Half term and grandkids are with us again for a week. We have taken boat out as kids easier to handle canalside! We have done some exploring in the local woods outside marina.

Half term and grandkids are with us again for a week. We have taken boat out as kids easier to handle canalside! We have done some exploring in the local woods outside marina.
Decided to stay indoors today as yellow weather wind warning. And my how it has howled, rocking the boat madly on it’s mooring. Nothing for it but to bake…
Reluctantly we have come back in to marina. We have enjoyed our little jaunt and are in a bit of a quandary as to whether to stay for the winter or cruise sooner. We have another month booked here anyway to decide.
From Alrewas we gently moved down canal. We stopped at Branston water park where we saw a kingfisher but sadly it flew off before I could get a photo . Next we stopped at Shobnall and did some shopping.
Despite the poor weather, yesterday we decided to head to Fradley junction to take on water, empty elsan and rubbish. We were turning around at Fradley as we need to get back to marina, as I have signed up for some ladies tuition given by more experienced ladies, and the first meeting is on Monday.
We had a bit of trouble with our solar panels, which after conversations with the fitters turned out to be a loose connection from the control panel. Charlie fixed it and we are now producing a bit of solar power.
T&M just past Fradley junction.
Today we awoke to lovely sunshine so walked into Alrewas to have a look around. Lovely village with lots of desirable residences. Small array of shops and a lovely butchers (bought bacon,sausages and pork belly).
The 2 photos above are inside the armed forces memorial with sculptures designed to embody loss and sacrifice. The gap has been designed to allow a shaft of sunlight to penetrate the heart of the memorial on the 11th hour, of the 11th day of the 11th month. It is a moving tribute when you see all the names inscribed.
Shot at dawn. The most poignant of all dedicated to the 306 British and commonwealth soldiers shot during WW1 for desertion, cowardice, sleeping at post or disobedience amongst other things. Many names had ages unknown due to the fact many lied about their age to enlist. All if these were posthumously pardoned in 2006.
Children’s woodland area dedicated to babies and children who have passed away. Wind in the Willows characters.
We set off at 9am as didn’t sleep very well due to the proximity of the A38. Never mind, if we hadn’t stopped when we did we would have been caught in a really freaky wind and rain storm. Again weather was raining whilst travelling so we had geared up in wet weather clothing in anticipation. This journey is the furthest we have travelled so far in Breakaway. Wychnor lock was the first we went through.
Next was getting past the weir before Alrewas, where the River Trent merges briefly with the canal. We then negotiated the bends in the canal to Alrewas lock. We decided to moor in the 14day moorings just past bridge 47 so we can explore at leisure (providing our batteries hold out). We had a little walk along the towpath between the showers and bridge 48 was sporting this fine graffiti.
We set off from Willington yesterday morning and cruised to Shobnall fields. Weather showery and a bit windy but otherwise ok. We stopped here in the summer when we were entertaining the grandchildren as there is a play park nearby. This time though we only needed shopping and Lidl is only a 10 min walk. Also tackle shop nearby so Charlie purchased some maggots for fishing.
We were getting a bit stir crazy in the marina so decided we would venture out. Didn’t expect the torrential rain first thing though. We were giving our old fridge away as we had bought another with a bigger freezer. When the rain subsided (after lunch), we set off to obtain our new fridge/freezer from Midland chandlers as we could moor outside. We then ventured out turning right towards Burton. We know this section really well now as done it a few times. Weather won’t be great but we need to sample this sort of thing if we are to survive continually cruising. We have moored up for the night just outside of Willington. Clouds looking a bit ominous.