12th - 15th of September 2016. Storms, Mist and Sunshine.

After an happy and eventful few days at home we settled back onto the boat on Sunday evening with the Archers and Poldark.  On Monday Jo still wasn't feeling well (the sad result of a dodgy fish pie on Saturday night) but the five Tyrley locks had to be faced before progress could be made. The first three are a bit spooky, being in a cutting and literally hewn out of its rocky sides. After that it was plain sailing for 12 miles of mostly straight canal, through cuttings and over embankments. In places it was very narrow, requiring pulling over to the side to allow other boats to pass.

These very high bridges are also a feature of this stretch. This one has a telegraph pole in the centre.

We moored just before Norbury Junction and stayed there on Tuesday, when there were the most violent thunder storms and torrential rain, turning Scooby into a quivering wreck.

By Wednesday everything had calmed down, with both Jo and the weather somewhat recovered.  We set off in sunshine, stopping on the way for water etc. at the junction. Norbury was where the canal to Shrewsbury used to join the Shropshire. It's currently abandoned but plans are being made to re-open it if the funds can be raised.

Harold filling up with water at Norbury Junction.

It was a glorious cruise in the sunshine, with glimpses of splendid views through the trees and just enough boats coming the other way to make it interesting. Our captain got us safely along while Jo read her book on the front and Scooby snoozed on the bed. We stopped after 7 miles in a secluded spot and Robin went for a paddleboard, causing much amusement among the boats passing by. It was a warm night (infested by daddy-long-legs') and in the morning it was damp and misty.

We moved on just a mile or so to Wheaton Aston where Robin was tickled by the very old fashioned village garage which is right next to the canal and serves boats as well as cars. It made his day, and the diesel was cheap too.  We moored before the lock to enjoy a sticky day doing odd jobs and nosing about.

Harold in Wheaton Aston.