Slow going to the Staffs and Worcester

I must first say a big thank you to Roger and Pat on behalf of Jade for the scrummy Tbone she had last night.  We didnt get a peep out of her for hours. The only bit left was a well chewed, well sucked middle bit.

So back to The Black Country Museum moorings...brilliant, secure but a tad noisy! With the road just yards away and the wind in the wrong direction, the constant Saturday night traffic kept me awake for what seemed like hours. Then the rain started and boy was it torrential! So glad when it got light this morning and I could have the first cup of tea of the day. Because we were up early, we pushed across to the facilities to do rubbish and loo and then headed off toward the Wolverhampton 21. In places the going was slow. This time of year it's leaves and weeds which have a habit of clogging up the prop and then we had to almost come to a stop when a boatload of Community Support lads doing a rubbish pick came round a bend weaving across the canal.

Very weedy and narrow.

Coseley Tunnel

 With just the Community boat passing us on the way so we didnt hold out any hope that the locks would be with us. They werent! In fact it was only once we had filled and emptied 13 locks that a boat finally came up the flight. Feeling hopeful that from now on the locks were with us, our hopes were soon dashed when the boater informed us that they had already passed 6 boats!!! After a 3 hour slog we eventually reached the bottom and moored. I think it's actually the lock landing that we have moored on and we were in two minds whether to stop. With the time being close to 3.30pm we came to the decision that it would be very unlikly that a boat would start up the flight at this late stage and we were right. No boats turned up other then to go straight on or wind. It's a nice spot although we did have fireworks going off from the youths in the adjacent park.

 Not sure what to do tomorrow. We fancy a run to Wheaton Aston to diesel up at Turners Garage by bridge 19. We have had reports that they are reasonably priced but the detour would mean turning left at Autherley Junction onto the Shroppie and traveling approximately 8 miles before winding and coming back again. A lot, I suppose, will depend on the weather!

Colourful Wolverhampton top lock

I would loved to have a boat going through with the train on the top

Lock 20 now back in action after the wall collapse.

Moored by the junction.

And finally:-