Even though we started out late after shopping we thought we would easily make it onto the Trent and Mersey today. However only about an hour after leaving Tamworth some rubbish fouled our prop, causing the engine to stall. Once we had cleared the prop we had to wait for the engine to cool down before we could continue. For some reason our trusty BMC 1.5 doesn't like starting warm. This delay meant we revised our plans to reach Fradley Junction. That plan didn't work because by the time we got to Fradley it was getting late and the moorings at the junction were all taken so we went round onto the Trent and Mersey anyway.
The banks on the Trent and Mersey are not very mooring friendly so we carried on through three locks before we found a good spot. So we moored fairly late for us, but it was still daylight.
We are taking a slightly odd route from here to Middlewich, the obvious thing to do would to stay on the Trent and Mersey but that means going through Harecastle Tunnel which in turn means taking everything off our roof because it is so low. Instead we are going via the Staffs and Worcester and the Shropshire Union which has the added bonus of letting me visit Penkridge Market and maybe seeing Barry and Alex. It will take us a little longer going that way round but not a lot.
Today's journey 10.9 miles, 3 locks and 1 swing bridge
So far this year we have travelled 187.3 miles, 122 locks, 5 swing bridges and 5 tunnels
In 2011 we travelled 461.4 miles, 444 locks, 3 swing bridges, 34 lift bridges and 15 tunnels
During 2010 we travelled 740.3 miles, 642 locks, 53 swing bridges, 4 lift bridges and 25 tunnels
Since Ray retired we have travelled 1389 miles, 1208 locks, 61 swing bridges, 38 lift bridges and 45 tunnels
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