We enter the river on amber and is this aerial a bit OTT on a boat?

 Hmm, we are now starting to wish we had gone further yesterday and not moored as early as we did. The weather forecast is for rain all day on Thursday. This in itself would make us want to stop being fair weather cruisers now, but it's more the rivers that could cause us a problem. With this in mind, as soon as it was light, (8.15am) we left. 

 

It was cold, a real shock to the system after that mild spell. Only 1deg when we set off it didn't surprise us to see snow falling in the distance.

I can never understand why anyone would want to moor under a railway bridge. A train went by overhead just as we were passing through and boy was it loud!

 

Managed to get a move on as not too many boats to slow us down and it was just gone 11 am when we arrived at Fradley.  It was busy, not the moorings, but boat traffic! You don't see a single boat for hours and then three turn up all at once. One in front pulled onto the water point, we went through the swing bridge and just as I was about to make the turn, one arrived from the left and Middle Lock. And then because I couldn't get onto the landing, waited by the turn only to see another one arrive, having come up the lock from the right and this one wanted to wind and go back down! Resigned to being third boat I was that surprised when Ian returned from the lock saying we could go first. Turns out the boat that had come from Middle lock had not closed the bottom gate on the lock so walked back leaving the boat on the landing. Now that is what I call a true boater. 

Took FS into Junction lock and as the bottom gates opened noticed, a team of CRT volunteers busy doing a bit of maintenance around the lock. 

 Fradley Marina has come along in leaps and bounds since we passed it back in October. Berths have already been taken.

Alrewas was quiet! All the 14 day were full but after that no boats seen! Even through the bridge only one boat moored. I was a bit concerned about the River section. After all the rain these past days would we be okay to proceed. Well the sign said 'proceed with caution' and checking the flood level gauge below the lock, it showed to be in the amber.

For us to travel this section with the river up was a first. Gosh, we shot down toward the weir, Ian had the helm cos I wanted to take photos. No boats seen coming toward us, so Ian kept well to the left, but even so you could feel the pull of the water. It was exhilarating! Very strange because although we have cruised many a river on amber, and even once the Soar in red, they have always terrified me. It's probably because this was only a very short section, narrow in places which increases the flow but with the knowledge that once past the weir, calmer waters would be ours.

Heading toward the river moorings, we did wonder what it would be like going under the narrow bit of the bridge. Not one to take at speed but it was no problem for Ian.

Hmm, this was not good for the residential boaters.

Leaving Wychnor river lock, it was now early afternoon but with no moorings that we would want to use (A38 ran along the canal for nearly 3 miles) and with the moorings above Barton Turns full, we carried on toward Branston Water Park.

Tattenhill Lock

 

Then having descended Tattenhill Lock, what should we see but a boat with the longest aerial I have ever seen. Surely not! Why have an aerial like this on a boat unless of course you are some sort of radio buff!

Only two boats by the park, we took the very end with a good view of the lake.

Branston Park moorings.

And wildlife,

Taken first thing before it was properly light.

A very poor photo of a Bullfinch. This is the first I have seen in years!

Grebe