Burnt Oak that way.

We are really enjoying our journey along the lower part of the Shropshire Union Canal. I can’t actually remember the last time we came this way in a hire boat in the early 1980’s!! This part of the canal was built by Thomas Telford. It is very straight compared to the earlier canals which follow the contours, making them very twisty. 

We went over the Watling Street aqueduct and I just had to work out how far Burnt Oak was down it, 140 miles! 

To keep the route straight one moment you’re travelling along high embankments, with the tops of the trees at the same height as the boat.

The next moment you’re in very deep stone cuttings. No doubt this was a very costly canal to build but would have saved lots of time for the boats back in the day.

It was very damp and cold in the cuttings and the tow path was a quagmire. The canal guide books warn of the narrowness of Woodseaves Cutting and that boats aren’t able to pass very easily. Luckily we met our first boat as we got to the end. This is a very popular route being part of the four counties 

ring, so goodness know what it’s like in the height of the holiday season.

The bridges are impressively high and their reflections gorgeous.

Cowley Tunnel is like going through a cave, as it’s just rock, unlike other tunnels that are lined with bricks.

You can see the big grooves made from the tow ropes on all the bridges. The Shroppie fly boats used to worked 24 hours a day along this stretch.

We were luck to get through Weaton Aston lock as it was due to close the next day to have the cill repaired. There’s not supposed to be water gushing out, as the paddles were down.

The beginning to the week we had more rain making the tow path like a second canal.

Tuesday we went down Tyrley, Adderley, Audlem and Hack Green Locks, 22 in total. At the beginning of all these locks is a lovely cake stall on the towpath with an honesty box. We got water by Audlem Mill a craft & book shop. John got a 1960’s copy of Bradshaw’s Canal & River Guide.

I ended up taking the boat down all but a couple of these locks because it takes me so long to walk around these single locks, as I’ve not got the nerve to step across the bottom gates like John. If the locks aren’t too deep I can step on the boat’s roof though.

I had a super time spinning in the BritSpin 4 day marathon. I spun 3366 metres, over a mile in fact and our team can 13^th out of 17 teams.

A massive thank you to all my friends and family that donated to the charity. The giving site is open if you’d like to donate, until the end of this month, which is good, as we’re just 15% away from our target.