And we put a notice in the windows.

 Aug 8th

They have left us! Jim and Jenn have gone on their merry way onward towards Stourport. We waved them goodbye before 9 am, Toffee was particularly sorry to see them go, for some unknown reason Toffee latched onto the pair and them not doggy people either.

 

Toffee worried us yesterday. She kept coughing and appeared to be chocking. When we were at the Penkridge butchers, the nice man behind the counter gave her a knuckle bone. I boiled it first for 10 minutes before allowing her to have it. My immediate thought was a piece of bone had stuck in her throat. That was soon allayed when all her dinner disappeared early evening, hmm can't be that I thought. Today though, she seemed fine. So we are both of the opinion that maybe a small chip of bone scratched her throat instead. The last thing we want is to try and find a vets! Just another of those small trials and tribulation that us boaters have to deal with. Anyway it was my turn to walk her along the towpath, waited at 57 railway bridge to be picked up, a train thundered overhead, Toffee freaked out so that plan was abandoned! 

 

Railway bridge

Not 100 yds further on though was Slade Heath Bridge. Ideal. So we waited for Ian to turn up, he slowed FS down but failed to get near enough for us to get on. I suppose that's not strictly true. Toffee would have made the 2-foot leap easily, I on the other hand would not! In the end we were picked up further along the towpath where Ian could bring FS right into the side.

I had a weird experience after bridge 69. Slowing down for two fisherman suddenly FS veered off to the left. What the????? All became clear as I looked back to see water gushing from a small pipe in the bank. Most baffling, where was the water coming from? Looking in Nicholson's, a sewage works was off to the right, must be the overflow from that.

 

The waterways are very quiet at the moment, probably unsurprising with interest rates so high and folk without the extra cash to go cruising. Only two boats passed us on route to Autherley junction and luckily neither were met at the narrow cutting starting at bridge 68. This runs for quite a long way, maybe half a mile? and is only wide enough for one boat. There are two passing places which have been cut out of the sandstone rock for those 'just in case' moments! Anyway Fs only bumped the side once, my fault as rain had started and I was trying to put on a coat.

Roughly 1/12 mile further and we came to Autherley Junction. This was our planned stop for tonight. Ian knew of a Morrisons about a 15 minute walk through the park, great for Toffee who seems to have endless pent up energy and for me to buy cooking apples which beckoned now that the blackberries were in abundance along the hedgerow. It was to be apple and blackberry crumble for dessert tonight. 

Shropshire Union Canal

 

Before we arrive at the Mail Box in Birmingham on Sunday, Ian wanted to print out a couple of notices to place in the windows. We are hoping these will attract attention and people will ask what it is all about. Our answer will be.....We need the Government to realise the poultry sum they are offering to CRT is an insult, and that the decline of the waterways will be the future if more funding is not forthcoming!