Moored at Wilmcote

Even got me in the pic, finger bottom left!

Well we have been making good progress along the canal. We stopped on Wednesday to call in at Wedges, a bakery near Hockley Heath where we had an all day breakfast which was every bit as good as the last time we called there.  Thursday was a busy day working down 16 locks. Half way down we met friends Dave and Jan on Yes Dear who were on their way up. With no where to stop and a line of boats we arranged to meet half way that evening in The Boot. A pub conveniently located mid flight. A very pleasant evening it was too.
So Friday saw us moving on to the South Stratford Canal, new water for us. It is a very rural canal, cruising amongst the trees with the sun shining through. We did at one point pass under the M40, you can just see a van going over the bridge.
Still several locks but more spaced out for a while so I get back on board rather than walking all the way!
Moored at Wilmcote now and off later today to visit a friend who doesn't live far from Stratford.

On to the Stratford Canal

Well we have had quite an eventful few days catching up with friends and family. We came up the remaining 8 Aston Locks and 13 Farmers Locks into Birmingham on Tuesday. All of the Farmers Locks were set against us, but we made good time.  Sat and had a cuppa, then walked back down most of Farmers Locks to help our friends Anita and Kevin on Nobody Knows and Ian on Little 'Un up the flight. It was hard work, but we had a good catch up later in the pub!

Paul, Gareth and Rhys!

After spending a couple of days in Birmingham we moved on towards Bournville and then on to Hopwood where Gareth and Rhys came to see us on Sunday. They were on their way back from the Lake District to Devon. First time they had been on board. Very good to see them.

Today we turned on
to the Stratford Canal

Lock 1 on Stratford Canal, thankfully left open

The first lock is a guillotine lock and used to be a stop lock to separate the Stratford Canal from the Birmingham and Worcester Canal. Today the lock is left open. We think we should reach Stratford by the weekend. Didn't realise it would be the Bank Holiday!

On the way to Birmingham

Turning at Fazeley Junction

On Thursday we traveled to Fradley Junction and there turned right on to the Coventry Canal, which was taking us towards Tamworth and on to Fazeley Junction. The 2 junctions are only about 10 miles apart and with no locks in between I have to think carefully which is which.
It is fairly obvious really as Fazeley Junction takes you on to the Birmingham and Fazeley Canal!
We are still heading towards Stratford on Avon but are taking the long way round so that we can be at Hopwood next week to meet up with one of Paul's brother's and our nephew. So it will be well worth the extra effort!
Today after turning at the junction we have climbed 11 locks of the Curdworth Flight. Quite hard work it was too. After that lot I am almost looking forward to the 13 locks of the Farmers Flight into the centre of Birmingham! Still that will be another day 😎

Great Haywood

Our mooring looking towards Shugborough

If you look carefully through the trees on the left you can just about make out Shugborough Hall. We did visit in April when we were heading north.
In the last week we have been busily heading south. We have come through Harecastle Tunnel, made our way through Stoke on Trent and Stone. Although we haven't got wet through the weather hasn't been the best. We have worked about 26 locks and traveled about the same amount of miles. We are heading to Stratford on Avon.
When passing through Great Haywood we usually make a short detour on to the Staffordshire and Worcestershire Canal to stop at Tixall Wide. Having decided to carry on as it wasn't sitting out weather, the sun has now come out!

Overnight at Rode Heath

Lock 60 on the Trent and Mersey Canal

Yesterday we worked 14 of the 26 locks known as 'Heartbreak Hill'. I don't think it's as bad as it sounds. With other flights once started there is no mooring until the end, with this flight there is opportunity for overnight stops at several point. Rode Heath being one. We moored opposite the pub, which has been very useful as we can use their WiFi! We were very lucky managing to avoid most of the rain. Also only another 12 locks between here and Kidsgrove. Not all the locks are as deep as the one above, also, unusually many of the locks are set in pairs. Back in the days of working boats this speeded their passage. Most of the locks still remain as double with only a couple filled in. It does make for an interesting trip. You can be coming up in one lock as another boat is going down in the other! We will probably spend 2 nights at Kidsgrove, as whilst it is not the most picturesque of places there is a useful launderette and a large Tesco, so we will be busy!

Middlewich and beyond

Brine Pump Middlewich

Well we finally made it to Middlewhich on Saturday. Picking up our favoured mooring. Not far from Lidl with TV, internet and phone signal! We don't ask for much.  We realised that, by chance, we had timed out visit to co-inside with one of the 4 open weekends of the Brine Pump. So Saturday we went to have a look. The pump is still in much need of repair but was pumping brine up until 1977. Work was then stopped due to much local subsidence. We found it all very interesting so on Sunday we joined a guided tour around Middlewich telling s all about the salt production of the are dating from Roman times.
So Monday saw us moving on and with one overnight stop we arrived today at Wheelock. Staying here the night to sample again the lovely fish and chips. Hopefully there won't be too much rain tomorrow and we can continue on to Kidsgrove.