Not sure how I got into last nights moorings so easily, it took me 10 minutes to get out this morning, the wind didn’t help, but I pushed the bum out only to hit something big underwater about 6 foot behind me and over 4 foot from the side. I ended up with the stern right over on the off side before I could push the bows out, just as I was getting straight, Diana already had the lock open a boat came round the bend and was going to pass me.
By the time we were in Woodend Lock there was another boat ready to come up, so the chap behind had an easy run.
The work on HS2 didn’t start until about 8am. as you can see it runs along behind the lock cottage and is very close at the bend, it also crosses on the way down to Shadehouse Lock.
They have the big toys on site now for moving earth about.
Once down the lock it seamed strange not to have a row of moored boats on the offside, the down side is that silt builds up on the outside of a row of permanently moored boats so you look like you are hogging the canal keeping clear of it, but it will soon level out. Where they have cut the swaths through the trees for the line to cross the canal the wind has uprooted several large trees to the east of the clearing. I suppose these trees have never been subjected to wind before being in the centre of a wood.
There was a Volockie on at Shadehouse lock but the one at Middle Lock only arrived as we got there, which meant that we had Middle lock turned on us as soon as the boat coming up left.
The Ex BW working flat just to the south of the A38 bridge is looking very sorry for its self. There are still a row of pumps there but she is still well on the bottom.
The Dutch Barge style Narrowboat moored just behind her has now had its wheelhouse removed, that also has been there for years and years.
HS2 are working just south of Streethay Wharf, I don’t know if it goes under or over the existing railway line and the A38 or under it. I guess its the end of the airfield.
There were a lot less boats than normal moored at Huddlesford as we approached the junction. On our way out on this trip we passed a small cruised with an interesting cover, we passed it again today and I got a snap of it.
Things were going well until we reached Tamworth and the Glascote locks. There were were two boats waiting below the locks to go up and the locks looked to be covered in blue tee shirts. It turned out there were ten volunteers painting the locks and one CRT overseeing. People seemed to be milling about but very little happening. We were the last in the queue so of course Diana was soon winding paddles and open and closing gates.
Once above the locks we only did a couple of more bridges before mooring for the night. A longer day than planned.
Todays Journey
5 lock and 14½ miles in 7 hours
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