Kantara was one of the last boats to leave Pelsall
The water was cleaner and far less weedy, still narrow in parts...
We declined the last-moment temptation of the Chasewater,
turning right at Catshill Junction instead, and onto the Daw End Branch.
Doing the next nine locks proved to be something of a challenge.
Tired and hungry, we stopped at the bottom of the flight
At the top lock, we cleared a mass of water weed
After the ninth lock, we moored and ate a much-needed lunch.
...the underworld beneath the criss-cross of Birmingham’s Spaghetti Junction
Salford Junction
Minworth, uncomfortably close to the A38, but just fine for rest and recovery!
We met no boats. We had no problems. Nothing exciting happened.
We descended all eleven Curdworth Locks without incident.
We even stopped to eat at a sensible time!
...we moored perfectly easily at the bottom lock, alongside a lake
...we left the built-up areas behind and slipped into wide, green countryside
We found an attractive place to moor at Bridge 50.
...Atherstone Bottom Lock, we found it busy
Beyond Atherstone and Mancetter, we moored overnight at a secluded spot past bridge 35.
There were a lot of craft on the move.
And the Oxford is beautiful, too.
...we found a stretch of Armco that was only just long enough for us to moor against
after the skipper of the boat in front had moved his craft forwards six feet
It was warm, cloudy and humid when we pulled away from the mooring.
The approach to Stretton Stop was lined on both sides by boats
Beyond that, open fields, sheep and cows by the hundred, geese by the gang...
Newbold Tunnel
Hillmorton Locks
...the very last boat length before Butcher's was empty, and we took it gladly
Back in the marina
Reflection in the marina pound
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