The Final Countdown: Day 6

We had a lovely evening with Sharon and John last night, with plenty of good conversation and good food.  It was also amazing to see the progress they’ve made with Arlo the dog, who didn’t have the best start in life before they took him on.

This morning it was raining, so we thought we’d wait until it passed as it was then supposed to clear up.  Going outside, I was dismayed to see how many leaves were on the roof!

I cleared the towpath side of the roof, and did the other side later.  It was 9.30 before we set off, and were soon heading into the tiny Cowley Tunnel, which gave us an opportunity to see that our new headlight is very bright.

There are loads of lengths of moored boats on the way into Wheaton Aston, so it’s slow going.  One of the moorers by Bridge 26 has put on an impressive Halloween display.

At Wheaton Aston we stopped at the water point and got the washing machine going and the tank filling.  We could also get rid of rubbish and recycling.  By now, the rain showers had largely passed, and the sun was out.  It always seems windy at the lock there though.

There’s always plenty to see at Stretton Wharf — today, old boats up on the land.  And then there’s the excitement of going over the A5 on Stretton Aqueduct.

There are loads more moored boats at Brewood, so it’s another place that takes an age to get through.  I’m not sure whether the moss coating on one boat was neglect or a design choice.  Actually, I’m pretty sure I do know which it was!

We moored at the Brewood Park Farm moorings, just past Bridge 8.  We were last here in June.  I think the towpath hedge is lower now than it was then, so we have a nice view over the top.  This afternoon I’ve been finishing the article I started the other day, and sorting out photos to go with it.  It’s been sunny while we’ve been here, but very blustery.  Hopefully it’s blowing leaves off the roof rather than onto it.

10 miles, 1 lock.  (37 miles, 28 locks)

Cheshire, eventually: Day 11

While we were having breakfast this morning, a stoppage notice came through saying there was a tree blocking the canal at Brewood.  We decided we’d set off anyway, so Adrian went to open the stop lock at the junction, while I brought the boat round.

The lock theoretically takes the level down by four inches; today it seemed more like two.  I always have trouble even telling which side it’s level with.  We went a hundred yards to the water point, and got the washing machine going with the bedding; we’re hoping that with it being so warm at the moment, everything will dry fairly easily.  We then carried on to the moorings between Bridges 7 and 8, which are some of those provided by the Shropshire Union Canal Society (SUCS).  We were all moored up by 10am!

I decided to walk up and have a look at the tree to see how bad it was.  It took a good half an hour to get there, and it was quite a big willow which had cracked and fallen over from the towpath side.

One boat was already there, struggling to get anywhere near the bank, and a few more have gone past since.  As I walked back, I thought I’d have a closer look at some of the bridges.  Bridge 10 carries what the Pearson guide book calls the ‘carriageway to Chillington Hall’, which explains why it has such elaborate balustrades.  The overgrown footpath I found going over it was something of a disappointment!

After lunch, we washed the towpath side of the boat, which badly needed doing.  It’s been very warm, but cloudy rather than sunny today.  Just before 3pm an update to the stoppage notice came through, to say contractors would arrive at Brewood between 5 and 6pm, and the navigation should be open by the end of the day.  That meant we wouldn’t be going on today, and we were glad we’d stopped in a nice spot, rather than having to moor in the deep cuttings between here and the stoppage.

3 miles, 1 lock.  (76 miles, 107 locks)