Car Boots & Boating.....Perfect!

Staffs & Worcs                            7 Locks
We all got out of bed this morning to head to Wombourne Car Boot, where we all picked up some goodies. Back to Harebell for lunch and a few chores & maintenance. James & Sophie went for a wander and found a park to play in whilst Marcus added some much needed hinges to the hatches under our mattress.....Will make it a lot easier to get our bedding in & out.

We st off early afternoon in fab sunshine and quickly caught up with a single handed boater at the first locks, which happened to be Botterham Staircase. Sophie & James helped him through that lock and all the others until he moored up at Greensforge. We stopped at Greensforge for water and then Sophie & James discovered the magnet and have been trying to fish treasures out of the canal ever since. The last few locks passed quite easily for me, as I was reading after clearing up from the tea & donuts at Greensforge. We passed our planned mooring spot by the Roundhouse ruin and  turned round at the Stourton Junction and found a great spot in our favourite area.

James spent quite a while trying to fish out stuff from the canal....they dropped the magnet from the bridge & found 2 scaffolding links. Great!  

More Rain

Staffs & Worcs Canal                               10 Locks

Well the weather made up for the last few dry weeks.....it just rained & rained. We decided to have breakfast at McDonalds and go to Go Outdoors for a waterproof coat for me, as I had left mine at home. As it turned out, we took so long in Go Outdoors, buying trousers, coats & shoes that by the time we got back to the marina, it was starting to brighten up. As I write this, 36 hours later my waterproof has yet to be worn......worth the cost I guess to ensure that not a drop of rain fell since I paid for it.

We left the marina at 1.30pm and set off into a gorgeous afternoon. We arrived at Compton lock 1.5 hr later and  Sophie proved that she had not lost her touch when it came to lock-winding. Unfortunately, we were also behind a very slow & cautious boat, so progress through the locks was slow.

Nearing Compton

We followed them all the way to Bratch Locks, but passed them just above the top. It was gone 6pm when we were passing through Bratch and with the lock keeper to help us through, we only took about 15/20 mins. We also bought some new paddle keys, just the kind we like, for £5.00 EACH!!!!!!!!!! Well spotted Sophie!! They had been fished out of the canal at some point and painted and were just perfect.

Harebell at Bratch for the first time with our family xx 

I have had quite an easy day, as Sophie & James has been doing most of the lock- winding.....I was even forbidden to help on some of them!!

We were through the next lock in no time and found our desired mooring spot near Sainsburys in Wombourne. Marcus stayed on the boat to fix the alternator and we went for a few more supplies. A late evening after all, as we all had to have dinner.  A later night to bed, but straight to sleep for all of us and a good night's sleep to boot.