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Alrewas as seen in 2003

Common Lock to Swarkestone Toll House.

Had an early breakfast and start today, partly enabled by the boat next to us having problems getting going, as they were stuck on the side. So we were off by seven o'clock in the morning.

The first place we went through was Alrewas, we were through before most people were out of bed, and we had the canal nearly to our selves. The section of canal after Alrewas is where the river Trent crosses the canal on the level? If there is a lot of water on the river Trent, the canal is higher and can have a slight current to it. We are then passing Barton-Turn marina (see pictures lese where.)

It was slow going through all the locks to Burton, with always a few boats waiting in front of us to go through.

In front of us was Burton, had we mentioned that Burton was hosting the IWA national festival this year, and that was partly why there was so many boats around.

When we arrived, there were boats every, but boats were being marshaled very efficiently, and we squeezed through, only just in places. John was standing up at very front of the boat, at the prow. His job was to stare down the line of boats, to see if the way was clear and if any body was signaling. His second job was to fend us of from the moored boats as we past them, at times we were touching on both sides? We had pleasant hour of this till we reached the centre of Burton and we did a sharp right into the boat yard, to get a pump out and re-fuel.

On reversing out of the entrance, we carried on to wards Shardlow, the number of boats to squeeze past was much shorter this time. We went through the first big lock going towards Shardlow, and the ice cream shop next to the lock was open, we moored at the bottom of the and went back. They had by then closed for the evening!! So we travelled a little bit further to Swarkstone and moored up for the night, it is 17:30.

When deciding to stop along this stretch you are always wondering, which is the noisiest, the A50 or the railway line, we reckon at least at night the A50 makes the most noise.

Now food, fun and games! and drink and so to bed.

Notes on progress.
Structures we went through
River Trent - (It flows through the canal???)
IWA Burton on Trent 2011 Festival Site
- it was like full of boats for mile upon mile.

Places we go by
Alrewas - moored the night there.
Molested by A38
Barton Turns marina
Little Chef - I wonder if it is still there?
Willington
Stenson - No ice cream! - very upset.
Swarkstone - moor for the night.