Pelsall Junction

A big change of plan, the latest is here https://canalplan.uk/journey/18793_cp

It rained most of last night but thankfully stopped before we were up this morning, however the day was much cooler. We retraced our steps as far as Catshill Junction and then continued straight on along the Wyrley and Essington canal through Brownhills passing a large Tesco’s store and CRT services. Just beyond here several of the canal side properties and some of them are quite large have small pontoons sticking out into the cut.

Just around the bend from here an old railway line crosses the canal, the iron work is flaky and hasn’t been painted for years but is nicely embossed.

I find it interesting that there are still a few old telegraph posts around the system complete with insulators.

Our target for today was Pelsall Junction which was not much further, but before mooring we went down the Cannock Extension canal, this is dead straight terminating at the A5 trunk road. Just beyond the first bridge on the Extension someone has completely restored the old stable block and it now looks very smart, I understand its now for sale .

CRT have done very well down here in my opinion wasting more money, firstly installing these vegetation mats along the hard edge. I could understand it if the full length of the canal was hard edged but over 90% is natural soft bank with loads or natural vegetation growing all by its self. The second waste is to fit second name plates in CRT bright blue to the bridges when there are still the cast black and white ones.

Part way down some head appeared over the tow path hedge, another small heard of deer.

Down near the end the only place to wind is in the entrance to the Canal Transport Services dry dock, this required some assistance from Diana pulling the bows round against the wind with the stern sat in the dock entrance. The operation wasn’t made any easier by there being 4 boats abreast moored immediately before the opening, but not really a problem with the number of boats that venture down here for a look.

We headed back up the arm to moor for the night at the junction arriving the same time as the rain and about 5 minutes before the wind with a steady speed of over 25MPH gusting 38. As I write this there are a group of fishermen  right on the junction erecting a tent, I hope they have plenty of pegs.
Last time we moored on the Common almost opposite the junction and it blew a gail, next morning we woke up on the off side. Tonight we are nose to wind and moored to two large wooden posts.

Today’s Journey

7¾ miles, no locks in 3 hours