Pictures -- which again got totally messed up with one deleted and a couple moved to the bottom (heaven knows why or how; can't do it when I want to!)
From the top (I think/hope):
Katie on the Trent & Mersey Canal in front of the entrance to the Staffordshire and Worcestshire Canal.
The bridge showing how the bricks were set with edges so horses hooves could go over easily.
Entering the S & W Canal
Aqueduct over the River Trent; the Katie is floating on the canal on a water bridge going over the river.
As I was walking the towpath, there was the peaceful scene of a country church on the left side of the canal; picture missing is of the right side with traffic rushing by on the motorway. Made an interesting contrast; too bad you can't see it.
Pictures below:
Kay replanting the flower boxes which decorate the top of the Katie. Even though a paying passenger, Moms do such things.
Me getting into (could be out of) Katie using the side hatch. That gets closed at night or in bad weather.
The toll house at Gailey; now a tourist shop. This was our overnight spot.
Woke up to sunshine and cloudless skies – well deserved after yesterday’s all day downpour. After breakfast (porridge) the water tanks were filled, the trash dumped, and we began the day’s cruising. Great Haywood, where we spent the night is the conjunction of two canals. We’ve been on the Trent and Mersey which continues northward, but we turned west and south to take the Staffordshire & Worcestershire Canal – and isn’t that a mouthful?
We started out by going on another aqueduct which went over the River Trent, now substantially narrower then when we started out on it last Monday. I really am taken with the idea of aqueducts – one body of water crossing over on top of another body of water. Today was mostly rural, except for the portion in which the canal ran along the M6 motorway. Actually, even there the canal, the tow path, and one side of the canal were bucolic; on the other was traffic rushing by at 65 mph.
I walked several portions of today’s travels – 4½ miles divided into three separate walks. Because I must stay ahead of the boat, I found the best strategy was to get off as the Katie waited to begin going through a lock. That gave me a head start so I wouldn’t have trouble staying ahead of her 3 to 4 mph pace. The last 1¼ mile stretch had four locks on it so I ended up waiting 20 minutes at the last lock. Since the weather was lovely and I could be amused watching boats lock through, that wasn’t a problem.
We started out by going on another aqueduct which went over the River Trent, now substantially narrower then when we started out on it last Monday. I really am taken with the idea of aqueducts – one body of water crossing over on top of another body of water. Today was mostly rural, except for the portion in which the canal ran along the M6 motorway. Actually, even there the canal, the tow path, and one side of the canal were bucolic; on the other was traffic rushing by at 65 mph.
I walked several portions of today’s travels – 4½ miles divided into three separate walks. Because I must stay ahead of the boat, I found the best strategy was to get off as the Katie waited to begin going through a lock. That gave me a head start so I wouldn’t have trouble staying ahead of her 3 to 4 mph pace. The last 1¼ mile stretch had four locks on it so I ended up waiting 20 minutes at the last lock. Since the weather was lovely and I could be amused watching boats lock through, that wasn’t a problem.
The former toll house at Gailey, our stop for the night, had been turned into a tourist shop which unfortunately wasn't open. It was three stories high so the toll taker could see up and down the canal to make sure no boats snuck through without paying.
Apparently I wasn’t the only one who was tired (although had walked the farthest) since passengers and staff all headed off to our bedrooms at 9:30. It will be an early night.
Apparently I wasn’t the only one who was tired (although had walked the farthest) since passengers and staff all headed off to our bedrooms at 9:30. It will be an early night.
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