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Appropriately we had to wind again on a windy day!
We had a lazy morning on Thursday after a very windy night and the sun began to come out. We moved off after lunch. It was still blustery and sunny.
As we began to get ready, a horn sounded and we looked up to see Nb Covenant Connection (a BCF boat - Boaters Christian Fellowship) passing, pulling in to moor in front of us. We last saw them on their home mooring, and first encountered them at Worsley, then again on the Lancaster and on the Liverpool Link, just as we were about to turn into Albert Dock from Canning Half Tide Dock! The Dock Museums are in the photo.
Covenant Connection in Liverpool
They left Liverpool as we arrived and on this occasion we left the 48 hour moorings as they arrived! Once again they were travelling in convoy with some friends, on Nb Esther. Not a reflection on them of course - we had a schedule to keep.
We went down to the winding hole at Chillington Wharf, north of Park Bridge; it was surprisingly shallow in parts. Turning successfully though, we started off up the canal in a southerly direction towards Autherley Junction. Yes - it is up; the lock at Autherley takes the canal up about six inches to the Staffs and Worcs! (The canal itself is level. ed!)
Park Bridge 8 looking back
We passed our overnight mooring again, with Covenant Connection and Esther moored and settled. It is a lovely mooring, if a little exposed.
48 hour mooring before Park Bridge
Hunting Bridge (7) has a narrow bit after it
Following the path from this bridge to the east will lead you to the River Penk and the Staffs and Worcs Canal is just over a mile away - if you are a crow!
Lower Hattons Bridge (6) is very similar - note the stop plank store
Here is the M54 Bridge - again, but an unoccupied painting dock today!
I managed to get a close up of the "narrows" before Pendeford Bridge (4) and it shows that this was once another stop lock, but I am sure it has seen better days!
Old stop lock before Pendeford Bridge
Looking back to the "narrows"
Just up ahead was Wolverhampton Boat Club, our mooring for a few days. We are here for the NABO AGM today and have been given a space right at the end of the moorings - a long walk to the Club House!
Wolverhampton Boat Club House
Shropshire Union Canal, South of Park Bridge (8) to Wolverhampton Boat Club - 1 hour 1 minute, 2.94 miles, 0 locks
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That stop lock, and the one at the Boat Club, were installed during WWII because nearby Pendeford (now a housing estate) was an airfield and could be subject to bombing. The stop locks were closed if there was any such activity so that, if the canal was breached, there would be a much reduced loss of water.