Gnosall Heath to Tyrely (Market Drayton)

Clocks went forward an hour last night so an hour less in bed. Nevertheless the morning was bright so we set off about 0830.First feature of the day is the mighty Shelmore embankment. It took Telford 6 years to build at a time when he had failing health. The picture doesnt do it justice but it is a phenomenal piece of civil engineering carrying the canal considerably higher than the farm rooftops nearby with occasional views across to Wellington Wreakin 10 miles distant. One advantage of travelling this time of year is that the trees dont block the views and some feeling for the enormity of the Shelmore undertaking can be obtained..

At the end of the embankment comes Norbury Junction. Sadly no longer a junction but was once the branching off point of a canal to Shrewsbury. It would be a great canal if it was still open. Indeed there are moves to restore this route but lack of funds, like most canal projects, mean progress is slow. So it was a short stop at Norbury Junction for provisions. Norbury is in the middle of no where really but the canal shop is well provisioned with lots of useful boating items and a cafe doing breakfasts adjoins. Its a busy site being next to residential boats and a centre of this part of the canal.

Then its through the unusually named Grub Street cutting, another one of Telfords major works. The telegraph pole on the bridge is its well known landmark from the days when the canal was used as a direct trunk route for the telephone company. Legend has it that a ghost sometimes appears next to the telegraph pole at night.

The sun went in and it became very cold. Wind whistled across the embankments and even a hot cuop of tea soon went cold.
Joanne bought me a tea with whiskey in to revive the spirit.
They don't seem to make Bovril any more. Or if they do none of the shops we went in had any!
The only real downside of this canal are the lines of moored boats which significantly slow your progress. I only ever pass moored boats on "tickover" as the displacement caused can really rock them about.

Cadbury's wharf Knighton

At Knighton we passed the Cadbury's factory and canal wharf where we passed another Cupers and Cowburn boat. One of the last commercial traffic on this canal was Choclate crumb from Knighton to Bournville where it was turned into edible chocolate  The boat was run by a character called  "Chocolate Charlie" up until 1961. I believe the trip took 3 days each way. Cadbury's still have a factory by the side of the canal but of course their goods no longer goes by water.

Woodseaves cutting is very unstable and there are several signs of landslips which have occurred.
Decided to call it a day at the top of Tyrely locks just outside Market Drayton. Moored up at 1400 and spent a nicer quiet afternoon on the boat in bright, but cold, sunshine.
 Lamb for tea and then a short walk.
We walked down the Tyreley locks and couldn't understand why a recently passed boater had left all the gates open. Then we realised that the boater was on his own and the difficulty bringing a boat into the side of the canal to alight means its almost impossible to shut these gates behind you.
12 miles 0 Locks

The Bratch-Gnosall Heath

Set off at 0900 following "Don" an old wooden working boat housing two children and two couples. Didnt get far as "Don" got stuck in Awbridge lock as its timbers had swelled making it too tight a fit. After much pushing and shoving and flushing water down from the canal above the lock managed to reverse it out. They were heading for the Shropshire Union canal to find a mooring for their boat.
Passed a friendly fisherman, quite rare on the canals, who thanked us for going slow past him. I said "I'm never sure if going slow makes much difference to you guys"  "Oh yes" he said "You cant go wrong if you go slow and stick to the middle of the channel"  "Ok thats what I will do from now on-stick to the middle of the chanel and go very slow when i see a fisherman" I said. We passed another fisherman half a mile on and followed our previous resolve; he shouted "Why dont you go a faster to wake the fish up and come over to the side of the channel"
Very cold with snow flurries. Towards Wolverhampton the snow was coming down quite hard. When the sun does appear though its quite warm. Three jumpers and a coat a odd pair of gloves and woolly hat. A lot of snow lying by the side of the canal in places.
"Wheres Agenoria?" shouted a man near Dimingsdale lock, a reference to the diminutive sister locomotive of the original Stourbridge Lion now residing in York Museum. "In the lock behind" I said. It always makes my heart soar when people recognise and show their knowledge of our amazing Industrial history. Several people on previous trips had commented on the name Stourbridge Lion and this trip was to be no different.

We turned sharp left onto the Shropshire Union canal at Autherley Junction just north of Wolverhampton. First time for us or the Stourbridge Lion on this section. The Shropshire Union was built by Telford in the early days of the railways as a competitive canal alternative to the new fangled Grand Junction Railway. Keeping a straight course and going over high embankments and through deep, eerie, cuttings the canal was designed to get goods to Liverpool from the West Midlands in the same time that the railways were then taking.

"Silent Knight" was gradually catching up with us on the long straight stretches. I slowed to let them pass. Joanne would have said "make 'em wait"
Good views from the high embankments over the surrounding countryside but a long day made longer by the need to slow down by the seemingly endless lines of moored boats.
Through the tunnel at Cowley hewn out of the rock into Gnosal (Pronounced No-Sull).

Made Gnosall Heath at about 1715. We were going to have baked beans but went to The Boat for Steak and Chips and chicken and mash plus 3 pints of banks ale and 3 baccardi and coke.
Improved Alternator fitted last year seems to be keeping batteries up well.  The cold weather means we have our cabin fire on constantly.

8 locks and 17 miles

Kinver to Womborne

Last night our pals presented us with a special plaque to mark our 30th wedding anniversary. Nice surprise!

Have temporarily fixed it above the bookcase on the boat.

Set of at 0900 in nice sunshine but still cold with snow lying in places. First section is slow as there are many moored boats coming out of Kinver and there seems to be getting more each time we come this way. There are now several above Hyde lock. Some of these boats are live aboards and there was a guy collecting wood in the Hyde Woods to take back to his boat. This prolonged spell of cold weather has put a strain on the finances of some live aboard boaters as they have used more fuel this winter than usual.

At Dunsley passed Jim (My brother in law) coming the other way steering Swift one of Canal and River Trust heritage boats looking good in its Cowburn and Cowpur brown livery. Cowburn and Cowpur were famous canal carriers in the Manchester area..

At Stourton Juncton we we deviated from our usual route up the Stourbridge Canal and stuck to the Staffordshire and Worcestershire canal. This heads heads north across Prestwood estate and out into the wilds of the south Staffordshire countryside. At Stewpony lock a boat was hard on our tails. I said to Joanne "Shall we let him go ahead" to my surprise she said "no make him wait" (!) So he followed us for the rest of the day.

At a sharp bend in the canal after Stewpoy ock you pass a mysterious looking cave with a bolted door on the front. Is this an entrance to another world or just an old boathouse cut out of the rock. Its called the devils den on the map.

Devils Den

At Greensforge saw another of at least 2 boats called Stourbridge Lion although this one was The Stourbridge Lion so not quite the same as our name.

Finally at Womborn we negotiated the dramatic Bratch locks. The keeper there checking our licence detail as they always seem to do at that location. Very cold for the last hour so moored for the night above The Bratch locks. Got telly reception so settled in for the night. Cooked food on the boat.

The Bratch Locks

14 Locks 7 miles (17 total)

First day

We set off about 0730. Having done the first lock yesterday the first hour is lock free. Joanne made breakfast while I got us underway.Sun out but bitterly cold. Bit closer to the first bridge than I wanted to be. Its just getting used to the "feel" of the baot again after a few months. Hat and a good pair of new gloves are the order of the day. Light covering of ice in canal but no icebergs.

At Wolverley Court Lock 8 wreaths marked the spot where tragically a six year old girl died last week. She didnt drown she died of hypothermia. Its hard to draw any comfort from these incidents other than it may alert others to the dangers of playing unattended next to water.

Lambs spotted amongst the remaining snow near Cookley. Spring must be here!
Had a chat with the couple who have moved into the cottage which had previously been almost derelict adjacent to Whittington Lock. They had had to do extensive work since moving in. Today they were working on the lockside garden.They said they had been working on the inside of the building for the previous two years since buying the propert and had only just got chance to start on the outside. The lady who had previously lived there for 40 years now lived in a flat but still overlooking the canal.

Lost a glove near Cookley tunnel!
Moored up at Kinver at 1345. Going for a meal with friends a little later. Met Sue and Colin at the Constitutional club in Kinver where we had gone for a meal.

Left club and went back to the boat lying below Kinver lock. Very quiet in this part of Kinver at night.
7 Locks 10 miles.

Spring is here

We are planning a trip to Llangollan. It’s a pretty straightforward trip from Stourport involving 3 canals-Staffordshire and Worcestershire Canal, Shropshire Union Canal and the Llangollan canal (Originally called the Ellesmere canal). In the summer the last section of the canal to Llangollan is very busy with hire boats. By going at this time of year we should miss most of the rush and the difficulties that can occur in mooring in Llangollan. Matthew and Kerry will meet us on the route along with Emily and Chris. I also have to fit in with a couple work days and a trip to Bristol mid trip.

The Llangollan canal is a canal of contrasts. It starts off on the mellow Cheshire plain with its herds of Fresian cattle. A flight of locks at Grindley Brook near Whitchurch take you into the remote area of Whixal Moss before coming to the idiosyncratic town of Ellesmere (Not to be confused with Ellesmere Port on the Manchester Ship canal). Then its through the deserted border country between Shropshire and Wales before the mountains start to appear at Chirk and the canal crosses the mighty aquaducts at Chirk and Pontcysyllte before becoming very narrow prior to entering Llangollan, high above the town.

So this plan bought us to Stourport by the No 3 bus from Kidderminster. Us pretty full but found a seat next to a small chap with sallow skin. "You better sit down its dangerous to stand" he said. I sat next to him; "Going to have a few Whiskeys when I get home" he said. "Think that factory is about to close" he added. "Like that pub "The Wrens" been closed for a while" "Never mind you still have a few carpet factory's going" I said. "Not what they were" he replied. "Sugar beat factory has closed too"  We then had a discussion on Capital Punishment. "Think I fancy a drink as well" I said.

 So this is it; setting off on our spring trip 2013. 45 gallons of fuel, water tanks full, gas on board for cooking and its through the first lock, about 300 yds is all thats planned for today. Thi is the first time Stourbridge Lion has moved since a trip to Stourbridge last October.