Shropshire Union

Thursday July 6th @ Wheaton Aston. After leaving Whittington Lock at around 10.30am on Monday we continued on thru’ Kinver.

This section of the canal is shrouded by delightful scenes. On both sides are cottages, pretty gardens, moored boats and a very low bridge! Tall steep hills rising to over 250ft appear on the east bank. The canal then leaves this damp, mossy area and bends round to Kinver Lock. Continuing on we pass thru’ the charming and diminutive Dunsley Tunnel a rough-hewn bore carved out of the rock, with overhanging foliage at either end. The next lock is at Stewponey, accompanied by a toll house. We pass the Stourbridge Canal turn at Stourton Junction which would be the first of many locks that carry this canal up towards Dudley and the Birmingham Canal Navigations. Not on our list for this year.
A few miles on and just prior to Rocky Lock in 33 degree heat we decided to moor having found excellent tree cover in idyllic surroundings. The rest of the day was spent crashed on the bank. In the evening we were entertained by an array of bird life in the woods opposite which included Nuthatch, Sparrowhawk and Tawny Owl’s.
Over the next few days we plan to navigate through Wombourne and the outskirts of Wolverhampton, not the most auspicious of areas but nevertheless pleasant in parts. After passing thru’ Wombourne on Tuesday we moored at Dimmingsdale Lock, luckily just prior to a thunderstorm. On the Wednesday we progressed north on the Staffs and Worcester, stopping at Compton for diesel and water. At around 2pm we entered onto the Shropshire Union Canal at Aldersley Junction. We then completed a very long day, mooring at Wheaton Aston at around 5.30pm last night. Today, Thursday, we laid up for the day having been woken by a thunderstorm at around 5.30am and torrential rain. Dee stayed aboard and I cycled some 8 miles into Pentkridge for a few provisions. Tonight we’re having a curry take-away.