Compton (Staffordshire & Worcestershire Canal) to Bridge 8 (Shropshire Union Canal)

Yesterday (Thursday) we stayed at Compton as we needed to do some food shopping and also rain was forecast.  We walked up the hill to the Lidl and manged to get there and back without really getting wet.  We just then chilled out for the rest of the day.

Waiting to go into Compton Lock

In Compton Lock

Passing Addersley Junction

Going under lots of bridges

This morning the sun was shining as we set off from Compton and into Compton lock.  Luckily it was set for us so we didn’t take too long to get through and chugged on along the canal under lots of bridges and then came to Addersley junction which is the junction with the BCN Main Line which takes you up the 21 Wolverhampton locks and into Birmingham.

Entrance to the Shropshire Union

Turning onto the Shroppie

We met a few boats coming down the canal and then we came to Autherley Junction and turned onto  the Shopshire Union Canal(the Shroppie).  There was a boat coming out so we waited our turn then into the stop lock we went.  This lock has a rise/fall of only 6 inches.  The Staffordshire and Worcestershire Canal Company insisted upon a stop lock at this point in the canal to prevent the new Birmingham and Liverpool Junction canal (now part of the Shropshire Union canal and built by Thomas Telford in 1830) stealing water from the older Staffordshire and Worcestershire canal (built by James Brindley and opened in 1772).

Passing the Wolverhampton Boat Club

We got through the lock and stopped at the water point to fill up.

Lovely spot at Pendeford Nature Reserve

We then chugged on along the canal, this is a lovely canal and one of our favourites and Audlem Family watch out as here we come!!

We passed the base of the Wolverhampton Boat club who we met when they were out on a trip last week and they started off at 5am in the morning to go through Wolverley lock and didn’t stop going past us until 7am!  Wish we were going past them that early, see how they like it!!

Going under the M54

We then passed Pendeford Mill Nature Reserve which is a lovely spot where the canal narrows and there are cows and geese in the field.  We went on  through a very narrow bit then the canal opened out and was quite wide.

We went on a bit further then moored at the visitor moorings between Bridges 7 and 8.  It is a really lovely sunny spot in the middle of nowhere.

We are now staying here for a couple of days to chill out and do a few jobs.

Moored at Bridge 8