Cross Green, Staffs. & Worcs. canal Sunday 23rd August
We had a pleasant autumn early morning, as Caleb and Myra worked the remaining three locks that would bring us to the 10 mile long summit level of the canal. Once there, the water was clear and most of the time Martlet was not dragging along the bottom. I always slow right down for bridge holes in urban areas as long as no one is close behind; we rode up at a couple and made breaking branch/wood noises at a few more.
Past Autherley junction, just through the narrow section, I saw the place where the disguised mobile phone masts are grown; another mystery has been solved for me.
You might have guessed that there was a blockage on the Four Counties Ring somewhere. We passed one boat in two hours; having moored up by 10.25am just past Cross Green, it was nearly two hours before the next one. It was a bit busier in the late afternoon, but probably three boats per hour was the average.
Just past the narrow section, I saw the place where the disguised mobile phone masts are grown; another mystery solved!
We had lunch in the Fox and Anchor (I love these original named hostelries) which was not bad, once they had replaced the honey roasted twigs (sorry – parsnips) with ones that did surrender to a knife cut. The roast beef (me) and the lamb (Myra) were very good, potatoes hidden below the roast beef was another first for me.
Tip - if you want to avoid the piped musak, eat outside: the musak is there also, but inaudible most of the time owing to the traffic noise from the nearby M54.
I derive a lot of pleasure from being able to help with good advice from time to time.
The T_Mobile connection will not allow any photos to be uploaded, normal service will be resumed as son as possible. In the meantime, here is some music.........
2009 Totals: 456 Locks – 852 miles – 29 Bus pass uses.
