinks there is one eight o clock in a day and it aint the early one.

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  2. Caroline and Martin27 July 2012 at 22:39

    That is one of the most beautiful sunsets i have seen in a long time, we really loved Tixall Wide, even had time to stop there for lunch back in June on our week doing the four counties, the farm shop over the bridge from the waterpoint was well worth a visit too. Caroline

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  3. But I can get up and be ready to go in no time, I don't need 2 hours to wake up!

    Lovely sunset photo!

    Ali x

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  4. hi Doug and james
    8am thats half way through the day. Its been too warm for us by then so its a really early start.
    We have found the canals quiet down here to and think that it must be the olympics which has kept people away. Phoenix is cute but so is your lovely picture of Oscar.
    Enjoy the trip
    Bob June and Phoenix
    Nb Autumn Myst

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  5. Great sunset picture
    Norwyn
    NB Shell Bell

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