Tuesday 28th April Shroppie ahoy ----------------- Despite interminable gloomy weather reports the day started brightly and we cast off, without breakfast, just after 7am. We had been supping our early morning tea when we discerned the slightest tinkle of lock workings and indeed a boat was coming through Filance lock. We could have snook off ahead of them but thats not really in the game is it, so we contented ourselves with a departure about 5 minutes behind them. We stayed about a lock behind them all the way to Gailey where they pit-stopped and we took the advantage of metaphorically clean water to Cross Green where we both moored outside the pub about 11am. We had a welcome and overdue breakfast on board and then wandered into Coven for the newspapers.
En route up the Shroppie near Brewood I asked Mrs B Shall we stop there for food Her preference expressed was that she would Rather take on Provisions at Brewood And who was I to argue ? Somewhere around Shutts Green there is a yard with a crane and numerous shells in different conditions. One in particular caught the eye 7ft beam and close to 70ft length. A truly singular ship-like style with portholed forecabin, a bridge one third way back, inspection launch style main cabin and curvaceous stern. Also a short funnel, behind the bridge. I dont think I could easily manage the steering from amidships. At least standing on the counter you have a very good idea of what the @rse end is doing. Standing in the middle youd have to guess what both ends were about to crash into. Our plan was to get near to Wheaton Aston ready for fuelling early on Wednesday am but the weather was still good and we were there by 4:45. Filled with 229 litres split to my declaration paying 46.9 ppl for red and 90 ppl for propulsion. Not a whole lot of change out of £200. On this leg we spotted a lot of canal kill dozens of fish, many quite big. Several pike, eels and chubb or roach types. (Memo to self must get 21st century equivalent of the Observers book of freshwater fish). It is reported on the towpath that there was a leak of ammonia at the Autherley sewage works with a death toll of 6000 fish. The usual population of grey herons went about their business, but what is their business ? I have never seen one with a fish. They are waders and they can stab their prey. So why do they park themselves on the bank from which position they could never reach the water, let alone target a meal ? As we approached Gnosall, where we moored for the night, much bright green froth was floating on the canal surface. Locals blamed it on farm run off but it was similar to the blue/green algae often reported. It would seem that after cruising from Stafford, on our journey north, we are now almost at the same latitude as we started. Beeky
