Along the Trent & Mersey

I suffered a bit of a setback last week by tearing something in my back while trying to split a large log with a hand axe - don't try this at home it hurts. As I could hardly stand let alone walk I managed a brief hobble to the chemist where I stocked up on strong painkillers and heat pads. After a week the pain had reduced from agony to severe so I decided to visit a chiropractor last Thursday to see if I had done any serious damage.  After a detailed inspection she confirmed it was muscular and suggested manipulation could help.  After an hour on the modern equivalent of the rack I did leave feeling better if a little sore. However, that evening my back went into spasm and the pain was worse than the initial injury.  Thankfully, after a long night I woke to find the pain had once again reduced to severe.  It has been gradually improving daily since. 

Anyway, back to the boat. After leaving Penkridge I joined the Trent and Mersey canal at Heywood Junction near Stafford and headed south east along a very pretty stretch of canal.  When the canals were built skilled workmen were required and often the canal companies would provide housing for these artisans.  This is a typical row of such cottages, the first of which is named Stone Masons cottage thus identifying the occupant.  

The T&M canal has a unique narrow passage between narrow vertical rock sides.  This was originally a tunnel but became unsound so the roof was removed leaving the narrow cut.

The T&M is joined by the Coventry canal at Fradley Junction, home to the Swan pub which is one of the most popular landmarks on the network.

Leaving Fradley I'm now heading along the canal towards Shardlow where the canal joins the river Trent.  Along the way the discussed Derby canal leaves the T&M at Swarkestone.  Although closed in 1964 the towpath is still maintained as a footpath and the overgrown canal bed is still very clearly visible.