Shropshire Union Canal:Wheaton Aston

No rush  today as we want fuel at Norbury Junction, however, we could have rushed as it took a full 2 hours to get there.   Pat had cast off the bow rope before noticing that there was a boat coming behind and as it was still a reasonable distance away we went for it, although in general I would wait.   It soon became evident that they were catching up, and guessing that they were hire boaters rushing to return their boat I let them pass.    This was indeed the case.  There were two of them.   Arriving at Norbury Junction (fuel 50p) we had to wait for a spot on the wharf.   President & Kildare were moored opposite also waiting for space to load coal, but thwarted by C&RT trying to dismantle a flat prior to craning it out.   They are on their way initially to the Black Country Museum and then later, the Crick Boat Show.   This section of the canal is marked by deep cuttings and high embankments.   One can only have huge respect for the navvies who built them and the engineers who had the vision to even think of constructing such structures and then achieving results in spite of the set backs they experienced.   The views from the canal are fantastic on a clear day.   Our destination today was Wheaton Aston.    Cold wind on the exposed parts of the canal again spoiled what would have been a lovely day, pleasant enough though in shelter.