Monday was going to be our last day on the Staffordshire & Worcester
(or Staffs & Worcs, pronounced
Staffs and Woosts).
Judith
(my sister) and Nigel are coming up to see us this weekend assuming we have
made it to the centre of Birmingham.
Also, my father is really keen to see Birmingham from the water so the
plan is that he comes down from Yorkshire next Sunday and we have a cruise around
the back ways all day on Monday. We can get within 200 yards from New Street station so that will be handy for him.
I
keep meaning to mention Buddy’s reaction when he first goes out each
morning. He stands on deck waiting for
me to get my bootlaces tied. The look on
his face is always a surprise because he never knows where we are – it’s like a
new home every day.
The
rain stopped by 11 so we set off to the bottom of the Wolverhampton flight of
21 locks. We passed the first Japanese
Knotweed site we have ever seen.
We
went under yet another motorway; the M45.
There
was a ½ mile section that is only wide enough for one boat so Karen had to go
ahead and make sure no boats came through. The channel is cut through rock with the odd passing place.
We
passed Autherley junction where the Shropshire Union canal (the Shroppie) heads
off north to Chester.
We
stopped at a boat yard just before Aldersley junction to fill up with fuel,
water and gas. We moored for the night
opposite the boat yard which has its own bar.
They were keen for us to go over there when they opened at 7.30 – it was
a strange place just like their front room and no advertising to the outside
world. It seems it’s just for the
boaters moored up around the yard.
We
went for a late afternoon walk to have a look at the first locks on the
flight. This is the first lock right at
Aldersley junction.
The Staffs and Worcs
carries on to Stourport and we will go on the Birmingham Main Line up the
flight.
The
boat yard had this mini narrow boat on a trailer – really sweet but only useful
for little day cruises I would think.
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