Days 42-43: up the Shoppie
August 10th, 2010This week I’m on the Shropshire Union Canal, affectionately known as the “Shroppie” by canal buffs. It’s very calm and tranquil, but popular with boaters. The little villages on the Shroppie are bustling with boats – far more here than in the heart of Birmingham!
Yesterday I cruised up from the junction to Wheaton Aston, and bought a spare fan belt from the little canalside garage – one of those amazing places that sells nearly everything, and can get what it hasn’t got!
Today I’ve carried on up to Shebdon and moored on a quiet stretch. I went for a walk in the woods to go and look at Knighton Reservoir and its feeder, but a lot of the footpaths on the map have disappeared, and intriguingly, so has the canal feeder. I’m guessing it’s been culverted.
Day 43: 11 miles and 0 locks. Total so far 443 miles and 320 locks. No thesis progress in terms of words – I’ve been doing some software and experimental work.