Autherley Junction

 

Here I am Rune

Distance 4.1 miles 

Total 5322 Locks  433 Tunnels

Running total mileage 8027.6 miles

 

So, now back onto the Staffs & Worcs we have completed the 4 Counties Ring, taking us something like 3 weeks. Interestingly we passed a hire boat who were doing the same route in just one week; they had achieved it since they started from Middlewich and were within spitting distance of Middlewich when we saw them. Not sure I’d want to rush it to that extent as there are some very pleasant areas to explore on the route.

We are however ahead of our planned schedule by about a day since if we go up the Wolverhampton 21 flight tomorrow we’ll be in Birmingham by Sunday whereas I’d aimed to be there by Monday. I did take the opportunity whilst at tonights mooring to have put a coat of paint across the back deck, which has been in dire need of one. I hope to get another coat on it when we get to Birmingham, although if we stay here and extra day I could perhaps get another one on tomorrow.

Brewood

 

Here I am Rune

Distance 9.1 miles 

Total 5321 Locks  433 Tunnels

Running total mileage 8023.5 miles

 

Another excellent days cruise in the best weather available. Stopped off at Turner’s Garage at Wheaton Aston to top up with diesel. I probably had enough to get me back to the basin (put 93 litres in a 140 litre capacity tank) but I think it is important to support such businesses since if no-one is buying their red diesel they will stop supplying it.

We got to Brewood but unfortunatlely the visitor moorings were rammed so we’ve pottered on a bit further, there was once section that would have been an ideal mooring but sadly it was too shallow. We finally moored under the tree canopy (not ideal as birds tend to leave little ‘deposits’) and I thought that the internet would be poor, but it actually turns out to be far better than anything we’ve had over the past week, you never can tell.

Tomorrow a short cruise (circa 5 miles) will get us to Autherley Junction to get the weekend shop in the afternoon.

Gnossal

 

Here I am Rune

Distance 9.8 miles 

Total 5320 Locks  432 Tunnels

Running total mileage 8014.4 miles

 

Reached Norbury Juntion by lunchtime so it gave us further cruising time after lunch to carry on towards Gnossal for the night. Once againg it has been absolutely ideal cruising weather, today its been sunny but with a breeze to stop the temperature getting too high. The sunscreen has been doing it’s work, no burns yet, although I have picked up an  insect bite.

Tomorrow I would hope to get to Brewood, which will put us within a couple of hours of Autherley Junction so a short cruise there on Friday and then to Morrisons for the weekend shop.