The Road from Burton

Hi there readers. Set off last night at 1740 through the lines of moored boats visiting the festival. On the south side of the festival the boats extended for about a mile and we didnt clear into open country until 2030. Moored next to the steam narrow boat President. A guy on President said "did  you know SL was a steam engine"

Just a couple of pictures of the festival as it was a great 3 days topped off by a brilliant performance by the Mikron theatre company (... they travel around the waterways putting on plays on the Narrow Boat Tyseley) Visited by Alan and Lynn for a look round the festival and a picnic lunch.

Bunting flying at Burton



Two loaded boats (Fazeley and Clover)being turned at the IWA festival



Set off Monday 0700. A lot of traffic already on the move. Inevitable queuing which got to its worst at the lock after Barton Turns. This is the view we had behind of the queue after we had waited nearly two hours. Followed by a working Boat Aldgate with a very enthusiastic and agile steerer on board who was helping us as well as everyone else through the locks. He even produced a strimmer at one point to cut back some nettles on the towpath!

This is a dreary stretch of canal paralleling the A38

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A38 from the Trent and Mersey canal.

From here we rejoined the Trent for a short distance. You have to watch the weirs!

A guy shouted have you ever seen a boat called Agenoria (the sister locomotive to SL. I said no.

A woman came out waving her arms and shouting. "Your dead if you havnt got a ring on" she shouted waving her fist. It turned out that a rogue swan had been drowning cygnets near her boat.

Then the queue's vanished and it was plain sailing through the delightful village of Alrewas. Particularly liked the free range hens in someone back garden.

Then on through Fradley Junction. Someone shouted "Why have you called your boat SL" I told him. He said "Well I am from Ambelcote and my great grandfather drove Agenoria" Dont know what it is today about Stourbridge Lion but everyone is picking up on the name.

Moored up just after Brindley's bridge over the Trent at 1900 after a full days running. Joanne did well with the locks. A guy passed and said "Stourbridge Lion is locomotive not a boat" I shouted something after him but I dont think he heard-which was probably just as well.