My First Long Weekend Day 2

Brewood to Compton

Not a good morning weather-wise - cold, grey and damp, but I decided to make a start and go on for a while before breakfast. I often do this, a cooked breakfast in particular tastes much nicer and goes down better after an hour or so in the fresh air. Accordingly, I stopped at the rural visitor moorings near Bridge 8, about 45 minutes south of Brewood and enjoyed bacon, eggs and Staffordshire Oatcakes - one of the few remaining regional foods still found solely within its own region.

Just as I was setting off who should come past but Adam on Debdale and I followed him down to Autherley Junction and through the stop lock onto the Staffs and Worcester.

 Autherley Junction was as congested as ever, with the hire fleet of  Napton Narrowboats straddling tyhe channel and lock approach so that the only way through was to come right up to the bottom gate and jump off at the bow to work the lock.
I was assisted through by the steerer of "Cetus" a cut-down and converted Star Class GUCC butty that is based at Brewood and often seen around the lower reaches of the Shroppie. Cetus followed me down to Compton, where Debdale was tied up for a lunch stop.

Limekiln Chandlers moorings (right) at Compton with "Cetus" tied up

 I tied up a little further on and called it a day as far as boating was concerned, setting off later to indulge my other hobby of bus-riding on a mini-tour of the Black Country.