A Chorus of "Aye Aye Cap'n" and a Feline Shopper?

Friday 29th June 2018 at Wightwick Manor.
A lovely morning again and this weather is forecast to last for a while.

We'd intended to get an early start before it got too hot but, having walked back to the Round House to say goodbye to Eileen and Karen, we fell into conversation with them again and ended up setting off much later than planned. Karen, very kindly, walked back to MM with us to wave us off.
At first there was a pleasant breeze and M decided to walk on the towpath for a while as this is the "summit pound" with no locks for 10 miles.
It was lovely to see two groups of youngsters on an "Outward Bound" type of course or summer camp, who were clearly having a great time in canoes and kayaks. As MM approached, they pulled into the bank and then, much to our amusement, chorused "Aye, aye Cap'n" in perfect unison as R passed by.

There was lots of interest for M in the hedgerows including this gall on the wild roses, known as "Robin's Pincushion Gall" (yes, really!) or, more formally, as "Bedeguar Gall";

This beautiful Rose Bay Willow Herb, which is in profusion right now;

And, Colombine clinging to the brickwork of a bridge as MM sailed past.

Eventually, the sun became too hot and M abandonned the towpath for the relative breeze cruising on MM.
Approaching Autherley Junction, the canal is cut through solid rock and narrows down to one boat's width for half a mile with occasional passing places. It's certainly a baptism of fire for new hirers straight out of the hire base at Autherley! We were lucky as there was no one coming in the other direction and we sailed straight through.

We moored up briefly at the Junction and dropped in to see our friends Peter and Annie, who run the Napton Narrowboats hire base there. It was from Peter at Napton's that we hired our first narrowboat together, nb "Emma". Afterwards, M needed a "few bits", so we walked up to the large supermarket close by, where we discovered not "Puss in Boots" but "Puss in Morrisons"!

Apparently the cat is a regular visitor but always leaves without a fuss when asked to do so.
Just past Autherley Junction (between the Staffs & Worcs and the Shropshire Union canals), comes Aldersley Junction (between the Staffs & Worcs and the Birmingham canal).

Going up the Birmingham canal is the Wolverhampton flight of 21 locks, which we have not yet done as, last time we tried, the flight was closed due to a collapsed lock wall. Today, we are going south rather than into Birmingham, so we carried on down the Staffs & Worcs to Wightwick manor, which we will visit tomorrow.
Today: 11 miles, 3 locks and 4.9 hours.
Trip: 49 miles, 24 locks and 23.7 hours.