Another quiet night and I didn't wake up until around 07:00 when a boat went past. It looked like another dull and drizzly day and so it has turned out to be. We didn't rush getting underway and just as I let go a boat came through the bridge and a waited until he was clear. It gave me time to check out the painting of the other day and it isn't nearly as bad as it might have been. I'm not going to even try to day though.
There was no queue at Weston Lock like yesterday at Sandon Lock, just the boat that had passed us passed as we let go. He was a single-hander so we helped him on his way. As we penned down another boat arrived to head down our way. Once round the corner from the lock we came across this day boat. He was keeping right over to st'bd and went quite badly aground when we passed. He was soon off and the photo looks a lot worse than it was, in reality he wasn't close to the moored boat at all.
The winding hole near to Bridge 78 is the remains of the Shirleywich Salts Work arm. It was quite a concern and the brine layers were known to be not too deep down. These little lakes near the bridge, on the off side, or probably caused by subsidence following the salt extraction over the years.
Just thought I would add this showing the Salt Works Arm that was quite a sizable business, and I have just noticed that at the end of the arm it looks like a shed for covered loading. In the bottom right hand corner is one of the pools above, and looking on the map rest of this 1880's map there are small pools and ponds all over it.
The stretch between Pasturefields and Shirleywich always makes me think of being on a river for some reason
There is quite often an old (or maybe new!) van in this field. I think there is a company in Ireland that rents them out, with a horse for you to wander about the countryside in. I am not a fan of horses really, but that sounds like boating with out the water, or the diesel!! All those that have gone to camper vans/RV's/motor homes for holidays and think they are living off grid, this would be closer, and more fun. Not sure where you would be able to park up for the night, but would be fun in the middle of a round about or something.
This shepherds hut is another off grid in the same field. Not quite so easy to move in this one but would make a great AirBnB in the right location. This one is in the same field.
We passed down Hoo Mill lock once again and were soon at Great Haywood and passing this boat once again. I can't remember if I have posted this before, but every time we pass I think about it. Ben Cruachan is a mountain? in Argyle and Bute and has a hydro electric power in a cavern in the hollowed out rock, but I remember it as it was the name of a Ben Line vessel that came a cropper.
On route from Singapore to Europe the Ben Cruachan hit a freak wave and the bow came out looking like this! Those on board said the bow dipped down into the swell and when it eventually came up the weight of the water had caused this droop snoop/ Concorde look alike. This was in 1973. It was strengthened in South Africa and finally repaired in Europe. Over many years vessels have disappeared etc in a similar place on the east side of the Cape. Research has later found that where the Indian Ocean swells reach the 100 fathom line something happens to magnify the size and occasionally to massive proportions to cause damage or loss like this. It is recommended not to travel along the 100 fathom sounding in this area. I don't think I would name my boat this, or maybe as it survived it IS a good name for a boat.
Just past the Ben boat are the poly tunnels of the canal side farm. When we passed the other day heading north the smell of strawberries was very strong, like being in a jam factory. Today it wasn't so warm and there is a fair old wind so we didn't get the aroma at all.
As we sidled past the line of moorings I suddenly thought that we had hardly seen a mallard drake at all this trip! Has anybody else noticed a similar thing in other parts of the country. I don't remember in other years noticing this, like every year when the ducklings have hatched etc they all disappear for a lads party somewhere, after all they are not know to be good parents. Is it something to do with bird flu? Or is it just they are hiding from me.
There were two boats on the water point at Great Haywood junction but Helen jumped off with the rubbish whilst I hoovered in the bridge hole before continuing on our way to the lock. There was hardly a boat here, above or below the lock, when we came this way the other day, but it is quite packed now.
Web moored up quite far out from the junction and after a bowl of soup we headed up to the shop for some milk. I often wonder why they identical rows of cottages were allowed to have one side painted and the other not as it does ruin the symmetry. It seems they are quite exercised about people parking down here at the moment and there signs and a public meeting planned.
Helen had said she would treat me to a coffee and cake at the National Trust cafe at Shugborough, but they wouldn't let us in without paying the full £14 each, so off we went to the Canalside Cafe and farm shop. The junction looks quite an idyllic spot in this photo, not quite the reality. We had a nice coffee and a good slice of Victoria sponge. The prices in the farm shop were quite remarkable though.
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