Grey Day

I don't know about the rest of the UK but here in what I suppose counts as the East Midlands it has been a very grey day. It hasn't rained much just a few very light showers but it has been cold and miserable all day. I don't think my solar panels are making much contribution to my power supply today!

After giving up any hope of even a ray of sunshine we started out a bit before eleven this morning to make our way to Branston Water Park. Our first lock was Bagnell Lock which takes you down to the village of Alrewas. I have fond memories of Alrewas as it marked the end of my first couple of days of single-handed boating nearly six years ago. I was travelling in the opposite direction on that occasion and wanted to get through the river section below Alrewas Lock before a severe storm hit which was predicted to (and did) cause flooding.

We passed through Alrewas Lock and the river section without any repetition of the high winds and strong currents that made my last journey a bit scary! It was an easy journey down through the remaining three locks to reach Branston Water Park. We did have the amusement of overtaking the traffic on the adjacent A38, now that is a bad traffic jam if it is faster by narrowboat! We got a few waves from the truckers as we cruised past.

We may be stopping here for a few days as we may, subject to the weather, be having visitors at the weekend.

Today's journey 6.4 miles and 5 locks


So far this year we have travelled 715.2 miles, 579 locks,  50 swing bridges, 23 lift bridges and 27 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 1916.9 miles, 1665 locks, 106 swing bridges, 61 lift bridges and 67 tunnels