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But no - we are not downhearted!
We woke to rain - yesterday it was to fog, so at least we could see out of the bows today!
So the weather was dismal - but that did not stop us moving and the rain had eased a bit by then anyway. It was still overcast and a bit chilly, but well wrapped up we were not downhearted!
We have noticed a number of hire companies mooring their boats two or three abreast making the channel very narrow. I highlighted the ones at Autherley and here are another company doing the same.
Countrywide Cruisers at Brewood
In fact the whole section from Brewood to Wheaton Aston is lined with moored boats making progress a bit slow.
We crossed the A5 on Stretton Aqueduct. It looks a bit dingy - a coat of paint would not go amiss to freshen up the railings and make it look really attractive.
Closing in on Stretton Aqueduct
Despite the drizzle Stretton Spoil Banks had a beauty of its own
Some would find this stretch "dank" but we always manage to get a photo here, whatever the weather and soon the canal opens up into the countryside.
The lock at Wheaton Aston is exposed to the weather, but unusually there was no wind today and we went through to moor at the Sani-station for the usual! There are 4 water points (or is it 5?), I presume because it is a popular stop in the summer!
We then pulled up, just after the bridge, to Turners Garage or the "cheapest diesel on the cut". 53.9 pence today without tax - we declared the relevant propulsion percentage (calculated from John's daily records on a spreadsheet) which showed that we have been putting some miles under our belt in the last month as it is usually lower than that.
As we pulled away "Shropshire Lass" from T.R. Boat Handling passed, with Terry aboard and his "pupils" hailed us. It was Malcolm and Anne who we met in Liverpool's Salthouse Dock, as blog readers they came to have a gander at Epiphany and did us a favour at the same time! Their boat is due to be launched in 4 weeks so we wish them well at this exciting time.
The Shroppie now travels through the countryside in very straight cuttings. Some would call this "dull" but you need to keep your eyes open. It is far from dull.
In the one between Dirty Lane Bridge (20) and Shushions Lane Bridge (21) a Kingfisher kept us company - it flew off as soon as the bows approached but by cutting the engine and keeping my camera ready I managed to catch him just before the end of the cut!
Kingfisher hiding amongst the berries
Cut between the two "Rye Hill Bridges" (22 and 23)
Rye Hill Cutting Bridge (23)
The canal bends left and into another cutting - I call it the "Onn Cut" - Little Onn Bridge (24) begins it and High Onn Bridge (25) ends it! We moored up just before High Onn Bridge - a good clear line of sight to the TV satellite, pretty good t'internet signal, but not such a good mobile phone signal.
Shropshire Union Canal, Brewood to High Onn - 3 hours, 5 miles 1 lock
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That is where we were yesterday, we have rushed all the way to Market Drayton for the market. Maybe see you in a day or so.