Kingfishers galore how lucky was I.

Monday 11th

Towpaths were awash this morning. A lady walking her two small dogs (long haired) had the wrong shoes on and had mud splattered all over her trousers , and as for the dogs........straight into the bath on their return I expect.

We left late waiting for the drizzle to stop and luckily right up to around 4.30ish this afternoon we stayed dry. Turning onto the Shroppie at Autherley, we stopped to do the loo. Ian couldn't find it although our Nicholson stated that rubbish and elsan were by the lock. We found the rubbish bins but as for the elson disposal, no sign. Ian had a word with the chap from the hire fleet only to be told the elsan had been removed years ago! Hmmm.... Make note to oneself, remove symbol from Nicholsons.

Autherley Junction and onto the Shropshire Union

Autherley stop lock. Only a 6" drop from the Staffs and Worc onto the Shroppie

Colours of the Shroppie

Some sort of shrine????? Seen before Wheaton Aston lock

Next facilities were at Wheaton Aston as was the garage selling red diesel. At 47p ltr only Hawne Basin near Windmill End beat this amount and they were 4p cheaper at 43p. Couldn't believe how busy the place was. Boats coming and going and a queue forming for the diesel. Second in line, we waited around 10 minutes before it was our turn and then also purchased another two 25kg bags of coal at £10.50 each. We looked for a mooring in the countryside around an hour later and eventually found one with a nice piled edge. Lovely quiet spot great for fishing and a real bonus, two Kingfishers put in an appearance while I was fishing. Their burrow is almost opposite FS and I just missed photographing the offering of a fish from one to the other. May well stay for another day.