Perry Barr

Well we spent 2 nights at Brownhills in the end. The weather was so nice on Wednesday that we decided to stay put and explore a bit. One side of the Canal is Tesco and a row of shops. The other side is trees and green so we went for a walk endng at Clayhanger. So the next day, just about to have coffee before setting off and there is a knock on the side. It was Stuart, the guy who led the BCN cruise we did in 2013 and he recognised our Boat! Bearing in mind he and his wife Marie lead 2 cruises a year that is some memory! Spent a couple of days working along Daw End Canal and then Rushall Canal. Back to locks, 11 of them.

Empty pound. We had 2 like this!

Lock 10 on the Tame Valley Canal being helped by Dave Upton

Yesterday morning saw us turn out on to the Tame Valley Canal, turning East towards Perry Barr. A new direction for us. There's a flight of locks there called 'The New 13'! Started out OK but then further

Lock 10, gate and paddles closed this is how much the lock is leaking.

on 2 of the pounds (length of water between lock) were empty. As in just a trickle in the bottom. This meant we had to let water down through, all this took some time. Along the way a man walking by stopped to help. Taking a windlass he stayed to help us through the last 4 locks. Thankfully as this saved me a lot of too and fro. Then when we got to lock 10 it was flooded, water pouring over the top of the gate and I had to paddle to get to them! We stopped for the day after lock 11 as by then it was nearly 6!