Into August already

Tell you what, dinner was great. Was too busy scoffing to take pix. Soz.

 Up and away at the civilised hour of 9.30am, heading for the next village which boasts a Sainsburys and laundrette. No Gluten free breads of any kind at Sainsburys and 21 minutes lavished on the washing in the tumble dryer, to no discernable effect. Laundry returned to the boat to be draped over every possible airing point. Frown.

Pretty scenery however:
Heading for the turn onto Shropshire Union canal as we strike north into home waters. Not many photos as phone on charge..

We turned onto the Shroppie hoping to moor up at Bridge 4,  giving Andrew a short walk to a train station, as he is visiting his mum on Tuesday. A passing boater shouted something about fishing.. turned out the canal was lined for literally miles by competitors in a fishing competition.. cluttering up exactly where we wanted to stop.
Here's where we were hoping for, the day after...
ppfft
So we had to cancel those tickets and replan on the move: stop at Brewood to get a bus to Penkridge,  a quite different railway line.

Managed to get a spot .. every boat being in the same fix and stopping wherever possible .. just above Brewood in a deep cutting so awful phone signal but just beyond the 48 hour section so can stay here a little longer if we wish.
could be a worse view!

Andrew off early Monday for his trip to Blackpool.. I decided to take a turn around the local area.
This next photo may not look like much but a decent, roomy path at the side of a field is luxury, I tell you! Marvellous!
Then I came to these gates and realised, yes, this is the footpath:
followed by a splendid bit of parkland
and before long the right of way crossed an amazing carriage drive to a mansion, Chillingham Hall, in the far, far distance. Signs insisted that we scurry straight across. Not that we'd be noticed, I imagine.
From there, I returned to the towpath and was happy to meet this working boat at a bridge:
and also found some blackberries to justify the plastic box I'd carried with me. After all that,  time to sit in the shade with a book.
Tuesday, cloudy with faint chance of showers, so catching the bus to Wolverhampton Art Gallery, also Sports Direct as my lone set of sandals has died. Fun fact, it's in the Mander Shopping Centre, built on the site of the paint factory that made the money to build and furnish Wightwick Manor. 

While awaiting the bus, noticed the architectural equivalent of fur coat and no knickers:
Also, who lives in a house like this? Could it be that the inhabitants are allergic to sunlight?

A 30 minute ride into the city centre, return, £5.20. Not bad at all. Mission accomplished in SD:
sandals plus a present to myself once my current pair of hiking shoes expire, in about 100 miles time.
I then had time to explore the Collegiate Church of St Peter, on a foundation from 994AD, with embellishments from those Manders of Wightwick.  
and the remains of a Saxon cross, possibly repurposed from a Roman villa:
Seeing that The Telling are performing their Hildegard gig there on Saturday, I had a little rave about its wonderfulness and wound up selling 2 tickets to one of the congregation..

This stone pulpit, the plaque on the steps tells me, is unique in England, with the original steps and pulpit fully complete, built around one of the nave columns. Plus a cute lion instead of your standard Eagle.

I rather adored also the fact that this weathercock was given in 1646 by a certain J Everett, is still remembered and recorded:
Thence to the Art Gallery, no photography allowed.. a Georgian and a Victorian room, pop art, and Black Country Sounds featuring Slade, Goldie, Bhangra bands and many more.

All too soon it was time to catch the 14.01 back to Brewood, or wait til 17.10. Really enjoyed my trip.. lots of retail and,  being a University centre, lots of pubs and recruitment agencies. And of course the footie stadium is close to the centre. 

Back at base and a stir fry dinner. Andrew found no taxis when he got off the train so walked the last 5 miles of his journey from Blackpool, so Wednesday a quiet recovery day. Then Thursday eve he has an online meeting. Since the phone signal, while dire in the cutting, is acceptable in the pub garden above us, we'll stay put for that and move on on Friday.

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