Yesterday we turned left onto the Shropshire Union Canal at Autherley Junction.
When we moored up we were blissfully unaware that we were next to Wolverhampton Sewage Works and this remained the case until we read it in our Pearson Guide Book.
On Sunday morning, the 21st March 2021, we did a family walk to the convenience store in Dovecotes and got essential food supplies. Then Steve cycled to the nearby Morrison’s while Hilary listened to The Archers (on BBC Radio 4 via BBC Sounds app on an Amazon Kindle Fire).
Steve had a key in a holster on his belt which had become unseated during the bike ride on the cycle path and it fell into the canal as he was lifting the bicycle back into the bow area/cratch (bike shed) of The Duke.
A canal system water conservation anti-vandal Key, sometimes known as a BCN Key or handcuff key, is used to operate paddle gear locks on the canal network. The lock anti-vandal key is used to release the additional security spring bolts fitted to many locks on the British canal network.
This time the fishing magnet was a success in retrieving it from the murky depths below the bow. We set off at 11:15 and trundled through a rural landscape, over the Stratton aqueduct which crosses the A5, and through the only lock in a 25 mile stretch at Wheaton Aston. We used the Canal & River Trust Services here before mooring up by the (sadly closed) Hartley Arms Pub which was, however, doing a roaring trade in take-away Sunday dinners.
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Not wanting to sound like a smartarse, but isn’t it common to tie a float onto your keys and things such that when they do fall into the canal they can be easily recovered. Maybe one on Steve too!! He seems to be developing a trend here.
Good sailing.
Mule