We got a much earlier start today. It wasn’t planned. We were both awake, so we decided to get going. We passed through Alrewas and onto a short section of the River Trent. The flow was reasonably high but nothing like we experienced in the winter on the Kennet. There are several side channels to the river, but the towing path still has to get through. As a result, it passes over a series of high bridges. These were also memorable from our first canal holiday. Being October, it was foggy. And I remembered these bridges looming out of the fog confusing these inexperienced boaters about which was the right way to go.
After leaving the river section, at Wychnor, the canal runs for several miles right next to the A38. I tried to capture one of those photos that contrast high speed modern transport of today with the same from hundreds of years ago. I did not have much success, all those trucks were traveling too fast.
Boating right next to a major road is one of my least favourite activities. So I was happy when the canal moved away from the road to pass through Barton Turns.
At Barton Turns Lock, we came across a CRT crew in the middle of running repairs on the lock. As we arrived, they had already removed one of the bottom gates balance beams and were in the process of craning in a new one. We assumed we were in for a lengthy wait. But after some quick adjustments (with a chain saw), the new balance beam was attached, and they started letting boats through. All this whilst they were still re-attaching all the mechanical parts to the gate. Very efficient!
After another short section alongside the A38, we arrived at Branston Lock. What a familiar name. It turns out that this IS the Branston where the pickle originated.
I’m not sure there is any relationship between the pickle and brewing, but the smell of malt drifting over from Burton was very clear at Branston. Beers brewed in Burton on Trent were exported all over the world and they represented more than 25% of UK beer production. There used to be many small breweries in the town. Brewing isn’t as big now, but 2 large breweries, Marstons and Coors still operate in Burton. And that’s what you can often smell.
Also in Burton, we passed the entrance to Shobnall Basin. This was the home of the boat company we hired our first narrowboat from. So that means the end of nostalgia from nearly 30 years ago!
Passing through Darnell Lock in Burton also means the end of narrow locks until after Leicester. The wide locks begin tomorrow at Stenson.