Bridge 76 to Gailey (Staffs & Worcs Canal)

Saturday 20^th and Sunday 21^st June

Duck family looking for food!

Greylag Family

Gemma Panda Geocaching

Off we go

Jay on the fence opposite us

We decided to stay put here yesterday (Saturday) as it is such a nice spot.  We went for a walk and we did some geocaching as there were a few on this stretch. Kev has done them before but I haven't.  It was nice to geocache again as we haven’t done it for quite some time. Gemma Panda came with us to lend a hand!

Today (Sunday) we are moving onto Gailey. Before we left, a Jay came and sat on the fence opposite the boat.  I did get a picture of him but unfortunately he was looking the other way.   The sun was shining as we set off from our mooring, under a few bridges and past the chemical works.

All Bridges have names on this canal

Passing the Chemical Works

We went on and after a couple of miles we were approaching Gailey Wharf.  We stopped at the water point to fill up.  Here at Gailey there is a lock and alongside the lock is Gailey round house, an old toll keeper's watch tower.

Around another bend

Coming to GaileyWharf

The lock was empty so I filled it up, opened the gates and Kev brought the boat in.  It is quite a deep lock but empties quickly so soon we were down the lock and on our way.

We moored up in the visitor moorings below the lock and as we were tying up we had a hefty shower, I was okay as I was inside, but Kev got a tad wet.  The shower soon went over and the sun came out again.

Gemma Panda at Gailey

Gailey Lock

In the afternoon, we walked down to the small garden centre.  They had it really well laid out with a one way system and arrows on the floor, it worked really well and there were quite a few people in there, but it felt okay and everyone kept to the system and kept their distance.  

The only thing was to get out you had to queue even if you didn’t buy anything but we didn’t mind as it wasn’t taking very long, except the chap behind us kept pushing his trolley closer and closer to us and then he said to the people behind him who hadn’t bought anything they could go past us all so we said we haven’t bought anything either but were waiting for the older couple in front of us to pay instead of squeezing past them so they waited but he still told them to go in front of him but as he was so close to us, they would have been stood right by us but thankfully they stayed where they were, you always get one don’t you!!

In he comes

Old Toll House

We then called in the garage on the way back and bought an ice cream and sat by the canal to eat it, mind you there had been another heavy shower when we were in the garden centre so we got wet bottoms sitting on the seat but never mind, it'll dry!

We are staying here for a couple of days now, leaving on Tuesday to go to Penkridge.  Tomorrow we are going to walk down to the big garden centre, Dobbies so let’s hope they have as good a system for walking around as the small one does.

Moored at Gailey

Coven to Bridge 76 (Staffs & Worcs Canal)

Thursday 18^th and Friday 19^th June

Thursday we stayed put and just as well as it rained for most of the day. For tea, we had fish & chips from the local chippie and really good they were too.

Passing the Anchor pub

Low Bridges on this canal

Today (Friday) it was raining when we got up and rained on and off all morning.  We had lunch and it brightened up so we decided to chug off.

Ex-working boat coming towards us

Bendy Canal

We untied and set off along the canal going past the Anchor pub which was all deserted.  The canal has been very quiet until we set off and had to wait for a boat to pass and then just around the corner we met another two.

Passing the Hatherton Branch

We carried on and met a few other boats including a large ex-working boat coming towards us right in the middle of the canal but he had to get over to let us pass, they like to hog the centre of the canal as they are ‘deep drafted' but we keep just to the right of the centre line so they have to get over as in the past we have gone right over to the side and got stuck, lesson learned!

Under another bridge

Some blue sky at last

This section of the canal is very winky wonky so quite slow going.  We chugged and went past the old Hatherton branch.  This branch used to connect with the Birmingham canal navigations.  It is closed above the derelict second lock, although the channel remains as a feeder for the Staffs & Worcs canal.  There is a marina here.

Daiseys by the side of the canal

Gemma Panda enjoying the trip

We went on past there and round a 180° bend often referred to as a swan's neck. We went on a bit further and moored up in a nice open spot shortly before Bridge 76.

We got moored up and it started raining so that was lucky as we managed to get here in the dry. We will stay here tonight and then move on to Gailey in the morning and hopefully the sun will be shining.

Moored near Bridge 76

Bridge 8 (Shropshire Union Canal) to Coven (Staffs & Worcs Canal)

Saturday 13^th to Wednesday 17^th June

We spent the weekend at our favourite mooring spot at Bridge 8 and where we spent lockdown.  We just chilled out, went for a few walks and did a few jobs.

Off We Go

A Bit Misty This Morning

Yesterday (Tuesday), we had thunder rumbling away for most of the afternoon and eventually in the evening the storm came to us, the lightning was all around us and lots of thunder and heavy rain and it went on for a few hours.

Dogs barking at us as we go by!

Going under the M54

Today was dry when we got up and we are on the move today so that was good.

We set off from our mooring and headed along the canal, we have been in this area for a long time now and sad to be moving on, but it’s time to see pastures new.

Passing Fishermen

Passing Wolverhampton Boat Club

There were a lot of fisherman on this stretch so we chugged slowly by them, most of them were friendly and said hello.

Passing a Duck Family

Another Bridge Up Ahead

We chugged on and went under the M54 motorway.  When we walked down to here during the lockdown, the motorway was deserted and it was very peaceful, just the birds singing, today was quite different with the traffic wizzing along over our heads and quite noisy, back to reality, it was good while it lasted! We went past Wolverhampton boat club where there are a lot of moored boats. 

Gemma Panda Helping

In the Stop Lock

We went on a bit further then stopped at the water point near the junction.  We filled up with water then set off again.

Onto the Staffs & Worcs We Go

Going through the narrow bit

We were now at the end of the Shropshire Union canal, at Autherley Junction where this canal meets the Staffordshire and Worcestershire canal.  There is a stop lock here with a fall of just 6 inches. It was insisted upon by the Staffs & Worcs canal company to prevent the Shropshire Union canal company stealing water from them.  There is a canal toll office by the lock.

Low Bridge Here

Gemma Panda and I got the lock ready and Kev brought the boat in. We were soon through the lock and heading out onto the Staffs & Worcs canal, woo hoo onto another canal at last!

An Archway made from the Trees

We turned left and on we went.  The canal is very quiet today and so far we have only met one boat.

We then came to a very narrow section of canal, cut out through the rock and known as Pendeford Rockin', named after a local farm, it is only wide enough for one boat but there are a few passing points.  As we approached the narrow bit a boat was coming through so once they were out, we carried on and was lucky as there were no more boats coming so we got through there okay.

Donkeys by the canal

Going under the M54 again!

We trundled on and went under the M54 motorway again and on a bit further then moored up in the moorings at Coven by The Anchor pub.

In the afternoon, we walked to the village where there is a Co-op, a fish & Chip shop, a Chemist and a Butchers. We are having fish and chips tomorrow so we went in and ordered them as they were open, saves ringing up. We got a few things in the Coop then called in at the butchers on our way back. 

We are staying here for a couple of days now then heading on to Gailey when we move.  It has been a sunny day so far but the clouds are gathering so looks like we might get rain again but hopefully not another storm!

Moored at Coven

Brewood to Bridge 8 (Shropshire Union Canal)

Thursday 11^th and Friday 12^th June

Our Takeaway Breakfast

Yesterday (Thursday) we stayed put in Brewood and had a takeaway breakfast from the local pub, The Bridge Inn, a full English in a box with fried bread for a fiver, it was really good and set us up for the day nicely.  We went for a walk in the afternoon in between the showers and then just chilled out.

Passing Dell

Coming to a Bridge

Lovely Views of Brewood from the Canal

Our new Ship Mate!

Today we are on the move but had to go up to the bakery before we left to get our order. They do afternoon tea to take away so we had ordered one each for this afternoon, they weren’t quite ready when we got there as they are made up fresh so we waited a few minutes. Gemma who runs the Baker’s is great and very friendly so we had a nice chat with her and they have a little mascot who they lend to people to take on their travels with them and return when you are back in Brewood, so we have a new ship mate called Gemma Panda and she is going to travel with us this Summer and share all our adventures!  Apparently she likes a drink, so I shall have to watch her with all our gin!

Harry & Louis watching the Ducks

Lovely Avenue Bridge

We left Brewood mid-morning and set off along the canal. We passed Dell on NB Dodger who was moored just down from us and who is heading back to the G&S and carried on along the canal.

Helicopter \Hovering Overhead

There are lovely views of Brewood church from the canal.  We passed the mooring where Harry and Louis live and they were on the front of the boats watching a family of ducks, we waved to them as we went past as we won’t see them again until we are back up this way September time.

Gemma Pandas is after my gin!!

We went under a few bridges, Bridge 10 which is the lovely balustraded bridge and then we were approaching the moorings by Bridge 8.  There was a helicopter hovering near the canal near some pylons, it said national grid on the side of the helicopter so it looked liked they were checking the pylons.

Afternoon Tea

There was quite a few boats moored here but there was a space for us.  We tied up and Kev washed the roof as where we had been moored in Brewood, it was under trees and the roof was covered in bird poop, the worse we have seen and I cleaned up inside.

This afternoon we had our afternoon tea and really good it was too.  Gemma Panda helped us eat it!

We are staying here now for the weekend and moving on next week when we will finally get to go on another canal so looking forward to that.

Moored at Bridge 8