Wednesfield Junction

Well another change of plan, just to keep you on your toes.
When we woke up this morning it was actually sunny so by 7-30 we were on our way down to Aldersley Junction where we turned sharp right into the first of the Wolverhampton 21 locks, it was just 7-38 am. Two reasons for starting early, hopefully we will be up before the rain and if we are first up the chances are the locks will be with us. Thankfully we only had to turn three locks and the rest were mainly empty, a couple have a few inches to drain out and all the pounds were on weir.
At the first lock there was a very tame family of ducks who just sat and watched me work the top paddle.

The railway crosses the canal in several places and this was a sight we haven seen much this week.

At one of the locks, as it was nearly full Diana said I think there is a duck in the lock, I hadn’t seen anything as I entered but there by the bows of the boat was a Wood Pigeon looking sorry for its self, so I hoiked it out and it scurried off into the long grass, nut I would be surprised it it will survive.
This was once the Springfield Brewery but has been restored and is now the Thomas Telford University Technical College. At least it wasn’t burned down like lots of other old buildings

We carried on to the top lock, clearing it at 10-31 am. not a bad run for a couple of oldies.

There is a short arm beside the top lock with about 4 boats in it, but on the hard beside the arm is a rather poorly wooden butty, it will take a lot of work and money for her to float again.
The suggested mooring from Canal Planner  for the night was just at the top of the locks or through the bridge,but we decided to go somewhere a bit nicer, under Wolverhampton Tunnel, more like a big bridgeand turning right left at Horseley Field Junction on the Wyrley & Essington canal. Just before the junction a pair of swans are having a late attempt at raising a family with a nest full of eggs.

Every time we come under this stainless steel bridge I try to photograph our reflection, but today I wondered if a short video would look better.

We carried on just a little bit further to the remains of the Bentley Arm where we reversed in and moored for the night. We even got here before it rained.

Today’s Journey

4 miles, 21 locks in 4 hours