It is so long since I have been on the Shroppie, I forgot how straight and not narrow it is. This canal really doesn’t care about the details of the landscape, it just pushes its way through. Embankments alternate with cuttings, and today there was even a tunnel. I think the only straighter thoroughfare could be the Roman Road. Like Watling Street (aka the A5) that we passed over today. Yes, over, not under. Very weird feeling, gliding serenely over lines of traffic. Actually that’s a lie. There was roaring of engine as I stopped the boat to take a photo. You know me, I like that juxtaposition shot. I took a few, they are all useless and boring.

The day started bright and clear, and despite weather predictions saying rain should be moving over from the east, it hasn’t happened yet. But I will admit it has clouded over now. In fact, the weather we had today was my sort of perfect, sunny but with a light breeze. It was warm enough, that the roof-dog eventually fell asleep on the roof. For about 5 minutes.

Only one lock today at Wheaton Aston, but this was the first proper lock on the Shroppie. We’re going down again. Yet again, my luck held, a hire boat was just entering to come up. Two very helpful crew stayed behind to get me started in the lock.

There are water points below the lock, so I took the opportunity to fill up with water. And then just after the next bridge, I took advantage of some of the cheapest red diesel I have seen. Unusually, it was being sold by a garage and not a boat yard. Very reasonably priced and very friendly. I can recommend Turners Garage.

The Cowley Tunnel was on our route today. This tunnel was cut through solid rock and was going to be longer, but the roof proved to be unstable. Most of it, apart from a very short section, was removed. What remains is a long, very steep sided cutting through the solid rock.

Embankments can make a canal vulnerable to losing a lot of water. Breaches are not unknown, there were even concerns about this during wartime in the 20th century. As a result, most of them are protected by gats like this one. If well maintained, they should close automatically when there is a significant water flow through them.

I arrived at Norbury Junction in time for a late lunch. Probably good that I arrived when I did. Most of the Wolverhampton Boat Club arrived shortly after me, taking most of the available mooring spots. They are out on their annual Commodore’s Cruise. One WBC boater warned me about the potential for traffic jams at some of the lock flights further north. He said they had experienced some challenges. I decided not to point out that when you travel in a group of 12 boats, you are taking your own traffic jam with you.

Looking forward to meeting up with Heather tomorrow, provided she can find Norbury Junction. It may be a bustling centre of canal activity, but for the rest of the world it is in the middle of nowhere.