What a difference a week makes.

It is a week since my last post and the weather is a lot different. Last Sunday I was painting the roof of the boat in sunshine. Today I am watching the rain come down in buckets. We stayed at Penkridge till Monday morning, then we moved on to Acton Trussel. On the way there we called into a boatyard for then to look at a bracket that had come loose, infact the bolts had sheared off. The rest of the brackets were still holding it but I thought I should let someone look at it. As it was they couldn't fix it and recommended that I take it to Shobnal Marina in Burton on Trent. On Tuesday we moved to Rockford Bank the nearest mooring to Stafford where we had an appointment at the bank on Wednesday. It was nice and sunny Wednesday morning so we walked the mile and a half into Stafford,after doing some shopping we presented ourselves at the bank at the appropriate time. It took two hours to get everything sorted out,we were gagging for a warm drink. While in Stafford we visited Vodaphone and up graded the dongle to an iPad this has made it a lot better to get on the Internet . Returning to the boat (by bus) we moved on to Tixel wide where we moored for the night. Tixel wide is a place where I assume the canal at one time broke it's bank and flooded, it is now a very pleasant place to moor. Passing. Through Great Hayward Junction on Thursday we carried on passed Shugborough Hall until finally mooring at Rugeley for the night. Friday we carried on heading for Fradley Junction where we were going to stop for the night, however when we got.there all the moorings were full so we carried on to Alrewas. Today we are hoping to go to the Alrewas Show if this rain ever stops, or even slows down. There are no pictures today as I am not sure how to upload photo's from the iPad.

Very Heavy Rain.

Before I start this post I must tell you about something I forgot in my last posting. Coming up the Staffs and Worcester we kept seeing faces on trees and posts. Some body had been very busy.Slipping our mooring early we moved back down to Autherley Junction and watered up while we had breakfast, well that was the plan. In the end we had had breakfast and both of us showered and still the water tank wasn't full. After an hour and a half it finally filled to the top.It was quite a nice morning so we passed through the stop lock and turned left onto the Staffs and Worcester canal. At about 12-o-clock the heavens opened and we moored where we were, even so we both got very wet. The weather never really got much better so we stayed where we were for the night.
Next morning the rain had passed, leaving our mooring just north of Coven Heath. After four and a half hours we moored at Penkridge a lovely little town not far from Stafford. Walking down town to do some shopping we once again got caught in heavy rain but it was short lived. Today I replaced some tiles that had dropped of round the wood burner.Later we took the bus into Stafford and made an appointment at the bank for Wednesday to review our accounts.At lunch time we had a meal and a pint(or two) at Weatherspoons. The pub used to be a cinema and still has the tiered seating areas and the bar is where the screen used to be.Today's pictures are some tree and post faces and Autherley Junction.

Another National Trust House.

Leaving Kinver on Thursday morning we did 10 locks plus a 2 lock staircase. This brought us to Wombourne, we moored at the visitor mooring for the night. On Friday morning we arrived at Bratch locks, Not a staircase but very similar. I emptied the first of the 3 locks, that was my big mistake the lock keeper was not impressed as there were two boats on thier way down. I went back to Marlene and moored the boat to wait. When the two boats cleared the bottom lock it was our turn to go up.
I will try and explain the way these locks work,if I can. Each lock has a top and bottom gate but between the top of one and the bottom of the next is just enough space to open the gates. You then have blue paddles which allow the water to go sideways into a side pound when you empty the lock above with the red paddles. Then when you need the water to refill the lock the water is retrieved from the side pound. when you get to the top lock it is just the same as a normal lock. That may seem very complicated but when the lock keeper shows you how it works it is simple. We moored at Wightwick where we were meeting Pamela and Archie who were coming for the weekend.
On Saturday we all visited Wightwick Manor(National Trust)which has some lovely gardens. In the evening we went to the Mermaid Inn for a meal which was great. After a quiet morning we walked to the nearby locks so Archie could see the boats come through and help with the gates,then Pamela and Archie went home.
Moving a short distance to Compton we moored so we could find a doctors, our three month prescriptions were running out. While Marlene did some washing I found a surgery and made an appointment for 8-45am Tuesday for us both to see a doctor for a new prescription.
Up early Tuesday we kept our appointments then Marlene went for her hair cutting while I took the new prescriptions to the chemist to be filled. Today we left Compton after queueing at the lock,Then in very heavy rain made our way to Autherley Junction where we turned left through the stop lock onto the Shropshire Union canal. We only travelled to bridge five then we turned round and moored for the night.

On to the Staffs and Worcester Canal.

It was a hot Sunday as we started up the River Seven, we had dropped down the Diglis locks with NB Conisborough. It took us five hours to complete the 12 mile and 3 locks to Stourport on Seven. The 3 locks were operated by BW lock keepers. We decided to moor for the night on the river,we would lock into the Basin in the morning. Getting up on Monday I noticed the river was flowing rather fast,after breakfast I set the first two locks(the first of two, two lock staircases)while Marlene brought Doublefracture round from the mooring turning into the lock against the flow. Going through the basin we then locked up onto the Staffs and Worcester canal. Travelling out of Stourport into the country and moored for the rest of the day.
On Tuesday morning we cruised into Kidderminster to do some shopping before travelling on to Wolverley mooring just above the lock. Wolverley is a quaint little village with one house built into the rock. A visit to ST John the Baptist Church was a real pleasure, the brick built church was above the village.
This morning we moved on to Kinver another nice village with a good high street, unfortunately a lot of the shops were closed, half day.Along this stretch of canal there have been some lovely rock sides to some locks(see Photo's). The other two pictures are Stourport Basin and Wolverley village.

A pair of National Trust Houses.

It was warm and sunny on Tuesday morning,so at 9-30am we started to descend the 30 locks of the Tardebigge flight. By 1-30pm we had arrived at the bottom lock a descent of 217ft. We moored for the night and went for a short walk before our evening meal.
The weather was still warm and sunny on Wednesday morning when we did a further 12 locks dropping another 84ft. Mooring at the bottom of the 12th lock we had lunch then walked across the fields to Hanbury hall a National Trust house. Like all the houses we have visited it was a nice afternoon out, the gardens were beautiful(see photo's).Before mooring for the night we moved on passing the entrance to the Droitwich canal then mooring just past bridge 34.
First thing Thursday morning I tightened the belt on the engine as it had been making a slapping noise. After an early morning shower the day was cloudy but warm,so we moved on through the 230yrd Dunhampstead tunnel to the visitor mooring at Tibberton. Arriving there I regognized it as the place we had had a picnic at the side of the canal on our way back from Cornwall a few years before.
On Friday we passed under the M5 motorway and down the Offerton Flight of 6 locks(a 42ft drop) and entered the outskirts of Worcester, stopping at bridge 10 to do some urgently needed shopping. We then went into Worcester and moored at the Commandery. This building used to be a hospital founded by Bishop Wulstan in 1085. It also served as Charles 11s headquarters before the battle of Worcester in 1651.
Today we visited Greyfriars another National Trust property, then later we Visited the Cathedral and climbed the 325 steps to the top of the tower, the view was magnificent. We are staying by the Commandery for a second night, then dropping down the 2 locks at Diglis Basin on to the River Seven. As well as pictures of where we have been I have added a couple of pictures of flowers from our roof garden.

Cadbury World.

As we were having breakfast on Thursday morming we were passed by Best of Mates,owned by Jennifer and Graham who we see quite often on our travels. Leaving Birmingham we cruised back to Kings Norton Junction. At the junction we headed toward Worcester. Just short of a mile from Kings Norton we came to Wast Hill Tunnel a two way tunnel at a length of 2726yds,it was wet inside. Mooring at Hopwood we waited for Pamela,Nathan and Archie to arrive on Friday evening. On Saturday we all went to Cadbury World, as we presented our tickets we were given a Crunshie and a Curlywurly each. Later as we passed through the History of chocolate and Cadbury we entered the packing area and recieved a bar of Dairy Milk. It was a great day out with even more chocolate than I have mentioned, some in warm liquid form. At the end of the tour you arrive at the shop where you are tempted to buy more chocolate. On Saturday evening we had a meal at the Hopwood house Inn which was next to the mooring. On Sunday morning we cruised down the canal to Alverchurch where we did some shopping before returning to Hopwood so our visitors could collect their car and return home. This morning we left Hopwood after turning the boat and once again cruised pest Alverchurch then through two more tunnels,one 613yds long and the second 580yds. I am writing this moored at the top of Tardebrigge locks(all 30 of them) ready to decend in the morning.

Trouble with the blog.

Since I wrote my last posting last Friday I have been unable to publish it. This evening I got in touch with son Stephen who got it published. On Saturday we moved on to Kingswood Junction. We didn't move on Sunday due to heavy rain. First thing Monday morning we started up the Lapworth Flight 19 locks in the day mooring for the night at Hockley Heath. We finally found a hardware shop so I bought sand paper and paint and we did some work. Yesterday we moored opposite Lyons boatyard near bridge three. Thinking we would have a night out we went to the Horseshoe pub, big mistake we had a quick pint and returned to the boat. Must be the shortest night out in history. Today we traveled Gas Street in Birmingham calling at Cadbury World to book for Saturday.Pictures taken in Gas Street.