Brewood to Norbury Junction (11 miles, 1 lock)

After a day walking into the village of Brewood and then some more jobs on the boats, we set off in the beautiful sunshine along the Shropshire Union Canal.

Gorgeous gorgeous.....

View from Avenue bridge ~ very ornate balustraded bridge leading to Chillington Hall

Avenue Bridge

View of Avenue bridge on the approach to Brewood

'Just nod if you can hear me...'

Another Comfortably Numb on the outskirts of Brewood ~ good taste is all I can say!

Brewood

We passed by Brewood, where we had walked to the previous day (6 mile round trip!) to visit the shop.

Treelined cutting making the journey quite magical

We moored overnight at Wheaton Aston and tackled the lock in the morning, followed by the waterpoint and facilities.  The lock is the only one in 25 miles of the canal.

Cowley tunnel ~ 81 yards long and unlined showing the rocky ceiling

Coming into Gnosall Heath and our mooring for the next 2 nights

A visit to Stafford on the bus the next day, and we found this remarkable old building

Richard picks up the butty as we head out of Gnosall.  I like to moor in front of the motor, so that the elum (rudder) doesn't get damage by other boats trying to moor

Leaving sleepy Gnosall behind

Old watermill, now a private house

We arrived at Norbury Junction a couple of miles after setting off from Gnosall, no distance at all really.  Filled up the drums with diesel and topped the tank up as the diesel is quite cheap at 59p a litre at Norbury.  

The finished castle scene and lettering to give Echoes a bit of identity

So you find us moored up on the eve of a potentially huge festival, hoping that the weather behaves and the crowds arrive............