Stop here for pies and cakes

Today we had a target of Wheaton Aston and beyond. Wheaton Aston is our (and everybody elses) stopping point for cheap diesel on the Shropshire Union, 8p per litre cheaper than we were paying to the fuel boat on the southern Grand Union and 15p per litre cheaper than we paid to the fuel boat on the Coventry. When you consider that if we run our tank low and have our two jerry cans empty we put about 150 litres in it makes a lot of difference. After making Turners £120 richer and us £120 poorer we were in the happy position of having a full fuel tank, we also have a full water tank, no rubbish, empty loo and two spare gas bottles. The only thing we might need is some wood and coal if it doesn't warm up soon.

We carried on cruising as by some miracle it was actually dry today, tomorrow doesn't look too bad either but then Wednesday and Thursday look horrible. The Shropshire Union is much quieter at this time of year, we would have had no problems mooring anywhere we wanted, not something you can do in the summer. We moored for the night at Gnosall, a place which has at least two things to recommend it, a shop which sells cheap, good cakes and a butchers which sells nice pies so it is a trip to the shops tomorrow before we leave.


Today's journey 12.8 miles, 1 lock and tunnel.

So far this year we have travelled 232 miles, 138 locks, 5 swing bridges and 6 tunnels

In 2011 we travelled 461.4 miles, 444 locks, 3 swing bridges, 34 lift bridges and 15 tunnels

During 2010 we travelled 740.3 miles, 642 locks, 53 swing bridges, 4 lift bridges and 25 tunnels

Since Ray retired we have travelled 1433.7 miles, 1224 locks, 61 swing bridges, 38 lift bridges and 46 tunnels