Wheaton Aston

We were away about half ten this morning and within 500 yards passed a hire boat on the wrong side, his comment was he wish it had a bow thruster, he was flying a black ensign, I have never seen that before, red, white and blue ones, but never black. Unless it was a very dark blue.
Someone has constructed this just on the edge of the towpath, it must have taken sometime to build.

I took this photo because everyone does as they pass this bridge, I have seen a few explanations of how it got like this but don’t know what to believe, but it make a good photo.

One day I will remember how to pronounce the word Gnosall correctly, as you can see they welcome boaters and there are moorings right through the village.

As we approached Cowley Tunnel we could see a tree trunk floating in the canal, the angle it was at would have just pushed it away if we had hit it, but coming the other way would probably jammed it across the cut. I was able to warn an approaching boater about it.
Suddenly the air got very flavoursome just as Diana was bringing the dinner up. They keep a lot of cows in this area and that means a lot of cow manure.

We plodded along past lots of moored boats dropping Diana off at the Wheaton Aston moorings with the rubbish, for us to be reunited at the lock, we timed it well, a boat was descending and I only had to hover for a few minuets while they exited the lock. What a joy this lock is now compared with last time we came this way, fast to both empty and fill. Once above the lock we just cleared the next bridge before mooring for the night.
Since we have been here there have been lots of dog walkers passing and one horse.

 

Today’s Journey

10½ miles, 1 lock in 4¼ hours.

 

Part three of the journey