The Trent and Mersey Canal.
One of the older ‘first-generation’ canals, this one follows contours to avoid cuttings and embankments, which were expensive and difficult, when you consider everything was done by hand, men with pick and shovel, assisted by horses. I’ve gone up the 6 double wide locks from Shardlow to Stenson, and they are deep, heavy and really nasty when by oneself. However, there are only 6, and then they change to narrow locks that are SO much easier to work.
I spent two nights on this section: one at Weston-on-Trent, near a manor church that is beside the manor house. Castellated, it is magnificent looking, but small. Only 3 bells and only part of a set (1-3 of 5), they don’t ring there regularly. Nice view, though, and great place to moor. Saturday night, in Burton upon Trent, I was disappointed, again, by St. Paul’s. No ringing (something is cracked). Then torrential downpour until noon. Clearing skies meant an afternoon to Fradley Junction and the end of this portion of the long T&M. I turn south to enter the Coventry/Birmingham and Fazeley canal (they swap names along the way). The B&F leaves towards Birmingham some distance along, and the Coventry carries on to… Coventry! I hope to do some exploring along the way, and check out the towers as I can.
