We stopped here at Alrewas for water and to get the Sunday newspapers.
There are other canal users. We didn't see many canoes and, in this narrow stretch, the canoeists moved to the bank to let us pass.
Trees were laden with red berries or iridescent blue sloes.
We turned left at Fradley Junction. Immediately there is a swing bridge that must be pulled open, but another narrow boat coming in the opposite direction had opened it and we could pass through.
But Krisie closed it, and we moored and walked to the Laughing Duck Cafe at the junction for lunchtime sausage or/and bacon filled baps.
We were now on the Coventry Canal and heading south back to our starting point. But this stretch of canal soon becomes the Birmingham and Fazely Canal which was built before the Coventry Canal who bought it.
We moored alongside The Tame Otter at 15:50 and had a walk. We were in the Hopwas area of Tamworth.
Just past the Tame Otter was a bridge over the River Tame and we realised the pub's name referred to its location rather than to an otter that wasn't wild,
and that Tamworth also took its name from the river. But we had heard of the Tamworth pig, however this metal one on the roadside was the closest we got to a real one - unless its rashers were our lunchtime roll filling.
Also by the roadside were these magnificent mushrooms.
Dan had a voucher for a bottle of Prosecco from the Vintage Inns group which he used at the Tame Otter, and jolly good it was while we waited for our main course.
It was Sunday so I had roast beef, and we enjoyed a couple of bottles of Penfold's Koonunga Hills Shiraz-Cabernet 2019.
Barton to Tame Otter - 13 miles - 6h40 - 7 locks - 1 swing bridge
plus moored time 25m shopping & 35m lunch...
For Day 10 click here
For Day 1 click here
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