'Was It Something We Said?' - 18th August 2020

 Tuesday 18th August 2020

Long Molls Bridge to below Penkridge Lock

5.69 miles, 7 locks

Thankfully when we woke this morning the rain that seemed to go on all night had stopped and we were off before 9am  The tow path in the direction we were heading was somewhat muddy yesterday, so Monty and I opted not to walk first thing. There would be plenty of chances later on.

Several boats had passed us heading the way we were going, so we thought we might be in for a long wait at Gailey where we wanted to fill up with water and dispose of the rubbish and yellow water.  To our surprise and delight there was only one boat at the services and the other water point was vacant.  We were ready to go before they were and were able to take the lock (our first going down since Stourport) as a boat coming up exited the lock.  The famous and much photographed Round House at Gailey that is usually open and sells postcards, plaques and all sorts of other boating bits and bobs is closed for the duration.  It is very small and is probably not suited to social distancing.

With a boat waiting below to come up we could leave the gates open and be on our way.  Jumpers were off by this time - it was getting warmer by the minute.

Soon after you leave Gailey the canal runs parallel to the M6.  At Rodbaston lock the motorway is so close you can see, hear and feel the traffic thundering past.

One always has a look before exiting a lock just in case you are lucky enough to find a boat heading to the lock - there was, but what was behind it?

It was a moored boat with the occupants sitting out enjoying the sun.  Nothing wrong with that you would think, but the motorway is just behind the hedge on the right.  The noise was horrendous - definitely not somewhere I would chose to moor!

There were boats moving both ways which often meant locks were ready for us

At Otherton lock there was a boat waiting to come up and a man from that boat came up to lend a hand and very kindly told me to get back on board before the boat went down and he worked the rest of it for us.  It is very rare to find me on the boat at the bottom of a lock!

I was aware that there were two boats waiting to come up at Otherton and thought I had seen a lot of head shaking and hand gestures to go back whilst we were in the lock.  A third boat had come along heading for the lock, not realising they needed to go to the back of the queue.  The latter was something we avoided all day.

Boat one

Boats two and three (after it had reversed back)

As we arrived at Filance lock, just before Penkridge.  There was a boat in the lock.  It looked to be up, but there was a lot of pushing of the gate and sharing of a windlass to ensure the paddles were fully up, then they were off to the other end to look and ensure those paddles were down.  Back to more pushing, but all to no avail.  I got off our boat and went to see what was up.  There was water gushing out of the lower gates making the top gate almost impossible to open.  In the end the lady and I pushed (I kept as far apart as possible) whilst the helmsman very gently nudged their boat forward.  Without that extra shove, I think we would still all be there.

Once we were in and I had shut the gate, Chris and I had a quick look at the map to decide if we would moor just after this lock or go a bit further.  It cannot have taken more than a couple of minutes, but by the time I got to the bottom gates the water had dropped a good foot before any paddles had been opened.

Looking round the other side of the gates it became apparent that there is a considerable leak!

Penkridge is always busy.  There was a boat coming up and with another boat at the services it was a case of careful steering by all concerned.

Once through the lock we proceeded past all the moored boats to a good space at the end.  As we were still mooring up the boat behind us untied and left - was it something we said?!

Not a far reaching view from the side hatch, but from where I sit there was a great floral display to admire.

The washing went up on the stern - it was well pegged as there was quite a stiff breeze.  A close eye was kept on the weather as rain was forecast.  I am glad to say that the washing was pretty much dry before the downpour.

We are beginning to wonder if Monty is beginning to feel his age a bit (he is 8).  The usual routine when we moor up is for him to stay out and supervise, however today (7 locks) and the day before yesterday (12 locks) he was nowhere to be seen.  On investigating we found him inside, curled up in his bed!