Onto the Shroppie

Wolverhampton boat club

rural bliss at Wolverhampton

Lottie made the Captain get up early so they were outside enjoying the early morning sun at 6.00 while I stayed snuggled up in bed.

 

tall Shroppie bridge

He cast off at 8.15 in case it was a very hot day but even though we reached the narrow section early we still met two boats. The canal had passing places so I got off to hold our boat tight to the towpath. Lottie joined me and I found myself tangled in her lead as I tried to hold her and the boat as several dog walkers approached. After the boats passed we didn’t meet another boat until we reached the Shropshire Union Canal (affectionately called the Shroppie) where a long boat was exiting.

The Captain worked the stop lock, which lowered the canal about 15cm (6 inches) while Lottie explored the park adjoining the lock. We stopped for lunch at a peaceful spot far from the bustle of nearby Wolverhampton. Lottie relaxed on the grass by the boat until she got too hot then lay in the cool corridor.



Iron rubbing post

Long straight cut

The weather stayed fine while we cruised through deep wooded cuttings which had high stone bridges with iron posts protecting the stone corners. these posts were to stop the ropes from the horse drawn barges slicing into the masonry. I find it amazing that years of tow ropes sliding past the bridges cut all these notches in the iron. The posts now serve to remind us of how many horses once plodded along these paths

 

It stayed fine until we moored at Brewood when it started to rain. By the time we set out to find the village shop for milk and bread it had stopped.

Restored working boat

The Captain decided to eat out so we headed for the nearby pub, only to find it did not allow dogs inside. We found a cosy table under the wide eaves out of the wind and enjoyed our meal. Lottie lay quietly until we had finished eating, then (as usual) she wanted the left-overs. Once she had her titbits she was ready to crash out in comfort and signalled her desire to leave by barking. As she has an awesome bark I took her back to the boat where she reclined on a sofa leaving the Captain to finish his beer in peace.

The rain returned just after Lottie had been out to the toilet and settled down for the night.

view from the aqueduct