NB Triskaideka: Lock free, but slow progress.

Well, we had a somewhat leisurely start. Despite the two hire boats that arrived late in the day, then we're up chatting on the bank at 0715hrs. It was a lovely morning, they are on holiday and obviously enjoying themselves.

But we, chilled. After nine, well after actually, we showered and decided a wash load was a good idea. So travel power and washer on. We were moored only a 100 yds from a water point, with a hot day forecast, so a good move.

Washing done, we watered up and just before midday, we were off. In some ways not the wisest of moves. Mad dogs and Englishmen and all that! It was hot. And our journey today involved passing extensive linear moorings. But it also had sections of shady cuttings, just not enough!

On the face of it, this section of the Shroppy, lock free, is rather boring. But the magnificence of the engineering involved to make it so, is understated. The canal maintains its level course, by deep cuttings and massive embankments. These are now tree shrouded, thus camoflauging the extent of the engineering ingenuity. So, whilst this level section appears somewhat boring, think of the work involved in its construction and it is anything but!

Probably one of the most photographed bridges on the system

(well you just have to don't you!)

What makes it something of a drag, is the extensive linear moorings, especially around High Offley. Miles of moorings, passed in the heat at tickover. Some great views though across Shropshire.

So we prodded on.

After passing the renowned Anchor Inn, we could at least increase speed a little. We were now entering Grub street cutting. In parts, a narrow channel cut through the bedrock. Not a lot of depth here, especially when you are forced towards the bank by centre channel hoggers . But we passed the test and moved on.

It was odd. Passing through Double culvert bridge it was almost as if we were once again on a river, with a considerable flow. The reason soon became apparent when the bow wave of the Norbury wharf trip boat hit us!

Rounding the bend, he appeared at speed. Now they say, you should never create a breaking wash on a canal. Will somebody please tell that to Norbury Wharf! After the bow wave passed us, we bobbed up and down before hitting his turbulent wake! Business to run, so sod you lot seems the mantra. I pointed to the wake he was creating to the steered, but I don't suppose he could hear me over his labouring engine!

I posted this to Norbury wharf FB.

'I fully appreciate that you run a canal based business in somewhat constrained times, but please, show a little consideration for the infrastructure and other boaters.

Today at about 1430, we were travelling south between Double culvert and High bridges. Your trip boat had both a bow wave that almost stopped us and a wash that would destroy the bank. Show your fellow boaters and customers respect for the waterway environment please.'

We stopped on the visitor moorings at Norbury junction. The trip boat did slow upon passing moored boats, so credit due. But, why so fast when you are showing customers the slow pace of canal life, other than revenue?

Chilled out, walk and then to the Junction Inn for a meal. ok, but not in any way a gastropub!

There must be something in the water around Norbury!

We left our mooring and watered up. Then onto the Shelmore embankment. This is monumental, giving fantastic views West, glimpsed through the trees. It's quite wide, but not that deep, especially towards the banks, were the "Shroppy shelf"exists to trap unwary boaters.

We were travelling about a quarter mile behind another boat, both keeping a steady unhurried pace. All was good with the world.

Then we hit a wave. The cause of this appeared around a slight bend. An ex working boat, hogging the central channel, but more pertinantly, travelling at speed! Now we know these boats are deep drafted and need the centre of the channel. That is not a problem. But his speed was. He made absolutely no effort to slow as we passed, causing us to pitch and yaw, hitting the bottom as he drew the water from beneath us. His wash then dealt the final blow, so much so that kitchen drawers slid open.

What was that all about then? It's just pure arrogance and bad manners. We never got the name of the boat, as we were clinging on for dear life as he passed!

Then calm...

The chap ahead of us had pulled in for water at Gnosall and he also remarked about the same reckless boater as we chugged past him. This is a pretty place, the moorings well cared for. Leaving the village, you pass through the impressive Cowley tunnel. Only 81 yds long, but hewn from the stone. Then into another very straight cutting with some fine stone bridges crossing it.

As moorings became more frequent, causing us to slow our pace, so did boat movement heading north. It appears finally to be getting a little busier. We sort of got behind a small extended convoy of three. We kept in this for the next few miles into Wheaton Aston. The two boats ahead of us moored up, whilst we pulled onto the empty service dock beside bridge 19. On the road above sits a garage. By means of a very long hose, boaters can fill up with red diesel. This place is renowned for being the cheapest source on the system and is normally very busy. We were lucky to slot straight in and fill her up, 68.9 per litre! Once completed, we reversed back a little and settled onto a mooring. It was early afternoon, but rain was forecast and having stayed dry thus far, we decided not to push our luck.