Date: Wed, 8 Aug 2001 15:42:39 +0100 From: Ann Harvey Reply-To: Canals To: Canals Subject: Amos on the Shroppie Part 2 [ The following text is in the "iso-8859-1" character set. ] [ Your display is set for the "US-ASCII" character set. ] [ Some characters may be displayed incorrectly. ] Tuesday 10th July I woke at 6.00 am to bright sunshine but as Ken was still asleep I went back to sleep as well. When we got up later the sun was still shining but after breakfast it turned very dull and began to rain. We had some very heavy rain for a while but when it was over we set off towards Goldstone Wharf at Cheswardine, where Ken has been looking forward to having a meal. He still dreams of the Wharf's ommelettes. It was a windy trip across the mbankment, and while not hot, it was comfortable sitting outside in jeans and a fleece. We pulled up at Goldstone Wharf at 1.00 pm and were greeted by the lady from nb Omega, who ^Ówondered if we^Òd see Saul (should be Amos of Saul Junction) again^Ô. We then went over to the Wharf Inn and had an excellent lunch, and conversation with Margaret and Terry from Omega. During lunch the heavens opened again and we all agreed that we were forced to stay for another drink. :-) When we were ready to come back across the bridge at 3.00 pm the rain ceased. I went up to Omega as Margaret had a large number of skeins of silk and might have the colours I was short of for my picture of Llangollen Bridge. She was able to help me somewhat so I then spent the rest of the afternoon stitching while Ken did a few little jobs. We went back to the pub about 9.00 pm and a group of folk musicians variously arrived and set up in the now empty restaurant for a rehearsal. They were skilled and pleasant to listen to but we still came back for another early night. Wednesday 11th July Another great night^Òs sleep. We woke and got up at 9.00 am. It is very windy and we have to turn and go back today. We plan to stop at Gnosall for lunch and a walk into the village to shop. We came sideways along the embankments, due to the strength of the wind, but the rain held off and the sun peeped out occasionally. We made a brief stop at Norbury for an oil lamp and a newspaper and we arrived at Gnosall about 12.45. I sat (literally) on the front deck sheltered from the wind most of the way. We took a walk to the Bakehouse for some fresh bread and enquired if buses ran from the canal to the village. I need some more silks for my embroidery. A customer who had just walked into the shop heard me ask, and said he was an off-duty bus driver, on another route. He said he only lived up the road and had a timetable at home. Without waiting for a reply he shot off in his car and returned a few minutes later with a timetable. Now that^Òs what I call customer service! We didn^Òt want to go at that moment, as we hoped to lunch at the Navigation, but may do so afterwards. Lunch, at £5 each, was excellent and we retired to the boat, too full of lunch to go shopping and had a nap. The pub wasn^Òt very busy but one of the customers who was a fellow publican was very chatty and told us that this landlord had ^Óturned the place round^Ô since he took over in March. Although not too busy on this occasion when we called in on the way up it had been very busy. It was still very blustery and I did light a little fire in the afternoon, and, still full of lunch we only had a cake for tea. About 9 o^Òclock we went back to the pub, and I had the pudding (apple and raspberry crumble) that I^Òd been too full to eat earlier. Pub was full of locals in groups, some having meetings about football teams, etc and seemed to be used as a real ^Ñlocal^Ò. The landlord was kind enough to give permission for me to recharge my camera battery, but in the event there wasn^Òt anywhere I felt able to leave it securely. My sister rang us from the carpark asking where we were and came in with husband and daughter, leaving the dog in the car. When they left we went back to the boat for a nightcap before bed. All the talk about work etc with Karen and Jamie must have woken up the adrenalin that I^Òd managed to kill and I was unable to sleep until 4.30 am. Next thing I knew it was 9.30 am and sunny. This is the first break we've had since Christmas, so we are taking the 'relaxing' ethos very seriously. ---