The 1st August saw us leaving Birmingham for Wolverhampton. Weather was overcast and dry.
Leaving the centre of Birmingham on the morning of the 1st
Turning right from the New to the Old Main Line
This part of the journey is not pretty as much of the canal side is derelict and needs a cash injection for redevelopment. For non-boaters the meeting of the canal and a motorway might seem strange, but in reality is not unusual.
M5 Motorway crossing the canal near Oldbury
We moored for the night in Wolverhampton just short of the locks next to the British Waterways (now the Canal & River Trust) Canal office, formally a Fellows, Morton & Clayton warehouse. Opposite our mooring is the imposing Chubb & Son’s Lock & Safe Company.
Leaving the centre of Wolverhampton - This is the Top Lock of 21.
Next day saw us going down the 21 locks from Wolverhampton to Aldersley Junction, where we turned right onto the Staffordshire & Worcestershire Canal. Within 10 minutes we had turned left at Autherley Junction onto the Shropshire Union Canal, which will eventually take us to Chester & Ellesmere Port.
Flo on her 22 lock of the day - on some locks Flo opens & closes 3 gates per lock
We chugged a further 5 miles to Brewood, (pronounced Brood), moored and had lunch. The heavy rain stopped, the sun came out and as the mooring was too shallow decided to move another 5 miles and moor at Little Onn Bridge. A good mooring out in the country that was suffering with an overpowing smell of farmyard manure, so windows and doors needed to remain closed.
The next morning, Friday, we were not sorry to leave the smell of the local countryside for the 13 miles to Goldstone Wharf, stopping at Gnosall Heath (pro No-zull) for provisions and Norbury Wharf for a replacement gas bottle. Passing by:
The Boat Inn - Gnosall Heath Norbury Wharf
High Bridge unusual double arched bridge supporting a small telegraph pole on the lower arch & the former Cadbury's Wharf opened in 1911 to process milk, cocoa and sugar which was then transported by boat to Birmingham as a sort of raw chocolate.
Goldstone Wharf proved an excellent stop – the Wharf Tavern provided our evening meal.
Saturday 4th saw us move to Market Drayton through the Woodseave Cutting and Tyrley Locks.
Woodseaves a prodigious cutting that is extremely narrow in places and is cut out of solid rock. The high banks and tall trees keep out the sun and the undergrowth seems to resemble a tropical rain forest. So narrow that the speed limit is reduced to 2mph.
Tyrler Wharf and top lock - the building date from 1837
Tyrler Locks - a flight of 5 lock hewn out of solid rock
Market Drayton was a bit of a surprise, totally destroyed by fire in 1651 and the birth place of Robert Clive, later known as “Clive of India”. Excellent moorings a good sized wharf, a large basin, sizeable warehouse and an adjoining cornmill.
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Some of the mooring at Market Drayton
We rested today, Sunday, as the forecast was for heavy rain. Tomorrow we aim for Audlem - 16 locks & 6 miles. See you in a few days.
