When we woke up this morning the boat was tilted at an alarming angle.  Further investigation revealed that the water level had dropped dramatically in the pound and we were no longer floating.  Not good!!  At least I now know why I woke up in the night squashed against the wall with Graham squashed up against me.  Graham went to check it out and let some water down the lock flight, but CaRT blokes were already there dealing with it.  Ohh well! might as well eat breakfast and have a cup of tea then and wait until we are floating again.  It seems as though someone left paddles up at the lock below where we are moored.  Last boats through were Tench and Australia, two old working boats.  Not sure if it was them or maybe vandalism.  Took a couple of hours but we were still away by 8:30 going up the rest of the flight.

Met a couple of boats coming down the flight which meant that most of the locks were set for us, always a bonus.  Pulled into the services at the top of the flight and filled up with water etc.

Sunken boat spotted on the Coventry Canal!

CaRT maintenance yard , Hartshill

Working boat passing by

After Atherstone there are no more locks until the stop lock at Hawkesbury Junction.  Passed through Charity Dock on the way to Hawkesbury, which I was happy to see still looks the same.  As diverse and interesting as ever (for those of a certain age, bit like Steptoe's yard).  Really pleased to see that it has not succumbed to the prevailing trend to gentrify the waterways.

Waiting to go through the stop lock at Hawkesbury

Pump House at Hawkesbury Junction

Ashby hire boat negotiating the junction!

Ashby hire boat negotiating the junction part 2!

Ponies grazing on the towpath

At Hawkesbury we turned onto the Oxford Canal.  Moored up tonight near Ansty and heading to Braunstone tomorrow.  Truly decided to go swimming again tonight.  She is a very crafty dog and waited until my back was turned to slide into the water and just swim around.  She loves swimming.

Jake and Truly having fun this evening

I've changed the format let me know what you think about the new look!!

Three more long days but a few less locks, only 20 over three days as opposed to 46 the two days before. So not quite such hard work!  We have  have travelled on three different canals over the last three days, turning from the Staffs and Worcs onto the Trent and Mersey at Great Haywood Junction on Monday morning and then on Tuesday turning at Fradley Junction onto the Coventry Canal.

The bridge at Great Haywood Junction

This was once the house of Josiah Spode which he left to a Dominican Order in 1893.  It is now a golf course

 This week has been a week of firsts!  We saw our first ducklings, Spotted swallows yesterday at Fradley and  yesterday evening sat out on the towpath in our new chairs and had a beer.  The dogs also went swimming yesterday evening, which wasn't really part of the plan but as it was a warm evening it was ok because they dried out well.

Cruising on the Trent and Mersey

Truly drying off after her swim!

There is always something going on along the canal or towpath.  At Fradley as we were coming down the locks I spoke to a couple who were taking photographs of a paper doll, called Flat Stanley, who had been sent to them by their grand daughter in the USA.  He had his own suitcase and everything and was set to have many exciting adventures captured on the camera.  At the same lock I was also given a book, The Reader by Bernhard Schlink, by a lady who was giving them away for World book Night.  I am looking forward to reading it.

Working boat Kangaroo at Alvecote

Stafford winding at Alvecote

This evening we are moored halfway up Atherton Flight between locks 5 and 6.  Tomorrow should be a shorter day as we are now pacing journeys so we can go to the Old Royal Oak at Hilmorton on Friday evening.

We have had two very long and busy days.  This is mainly because we have packed too much in again and now have to push on to get back to Market Harborough to sort out some things before going to a big family party.  Then we have to rush of again because we have to get up towards Tarleton (near Preston) as we are booked in to cross the Ribble Link.

Usually we don't do much at weekends but on Saturday morning we were up bright and early and ready to set off at 8:15.  This was good because we were first away so had a clear run at the locks.  We worked down the Delph Nine, which as previously mentioned is now only eight locks.  This is a lovely and tranquil set off locks which is in contrast to the huge Merry Hill's shopping complex, which we were moored next to.

Coming down Delph Locks

Looking down Delph Flight

A quiet Saturday fishing

An picturesque flight with waterfall style runoffs and more fisherman

After a short respite and a cup of coffee we quickly reached Stourbridge Locks a flight of 16.  

Coming down Stourbridge Locks 

A tranquil setting on Stourbridge Locks

A group of kids having a good time without computer games

 We saw this group of kids about halfway down the flight playing on a rope swing and in the lock runoff.  They were having a great time and not a computer game in sight.  They asked me to retrieve their ball, which was in the middle of the canal, which I managed to do.

Red House Cone part of a glass works

At the bottom of the Stourbridge Flight we were going to venture down the arm to Town Wharf at Stourbridge.  However we decided to leave this trip for another time when we can stay for longer.  Instead we pushed on and moored for the evening just before Hincksford Bridge.  A total of 31 locks for the day.  Decided that we deserved a beer and walked back to the Navigation pub for a pint.

The Navigation pub is right next to Greenforge Lock and when we came through earlier Truly jumped off the boat and made friends with all the customers who were around the lock.  When it was time to leave she wouldn't get on the boat but jumped on the wall and tried to get into the pub garden to meet more friends.  A customer had to grab her and bundle her back over the wall.  She looked a bit miffed about it!

Sunday morning we were even earlier leaving by 8:00!  15 locks today including Botterham staircase lock where we met a couple in a yogurt pot (small plastic boat).  They were stuck in the bottom lock and couldn't open the top gate.  A paddle had been left slightly open, just enough to prevent the lock from filling.  Soon sorted and they were on their way.

Approaching Botterham staircase

Botterham staircase locks

Also came through Bratch Locks today.  A strange flight of three locks which at first glance looks like a staircase.  However it is three separate locks, which are so close together that there is no room for boats to pass.  Bratch Locks is overseen by a lock keeper, who was saying that there have been very few boats around, apparently only four on Saturday and we were the second through today.

Entering Bratch Locks

Coming up in Bratch Locks

Octagonal lock keepers office at the top of Bratch Locks

Tonight's mooring is near Coven on the Staffordshire and Worcestershire Canal.  Ready for another long day tomorrow!

We have spent the last two days exploring places that we have not been to before.  We left the mooring at the Black Country Museum on Thursday morning and headed for Netherton Tunnel.  Netherton Tunnel was the last tunnel to built during the canal age and so is a modern tunnel, completed in 1858.  It is a very large tunnel with a tow path either side and enough room for two boats to pass.

Having passed through Netherton Tunnel we headed off towards Hawne Basin on the Dudley no.2 Canal.  Not many boats come this way so it was a bit of a shock to meet another boat coming in the opposite direction in a bridge 'ole.  They were surprised too and much slamming on of brakes ensued, well in boating terms shoving into reverse and winding up the revs.  Both managed to stop and then pass through the bridge in good order though.

Shortly after the bridge incident we came to Gosty Tunnel.  We had taken down all chimneys and exhaust stacks as we had heard reports that the tunnel is very low.  We were a bit surprised then that although the tunnel was narrow it seemed to have plenty of height.  Then we came to the low bit!!

One of the low sections in Gosty Tunnel!

Sign post for Hawne basin inside Gosty Tunnel

Exiting Gosty Tunnel

Hawne Basin was a bit tricky to get into as it is a tight turn under a low bridge.  Also it was windy which made manoeuvring difficult.  However once in their was a warm welcome for visitors, who can moor up at no charge for up to a week.  Should be arranged in advance but they didn't seem to mind that we hadn't booked.  The Basin belongs to the Coombeswood Canal Trust who operate it as a mooring for their members.

Turning into Hawne Basin

It's a bit tight!

Hawne Basin

Spring is here!

We retraced our steps this morning and then carried on joining the Dudley no.1 Canal where we are moored up for the evening just above Delph Locks.  Referred to as the Delph Nine although there are only eight of them nowadays.  A long day tomorrow with 24 locks.

Left Birmingham yesterday morning heading for the Black Country Museum at Tipton, near Dudley.  There is an extensive canal system around Birmingham, known as the BCN (Birmingham Canal Navigation's).  We mostly stayed on the New Main Line but took a few diversions into some of the more interesting arms and loops.

Icknield Loop is just a very industrial length of canal with old dilapidated warehouses on one side and lots of parked vans across the other.  There is no towpath and it has an air of abandonment.  But then as you come round the bottom of the loop there is a waterways office and loads of moored boats.

Turning into Icknield Loop from the Main Line.

Boats moored at the bottom of Icknield Loop

More boats moored at the bottom of Icknield Loop

 Soho Loop is much better maintained with a proper towpath and a mixture of industrial and residential areas.

A bridge on Soho Loop

Winson Green Prison is right next to the canal on the Soho Loop

Coming out of the loop and back on the the main line proved exciting due to the wind and we didn't quite make it round on the first attempt!

Approaching the end of the Soho loop with a boat passing on the main line

The only other diversion was turning at Albion Junction onto the Gower Branch.  There was a lock here with a low bridge in front.  So low that I had to take all the chimneys down.  A group of lads hanging around under the bridge directed me through and informed me that not many boats came this way.  Had a fascinated audience of people who had never seen a boat go through these locks.  After this it was a short trip to the Black Country museum where we are now moored up.

Spent a fascinating day today looking round the museum and also going on a boat trip through the limestone caverns in this area.  Had fish and chips for lunch.  Cooked in beef dripping and not vegetable oil.  Delicious, best fish and chips we have eaten for years!

Boats at the Black Country Museum

Dudley Tunnel and Limestone Caverns

Tomorrow we will be going through Netherfield Tunnel.  Think there is some history, possibly the last ever tunnel built on the canal system.  I will check it out though as not sure.