People who live permanently on the canal, and their boats, are so diverse.We passed some beauties today. A whole veggie garden on the roof.
Boats lovingly cared for and those a tad neglected. Thanks for the pic Jen.
Lots of people seem to have permanent moorings that boast outdoor settings, clothesline, BBQs, satellite dishes…all mod cons! All seem to have put their own personal touches on exterior and interior decorating!
So, even if the scenery isn’t particularly pretty, it’s interesting!Just before Autherley Junction, is a very narrow rock cutting, passable by two boats only in certain places. It’s very pretty, green and lush. Slow going and conscious of oncoming craft, we navigated through, oohing and ahhing and it’s prettiness and how close we were to the rock wall beside us.
A sharp turn onto the Shropshire Union Canal at Autherley Junction was a squeeze, but well negotiated by the Admiral.
Whereas the Staff and Worcester Canal tended to follow the contour of the land and is therefore curvy and twisting, the Shropshire is dominated by steep cuttings and high embankments, making it much straighter. An engineering marvel by Thomas Telford, but a nightmare for the construction company as the embankment collapsed repeatedly.
It seemed to get prettier at every turn. The steep cuttings meant the style of bridges we passed under completely changed.
The Cowley Tunnel at 81 yards necessitated our headlight be turned on for the first time! How exciting!
We even passed over an ornate aquaduct across an ancient Roman road, now the A5!
Norbury Junction was our home for the night, and with the moon nearly full, shining on the water and illuminating the boatyards, shops and a pub, it was very picturesque.
A hearty beef stew and Hobgoblin was enjoyed at The Junction Inn,
before strolling home under the beautiful moon.
Kanga And Wombats Adventures 