Penkridge Saturday January 2 2016

Boy did it blow last night, it was hitting us side on in sharp gusts. but things were much better this morning when we set off at
10-45 am. The weather was much better than forecast. When I looked last night it said rain all day, but apart from lunch time when we were moored up it has only been light drizzle or fine.

We Calf Heath Marina, but I am still not sure if the place is open or not and if you wanted to eat there where to moor. The signs and flags all look new.

We stopped for lunch on the Gailey visitor moorings which was good timing, because that is when it decided to rain properly. Leaving there a little later the rain had stopped and it was even a bit warmer. On the way out I posted a photograph of all the JD boats moored along the canal, they have just about as many on the hard standing as well. There are more behind this row. Galey lock just like the rest was against us which slowed progress slightly. While I steered the boat Diana walked from one lock to the next, we did 4 locks like this. At Otherton Lock this car was parked on top of the canal bridge. Just below the bridge I saw something I have never seen before, a couple working the towpath with a metal detector. I wouldn’t have thought it very rewarding when you consider they are only about 200 years old, and have probably been resurfaced and repaired many times since then, not only that its all metal piling with steel tie back bars just under the surface.

All the locks on this canal are named and each one has a wooden name board, each name board was carved by hand by Mr Cox, the last being unveiled in 1989, It took him some 3 years to complete the task.

We moored in Penkridge just before The Cross Keys pub where we are planning to eat tonight, it will be our first meal out this year, it will also be the first meal out this trip. Directly where we are moored live some lucky kid looking at the Tree House beside the canal complete with spiral staircase, unless its Dad’s Den.

Today’s journey 

8¼ Miles, 5 locks in 3¾ hours