rest and recreation day in Tixall Wide.
17:26 16/07/2010 9 miles 7 locks
Good run in somewhat blustery conditions, water level way down in some of the pounds, which slows progress. BW are doing a good job with 'spot dredging' through bridge holes and lock entrances, the crew
we saw when coming the other way at Tixall, have now advanced about two locks, but there is evidence of
their work all along the canal. They were distracted this morning helping to remove fallen Willow trees, the winds last night brought a few down. Part of the route goes through Acton Trussell, it looks and expensive place to live, with new canalside houses with extensive smart gardens.
20:03 15/07/2010 4.48 miles 5 locks
Easy run down through Gailey. Looked bad at first, three boats at the locks in front of us. Luckily two were taking on water and one was coming up. So all of a sudden we were first in the queue and away through the locks. A couple more Kingfishers were spotted on the way, but nothing else of note. Moored before the first of the Penkridge locks and met Jan for a pleasant lunch. Our mooring is opposite a Moorhen nest, and we have spent a lot of time watching the male (?) bringing nesting materials, yellow leaves, and only yellow, as well as various bits of green reeds. A Heron has fished next to that, and a male swan has fought off Mallard chicks who might endanger his baby!
17:27 14/07/2010 9.17 miles 1 (stop) lock
Made a good start as the weather forecast was foul, making good progress down the last of the straight and narrow 'Shroppie', we will miss it when we turn the corner at Autherley Junction. Shopped at Morrison's as usual and quickly turned out in to the Staff and Worcs Canal. More bends in the first two miles than in the whole of the Shroppie!!. We decided to continue until the weather broke, but lunch intervened and we moored just past Calf Heath Marina. It was damp on and off, but never really wet. We have had sunshine since then, but now can hear thunder in the distance, so will batten down the hatches.
17:22 13/07/2010 10.1 miles 1 lock
Last day with 'crew', but only one lock. Wheaton Aston was remarkably quiet, even the garage had no customers. They have done a good job making a tidy landing stage, so filling up will be easier in future. At the moment Norbury Junction are the same price, so no need to fill. We reached Brewood in good time and were able to get Alison on to a 2pm Taxi, she was home via train to Birmingham by shortly after 4pm. Worth remembering for the future. We moved on out of Brewood to Lower Pendeford farm moorings for the night, eeing two or three Kingfishers as we went, so the cold winter did not kill them all off.
16:20 12/07/2010 9.66 miles 0 locks
Woke up to rain, and it continued all day, so the 'man on the rudder' was left out in the rain whilst the crew hid inside, very wise of them. A few other hardy souls out but mainly quiet with no excitement. Services were taken at Norbury Junction as on the way out, a very pleasant and helpful staff. We soon reached Gnosall No-sull) and moored near a Pub for the night, and they serve food on Mondays so we might be going out for a meal. Alison leaves us tomorrow, we will miss having crew.
16:15 11/07/2010 8.63 miles 12 locks
Water looked a little low today, was that good, or bad? As it turned out good because the fierce by
washes around the locks, first at Adderley and especially at Tyrley were almost entirely noticeable by
not being there! It made the locks a much more pleasant experience. So much of this canal is on
embankments or in cuttings as it is almost the only stretch of canal which did not follow the contour
lines but plowed straight to its target.
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