Little Onn to Gnosall (Shropshire Union Canal)

Friday 28^th August

We were glad to see the rain had stopped and it was dry when we got up, although it was felt more like October than August.

Cormorant in the Canal

No Sun Today

We untied and set off along the canal, we are just going a few miles today to Gnosall.

We went under a few bridges and past another line of moored boats.

Coming to High Onn

Cormorant Taking Off

In the water ahead of us was a Cormorant, don’t see many of them around so nice to see.  He kept diving down and coming up ahead of us, then flying ahead a short distance and landing in front of us again.  We then came to a bridge where a boat was coming the other way so the Cormorant went into the bushes and then goes off over the canal.

More Moored Boats

We went on along the canal and came to Cowley cutting which is cut out of rock and quite narrow and leads to Cowley tunnel which is only 81yds long but was originally intended to be much longer, 690yds, but most of it was opened out at an early stage during construction in 1831 because of dangerous faults in the rock and now only the 81yds remain.

Overhanging Trees

We were soon through the tunnel and went under one more bridges and moored in the moorings opposite the Boat Inn.

Cowley Tunnel

In Cowley Tunnel

We then walked into the village up to the Coop.  We came out and it was pouring with rain, luckily we had taken umbrellas with us.  We walked back down to The Bakery, although they do sell bread, it sells everything, a great shop.

Cutting cut out of the Rock

We walked back to the boat in the rain, although it had eased off quite a bit.  We had rain on and off most of the afternoon.

We are staying here for a few days now and hopefully will set up shop over the weekend and do some trading, the weather forecast is for dry sunny weather so let’s hope they are right and people will come out and about and we will make a few sales.  Also our friend Bill and his little dog Peanut, who we met up with a while ago is on his way back down this canal and will be arriving here in Gnosall tomorrow so no doubt we will have a catch-up and a beer with him!

Moored at Gnosall

Wheaton Aston to Little Onn (Shropshire Union Canal)

Thursday 27^th August

It was dry when we woke up, so we decided to move on.

Cheap Diesel Here

Moored at Turners

First Bridge of the Day

Heron on the Towpath

Turner’s garage opens at 9am. We were moored opposite so just after 9am we went across and moored up on the pontoon.  The diesel was even cheaper than we thought at 63.9p so we filled the cans and the tank. The chap who runs the garage is really friendly and you can even have parcels sent to the garage and he will keep them for you.  We have done that a few times, really handy for us.

Another Bridge

We then set off along the canal. It was dry but no sun this morning.

Long Line of Moored Boats

Moorhen Going By

We went under a few bridges and the canal was very quiet and we didn’t pass any boats coming towards us.

After a couple of miles we moored up just before Bridge 24 at Little Onn, near the small village of Church Eaton.  This is a lovely rural spot to moor, overlooking fields and farm land, usually a nice sunny spot but not today!

Mile Marker

Tree Canopy Along Here

A while after we got here, it started to rain and has rained all afternoon.

We are staying here tonight then moving to Gnosall in the morning and hopefully the rain will have stopped by then so we can get there in the dry.

Moored at Little Onn

Brewood to Wheaton Aston (Shropshire Union Canal)

Tuesday 25^th and Wednesday 26^th August

Yesterday (Tuesday), we got the bus to Wolverhampton to do some shopping. It was raining when we walked to the bus, but as the morning went on, it dried up a bit so we didn’t get wet.

The Bridge Inn

When we got back to Brewood, we picked our order up from the bakery which included a fruit loaf that Gemma makes with cinnamon and cherries which is delicious and two afternoon teas.

Passing the empty Wharf

Off We Go

Late afternoon, we had our afternoon tea and was lovely as always.

Coming to the Caravan Park

Today we are moving on from Brewood and we were glad to see the sun was shining and the rain we had during the evening and night had stopped.

We set off from our mooring, under the bridge where the Bridge pub is and on along we went, past the Wharf where a hire place is based and where we got boat services during the lockdown.

Bridge and Sleeping Swan

Coming to the Aqueduct

We went under a few bridges and then came to Stretton Aqueduct with the A5 running underneath. We were glad to see that the plants and reeds had been cut back on the towpath side as when we went over it just after lockdown it was really overgrown and you couldn’t see the sides.

You can see where to go now

Nice Bright Morning

We went on and after a couple more bridges we were approaching Wheaton Aston lock. Someone was going down the lock in front of us, so when they had gone out and shut the gates, I filled up the lock for us.  This lock is quite quick to empty so we were soon out of the lock and on our way again.

Wheaton Aston Lock

We stopped at the services to get water then went under the bridge and stopped at the moorings just beyond the bridge.

Our Pizza Lunch

At lunchtime we walked up to The Hartley Arms to have lunch, we thought we would take advantage of the 50% off as it ends next Monday and also make a hat trick of lunches for this week!

We both had pizza and they were really good with lovely thin crispy bases, just how we liked them, we had a dessert as well, lemon posset.  It is a really nice pub, excellent food and service and everyone is always very friendly.

Leaving the Lock Behind

We are staying here tonight then probably moving on in the morning just a couple of miles up the canal to a nice open rural spot but not before we have stopped at Turner’s garage which is on the canal and they sell cheap diesel at 69p a litre, so will be filling up there before we chug on.

Moored at Wheaton Aston

Bridge 8 to Brewood(Staffs & Worcs. Canal)

Sunday 23^rd and Monday 24^th August

Sunday, we stayed put and didn’t really do much, just chilled out.

Leaving our Lovely Mooring

Today (Monday), we are on the move, just a couple of miles to Brewood where we will take Gemma Panda back home to the Village Bakery.

Bridge 8

The sun was shining as we set off leaving one of our favourite moorings behind us.

Coming to a Narrow Bit

There are a couple of narrow sections on this stretch but the canal was quiet so we didn’t meet many boats and got through them okay.

We went under a few bridges including Bridge 10 which is the lovely balustraded bridge and after a little while we were approaching Brewood with a lovely view of the village and church.

Another Bridge

Reflections of the Clouds

We moored up in the visitor moorings and went for a walk up into the village and took Gemma Panda back home to the Bakery.  Gemma the lady who owns the shop and makes all the lovely products was very pleased to see her and had enjoyed looking at the photos of her travels with us.

Lovely Balustraded Bridge

Coming into Brewood

It’s a really good bakery and we have ordered a loaf of bread, a fruit loaf that is just scrumptious and two afternoon teas for tomorrow, so looking forward to all that.

Brewood Church

Gemma Panda back at Brewood

We decided to go to The Bridge Inn for lunch as they are doing the Eat Out to Help Out scheme and as it finishes at the end of this month, we thought we would get at least one more cheap meal in!

The pub is just up on the bridge near where we are moored.  We had a nice lunch and tastes even nicer with 50% off.

We are staying here tonight and also tomorrow as we are going to Wolverhampton on the bus as we need a few things, then on Wednesday we shall head off up to Wheaton Aston.

Moored at Brewood

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

Friday 21^st to Saturday 22^nd August

Ducks Enjoying the Sun

Going under the M54

Coming to the Narrow Bit

Friday we stayed put and went for a walk into the village in the morning.  It is a year today that my mum passed away so we went up to the church but unfortunately it was shut so we sat in the church yard for a bit.  We then went to the Butchers, it’s really good quality meat and they make lots of different flavoured sausages so we got a few of them and some cooked ham and a few other things.  In the evening we had fish & chips from the shop in the village and we weren't disappointed, they were as good as the last time we had them.

Coming out of the narrows

Saturday – We are moving on today and it was a dry day but quite cool and windy as we set off from our mooring.

Pendeford Rockin

Giraffe by the Canal

We chugged on under a few bridges and also under the M54 motorway and then came to the very narrow bit cut out of the rock once known as Pendeford Rockin’ after a local farm, there are a few passing places, but it is very narrow in places.  

Autherley Junction

A boat was just coming through so we waited for him to come last then we went on.  The canal was very quiet this morning and we didn’t see anyone else.

In the Stop Lock

We got through the narrow bit okay and went on and then was approaching Autherley Junction, where the Staffs & Worcs canal meets the Shropshire Union canal.

The Old Toll House

Wolverhampton Boat Club

We turned right onto the Shroppie and immediately at the junction is a stop lock with a fall of only about 6ins. It was insisted upon by the Staffordshire and Worcestershire company to prevent the newer canal (the Shroppie) stealing water from them.

A bit of blue sky

Coming to  Bridge

Geese and Cows Together

Autherley Junction is an important and busy junction, where in 1830 Thomas Telford brought his Birmingham and Liverpool Junction Canal ( now part of the Shropshire Union system) to join the much older Staffordshire & Worcestershire canal (built by James Brindley and opened in 1772.  There is a former canal toll office here.

Geese in the Water

Hello!

Coming to the M54 Again!

We got through the stop lock okay and then stopped at the water point a little further on.  Once the tank was full we carried on passing the Wolverhampton Boat Club and making our way up the Shroppie going under a few bridges and soon we were approaching the moorings between bridges 7 and 8 where we moored up.

Passing a Heron

This was where we spent the lock down weeks so it was a bit like coming home!  It is a lovely mooring here and there was only a few other boats, so plenty of spaces.

Another Narrow Bit

We are staying here now for a couple of days then we will head to Brewood and take Gemma Panda back to the Bakery where she lives, she has enjoyed her trip with us and it’s been fun taking her with us, but she is looking forward to going home.

Moored at Bridge 8