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.