Audlem festival of transport.

Our arrival at Audlem coincided with their yearly transport festival weekend now in it's 18th year. Quite a few old working boats had made the trip. Saturday we walked the two miles from our mooring to have a look at the colourful armada.

Three wise lock keepers volunteered to help boats through on the day.

Gnosall to Audlem...

...in photos

Junction Inn

Junction moorings

The Newport branch.... now closed, the first lock used as a dock.

Bev & Sue outside the Anchor Inn.

Klara under High bridge.

Towpath hobo.

Pudding pizza

Moorhen chick.

Woodseaves cutting

Comma butterfly

Continuing along...

the Shropshire Union canal ..

 ..cruising for a couple of hours a day to be moored with some shade before lunchtime. The weather continues to be hot, the last rain we had was a deluge while we spent the weekend in Dudley on the 27th of May.

Deans Hall bridge

Stretton aqueduct....

...over the A5

PM at Stretton wharf

Wheaton Aston lock

Turnover bridge.

Cowley tunnel

Shroppie

A half hour cruise from Aston lock there is a quiet mooring, we made use of it for a couple of days. 

Through the hedge view 

FL moored at Burston

For when the gates shut

Part of the nature trail 

There are some nature trails around Burston, we stayed a couple of days before moving to Tixall for a day. Next morning after a quick trip to the farm shop we set off west along the Staffordshire & Worcester canal.

View of the river Sow from Milford Aqueduct

Deptmore lock.

Shady mooring spot

Under the M6 motorway, Longford bridge in the distance

Longford lock.

I was contacted by Ann who worked in the same office as me at Heathrow back in the 90's for a meet up ..... she was visiting the Isle of Man. Hopefully catch up another time.

At Tixall I also met up briefly with a skipper who worked at Nobles Hospital while I was there, I have completely forgotten her name and wish I had my camera with me to take a picture for the blog of NB Chug and crew. 

Boat wash at this lock

Approaching Gailey lock.

The narrows

Entering the Shropshire union  stop lock from Autherley junction.