The "Shroppie" Shelf.

Day 8 of our Solace trip.  Still making our way up the Shropshire Union Canal.  I chose this shot for today as it illustrates a particular feature of the "Shroppie" and also a quirk of human nature.

There is at least one of you looking at the shot and thinking "Why has he a ladder there?".  Well it isn't a ladder (and it is).  In that position it is a gangplank (in this case a short ladder with a chequer plate surface clipped on.  A gang plank is needed in most places on the "Shroppie" as just below water level there is a concrete shelf which prevents boats getting close in to the side.  Why you ask yourself.  Well when the canal was built the working boats didn't stop just anywhere which pleased them, they stopped at wharfs and if overnight probably near a pub.  As a result the shelf wasn't a problem and must have been an asset (somehow) in the construction.

The other use of the gangplank is as a rescue ladder.  If somebody is unfortunate enough to fall in at a point where the water is too deep to stand up (very rare to find you can't) the plate can be taken off and the ladder helps climbing out.

The quirk of human nature?  Well we always look for a pleasant and secluded spot to overnight.  It gives better chances of seeing wildlife and potentially good early morning photographs.  You can almost guarantee that after you have tied up in such a spot another boater will decide they want to tie up near you!  Look further down the canal in this shot.