Shrinking locks

For the first time this trip I have that windblown outdoor feeling! We actually travelled about 15 miles today & went through 4 locks.  Swarkstone & Stenson locks were both deep at 10’11” & 12’4” respectively & were the last of the double width locks. When we arrived at Stenson lock a brand new widebeam was on its way down. The owner was very wisely having a lesson with a professional as he’s planning to travel solo. He had just left Willington Marina & was still looking worried!

Into Burton Upon Trent, where, if you don’t know it’s famous for its brewing industry when you arrive, you certainly do by the time you leave. The smell of hops follows you through & the Marston & Coors breweries are visible most of the way.

Coors brewery

Marstons



Reversing in supervised by geese



Horninglow Wharf on the edge of Burton Upon Trent is not like most watering points that allow you to moor parallel to the canal to fill up, this one requires a bit of manoeuvring. Simon did a spot of nifty reversing whilst being heckled by a bunch of geese with very dubious parentage. At least the adjacent A38 concrete embankment has a mural to cheer it up a bit.



Watering up






 

 

 

 

 





Dallow lane Lock



Just beyond the wharf Dallow Lane is the first of the narrow beam locks & as it’s only 3’6” deep it seemed like a real tiddler! Branston Lock was the last of the day at 3’



Branston Lock





Mooring just before Branston Water Park



We are now moored near the Branston Water Park.

This 15 mile trip took just over 8 hours, although we did stop briefly for supplies & lunch at Willington.  We saw a boat with “don’t forget to take the time to smell the roses on the way”. We took the time, but all we smelt were the hops!