To Fradley Junction and back on NB Oyster Bay

Starting off from NB Oyster Bay's mooring on the River Soar, we had a week to get to Fradley Junction in Staffordshire and back. Advise was we could do it easily - and we did! Fradley Junction, according to the Canal and Rivers Trust is "one of the busiest places on the waterways, where canals, boats and people meet" 

First night was spent moored up at Trent Lock where nature gave us an incredible sunset. 

Shardlow was our next overnight stop, where friends joined us to experience a narrowboat for the first time and we pootled back to Sawley Marina before dropping them back at Shardlow  



For peak weeks, the Trent and Mersey canal seemed quiet to us, the only busy spot being the lock at Alrewas where five boats were queuing to come down the lock whilst we were travelling up

A call into Mercia Marina at Willington was always on the cards and we reversed (well, Mr S did) Oyster Bay into a visitors mooring under the watchful eye of dozens of gongoozlers. Having visited many times on foot, it was novel to arrive by boat. A destination in it's own right, it was extremely busy at the weekend. Shopping on the boardwalk was a must, topping up supplies, including a net of logs for the woodstove in case it turned cooler


Fradley Junction was reached halfway through the week. Our goal had been a pint at The White Swan - known locally as The Mucky Duck. We were amazed to find a mooring within a two minute walk of the pub - apparently a rarity. Other boaters had warned us we would likely have a ten minute walk from a mooring. On a practical note, there is also rubbish disposal, boaters showers and toilets, an elsan point and two cafes here.  

Through Junction Lock, Fradley the next morning, turning the boat around (winding) ready for the return journey.

A text book turning for Mr S, with only a couple of people watching. This lock was manned by a C&RT volunteer lock-keeper, which made our job a lot easier

Between Fradley and Burton, at Bridge 51 we encountered this low and narrow bridge immediately after exiting a lock - nerve-wracking but good practice, and only the lock-keeper looking on - luckily no bumps





One of the most common types of narrowboat we met on our travels were Canaltime hire boats. These are based at Sawley Marina and the people we chatted to at locks and whilst moored up were all thoroughly enjoying their time afloat. 

Memorably, we met a group of friends from Switzerland having their first narrowboat holiday and a couple from Australia who had made the journey just to experience a canal holiday


Returning back through Shardlow on our penultimate night, we once again moored overnight so we could visit the Shardlow Heritage Centre, a delightful place which provides "a fascinating insight into this 18th century canal transhipment port" and which is manned entirely by volunteers. A quick pint in The Clock Warehouse seemed the right thing to do whilst passing by on foot

One certainty on a narrowboat is to always expect the unexpected. 

Whilst feeding the ducks with proper duck food (bread is bad for them, apparently) a shoal of paddleboarders came by almost silently at dusk with some cheery waves and greetings of  "ey up mi duck" 

Our last night was cool enough for a log fire and it was delightful to sit with the stern doors open watching the sunset and people walking by on the canal bank, whilst being warmed by the fire

The last night of the holiday finished as it had started with another spectacular sunset at Shardlow









We were joined the next morning by another friend who cruised with us from Shardlow back to the mooring and an extra pair of hands was very welcome through the various locks on route



A wonderful week, blessed with beautiful weather. When can we do it again?