So on to Brewood

To continue our journey of the other day - I got you to Wheaton Aston ....

Wheaton Aston Lock was against us, so after we had filled with water I wandered up to set the lock. I needed the exercise and was pleasantly surprised with my fitness level after a cold and a bit of a cough!

This goose had a gander at us as we passed through Stretton Spoil BanksGoose

We were fast approaching Stretton Aqueduct - from this side it does not look so unloved as it did when we came up! Maybe it helped to have the sun shining on it! But first we passed the boatyard there. This has expanded a great deal and now has some really interesting boats that they are restoring.

This pair await some workworking pair

Stretton AqueductStretton aqueduct

We continued past all the moored boats in the area before Brewood and found our mooring just after Brewood bridge (14). The man from the moored boat behind us started to chat a bit as he prepared his firewood. Apparently he saw us cross Stretton Aqueduct as he drove towards it! He said it was the first time he had seen a boat cross as he drove down the A5.

This is an old Roman Road - Watling Street. "Stræt" the Old English word meaning "paved road" has echoes in the name "Stretton" and Watling Street passes through the village of Stretton. It led from Dover to Wroxter in Shropshire.

It also has a link with canals - the Shroppie canal engineer Thomas Telford re-paved the route and brought it back into use as a turnpike road in the early 19th Century. It was mainly used for fast mail coaches and he extended it to Holyhead so the mail could get to Ireland.

The Roman route of Watling StreetMap of watling street© w:en:User:Neddyseagoon

A5 stretches away towards Gailey roundaboutA5

John did a quick dash to the shops in Brewood. The Coop provided us with our evening meal - Sweet and Sour Chicken, two for £2 -  quickly cooked in the microwave and very nice!

Shropshire Union Canal, Wheaton Aston to Brewood - 1 hour 1 minute, 2.79 miles, 1 lock

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