Wheaton Aston to Brewood - Shropshire Union Canal

Tuesday 29^th June

We are on the move today just a short hop to Brewood.  We found out after the event that on Saturday Wayne Rooney and his wife Coleen were on a narrow boat holiday and moored in Wheaton Aston overnight.  They also went to the pub that we had been to and we think they were probably moored up a couple of boats in front of us and I expect they walked by our boat to go to and from the pub but did we see them, did we heck!  We didn't take notice of people walking by, I think we need to be more observant in future!

                                                        

 It was a dry morning when we set off, we had to fill up with water so we stopped at the services to do that and dispose of our rubbish.

We have one lock to do today and just as we were ready to leave, a boat came down the lock so that was good as they could leave the gates open for us.

                                                 

I walked up to the lock and Kev came in with the boat. Kev got out at the steps and pulled the boat in so he could shut one gate and I shut the other, this saves me having to go back and forth across the lock.

I opened the paddles and filled up the lock.  There was a couple sat on the bench by the lock with a little boy and the chap kindly offered to shut the gate behind us so I could get on.  We waved thank you and went on our way.

                                                   

We went on along the canal and under a few bridges.  There are lots of trees along here and again the bird song was lovely, all singing happily.

We then came to Stretton Wharf where there was lots of moored boats, we went past there and over Stretton Aqueduct which was very overgrown, in fact none of the towpath has been cut for a while by the looks of it, there is long grass everywhere, someone needs to get the mower out I think!

                                                         

We chugged on, under another bridge and passed the caravan park on the outskirts of Brewood.  There are lots of long term moored boats here, so we went past them and past Countrywide Cruisers and on along the canal.

We went under a bridge and moored up just beyond the bridge.

                                                                                       

We walked up into the village where there is a Coop, Spar, Butchers and Bakery.  We got a few things then took them back to the boat. 

We then went up to The Bridge Inn which is overlooking the canal and had lunch there.  It was really nice and they were very friendly. We then just chilled out for the rest of the day.

We are staying here for a couple of days then will move on a bit further.

Little Onn to Wheaton Aston - Shropshire Union Canal

 

Saturday 26^thJune

We were going to stay here another day and move tomorrow, but we have been inundated with small flies, there are hundreds of them all on the sides and roof of the boat and obviously they keep coming inside so it has been a full time job for me and Kev keeping them at bay with our fly swatters, there was bodies everywhere!  Due to this we are moving on today and hopefully leaving all the flies behind.

We set off from our mooring and headed along the canal.

                                                   

This section is very wooded and the trees looked like arches over the canal in places.  Also the bird song along here was just wonderful, I wish I had recorded it, so lovely to hear them all singing, just would be nice to know what birds we heard but we are not very good at recognizing individual birds.

                                                                                                             

We chugged along and went over an aqueduct and on along the canal and under a few bridges.

We went past a line of moored boats then was approaching Wheaton Aston.  We went under a couple more bridges and moored up in the visitor moorings opposite The Hartley Arms pub.

                                                    

Dawn and Adrian were moored in front of us.  Dawn is a roving trader called Hooked Afloat and makes knitted and crocheted items.  Kev made them a sign of their boat name for their mooring.  We had a chat to them, it was nice to see them again as our paths haven’t crossed for a while.

                                                     

                                                                                                     

In the afternoon we walked through the village to the two shops, a small village shop and a Spar.  The Spar is opposite the small church so we bought an ice cream and sat in the square by the church to eat it.

On the way back to the boat and as it was a lovely sunny warm day,  we stopped off at The Hartley Arms for a drink and sat on the benches overlooking the canal.

We are staying here for a couple of days now then on Tuesday we will move on to Brewood.

Gnosall to Little Onn - Shropshire Union Canal

 

Thursday 24^th June

We had a nice few days in Gnosall catching up with John, Sharon and Smugs, we all had a meal in The Boat Inn and visited their new home which is lovely and right on the canal so an added bonus.  I had my hair cut which now feels so much better and we went to Stafford and Newport and met up with Jane.

We are moving on today and unfortunately no sunshine today, just damp and overcast typical when we are moving!

                                                          

We untied and moved down to the water point to fill up the tank.  When it was full we set off, past the Navigation pub and under the bridge and moored up just before the next bridge as we wanted to go to the Bakery shop to get a few things before we head on.  They had some nice local strawberries so we got some of them and then took our shopping back to the boat.

John and Sharon had asked us to call in for coffee before we left so we walked to their house and spent a nice hour together.  It was then time for us to go, so we said our goodbyes and headed back to the boat.

                                                 

We left our mooring and went under the bridge and past John and Sharon’s house where they were waiting to wave as we went by.  It has been lovely seeing them and I am sure we will meet up again before not too long.

                                                                              

We then came to Cowley tunnel which is 81yds long but was originally intended to much longer (600yds) but most of it was opened out at an early stage during construction in 1831 because of dangerous faults in the rock.  The tunnel is unlined and to the south of it, the way we are going, a steep narrow cutting through solid rock stretches a considerable distance.

                                                    

                                                                                              

These cuttings are really impressive as they were all dug out by hand, quite a feat.  We met a couple of boats in the cutting but passed okay.

We went on along the canal and it got brighter and the sun was trying to push through.  There are lots of overhanging trees on this section, like a curtain handing over the canal.

                                                

We went under a few more bridges then came to turnover bridge which carries the towpath from one side of the canal to the other.

We went past High Onn Wharf where there are several moored boats and carried on a bit further to Little Onn bridge where we moored up just past the bridge. 

                                             

                                                                                  

We are staying here now for a couple of days.  The village of Church Eaton is nearby so we will have a walk up there before we leave then we shall chug on a bit further to Wheaton Aston.