For the last couple of nights I’ve stopped in rural locations with no mobile internet connection, so this is written on Wed 26, ie day 23. No rain on day 21 which was unusual, not many locks either, just the last three at Audlem, two at Hack Green (site of the well known ‘Secret Bunker’) … Read more »
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Day 20 – Still on the Shroppie
Slept late (07.10) after last night’s pie and pint so left Goldstone about 08.40. Most of the run up to Tyrley locks is in the Cheswardine cutting, another ‘Tree Tunnel’ There are several bridges but Woodseaves is particularly impressive. If you can see it for foliage. There are five Tyrely locks so after all my … Read more »
Day 19 – On the Shroppie
Posted first thing on day 20 as no internet connection last night, and having enjoyed a pie and pint at the Wharf Tavern, Goldstone I couldn’t be bothered rebooting everything. Started on the Shropshire Union at Autherly stop lock, a drop of 6″ created to stop the Shroppie stealing Staffs & Worcs water. Filled up … Read more »
Day 18 – Wolverhampton Locks
Yesterday afternoon I passed a depressing signpost, ‘Aldersely Junction 2 Miles, 21 Locks. Then I cruised along for a while longer before stopping by the top lock. The actual flight is probably not much more than a mile. And falls 132 feet. It’s a slog and one lock looks much like another if they weren’t … Read more »
Day 17 – Weed (again)
After yesterday’s lock marathon (some people run 26 mile, I operate 25 locks) I was looking forward to an easier day. The Birmingham Level Main Line is wide and flat. It was built by Telford to straighten out the old Brindley designed canal. It’s typical Telford, deep wide cuttings, straight lines and monumental bridges. At … Read more »
Day 16 – Worra lorra locks
Left Catherine de Barnes around 8.30 or so for a nice lock-free stretch to Camp Hill locks in Birmingham. Two of our grandchildren (Milly and Georgie) comment on ‘Tree Tunnels’ whenever trees meet over a road. They’d have loved the canal through Solihull which was a tree tunnel almost all the way. It would have … Read more »
Day 15 – Progress is good(ish)
This should have been published days ago, but owing to unidentified tech gremlins it wasn’t. So here’s hoping it works now and I can catch up. It’s been an eventful couple of days… Still 2½ days adrift but getting on well. I started on the remaining 11 Hatton Locks and as I left the fifth … Read more »
Day 14 – More big locks
Before setting off I made a list of things I needed to do: Empty loo Fill water tank Fill diesel tank (to be on safe side I put my reserve 10l in) Get more gas (I swapped the bottles over a few days ago) Find launderette I expected to find a marina where I could … Read more »
Day 13 – Big Locks
I wrote this yesterday but then found I couldn’t publish it because I had no internet connection. So here you are 24 hours late. Unlike the Northampton Arm the GU Mainline has large locks. Those encountered today (17 or 18 depending how you count a 2 lock staircase) have the 1930s big ground paddles. They … Read more »
Day 12 – No fresh disasters
Bright and sunny this morning, though it soon turned grey. Having dried out the inverter it works again and the fridge is on, which will be useful if ever the weather turns warm. I’ve tried to shield it from future downpours but in the long term I should re-site it, probably in the engine compartment. … Read more »