Surprise visitors at Kinver

After cutting up a few of our logs on Monday morning we continued cruising in a northerly direction.  My sister rang soon after we set off saying she and Nigel were on their way back from Yorkshire so could they pop in for a surprise visit – which was nice.

The first lock cottage we came to had mini lock gates at its entrance.

After the first lock we saw this lovely house which used to be a mill where nails were made.  Apparently there was a concentration of nail mills in the area.  More information available by clicking here.  

Dunsley tunnel was short but had the rock showing and was not brick-lined like they usually are.

We think the circular overspill weirs on this canal are very pleasing to the eye.

We went past Stourton junction where the Stourbridge canal heads off east to Stourbridge, Dudley and Birmingham.

Every so often we passed attractive red sandstone cliffs.

We had kept the river Stour to the left of us ever since leaving Stourport but today we crossed over it and according to our guide book will be last we see of it.

This octagonal toll house still stands next to the lock at the strangely named village of Stewpony .

Judith and Nigel joined us for lunch and we had a pleasant few hours with them but they had to get home as they were both working on Tuesday.   We had a very short cruise with them back to the lock where they had left their car.  It started raining so we had to wear coats for the first time in nearly a week. This Victorian corn mill at Greensforge has been restored and converted to apartments.

The name of this lock keeps making me chuckle.

Today we moved on eight miles and went up these eight locks the last one being Rocky Lock.