Monthly Log ( July)

Well there’s one main headline for July and of course it’s been the weather. July was extraordinary.

However, writing our log this morning (August 2nd) in strong winds and rain situated on the River Weaver it seems long gone.

Over early July we entered the Staffordshire and Worcester Canal at Stourport moving off the River Severn and made our way North. 26 miles, 33 locks and 5 days later we moved thru’ the stop lock at Autherley Junction and onto the Shropshire Union Canal. The Staffs and Worcester Canal didn’t disappoint us once again and remains one of our favourites. On route we visited Stourport, Kidderminster and the rock houses at Kinver.
On entering the Shropshire Union we continued North over the coming weeks stopping at Wheaton Aston, Norbury Junction, Market Drayton and Audlem. The highlight was our visit to Hack Green Nuclear Bunker, once completely hidden and secret but opened to the public a few years go. Well worth a visit - If you can find it!!!!
Prior to the middle of the month our plans changed. We decided to forgo our planned visit to the Llangollen Canal for the 2nd year in succession. The recent breech on the canal and the time of year – (Lots of holiday boats) – had put us off. This canal is probably best completed out of season.
We turned East onto the Middlewich Branch of the Shroppie and moored at Cholmondeston on July 13th. Here we would stay for 7 days. While Dee visited a friend in Reading for a while over from Barbados I took the opportunity to hire a car and visit my old mum in Liverpool who wasn’t too well. A week later we turned about and set off for Chester and Ellsmere Port. This turned out to be a good and bad decision! (Read our recent post ‘The Badlands’). After returning from ‘The Badlands’ we moved back onto the Middlewich Branch eventually turning North onto the Trent and Mersey and on towards the River Weaver.
So July has been an excellent month with one exception and our tans are progressing nicely too. The wildlife has been good with the exception of Barn Owls. Plenty last year but none this! We’ve increased our knowledge of wild flowers, butterflies and birds and look forward to the coming month. The adventure continues....
Pictured... Dee at the Anderton Boat Lift.