What a difference a day 17 months makes…..

This was us at Dimmingsdale Lock in February 2009…..
And this is us today.I know which I prefer…..

Anyway, to get here we’ve changed canals and guide books. From the Shropshire Union to the Staffordshire and Worcestershire, and from “Four Counties and the Welsh Canals” to “Severn, Avon and Birmingham”
There were a lot of boats stopping over near Bridge 8 last night, so we thought we’d better get going a bit earlier to beat the rush.

Leaving the moorings
OK, 9 o’clock isn’t early by some people’s standards, but it’s not bad by ours!

The strategy worked, we arrived at Autherley Stop Lock just as a boat was coming out, and no-one was waiting to go in.

In Autherley Stop Lock
A right turn at the Junction took us onto the Staffs and Worcs, Stourport bound.

Mini narrowboat Sarnie at Oxley Wharf

Although the canal runs alongside Wolverhampton, nothing of the town can be seen, in fact if it weren’t for the road and railway bridges you could be anywhere.
Rural bits, but railway bridge gives it away.
Compton Lock was the first lock we met today on this canal, and was also the first lock constructed by James Brindley when work commenced in the 1760’s.

Compton LockAnd it’s circular "plughole" bywash weir, a feature of this canal.
We dropped down two more, those at Wightwick, before heading down to Dimmingsdale to stop for the night. There are some 5 day moorings near the bridge, but these just above the lock on the offside are much more pleasant.

We’ll have another “early” start tomorrow, then take Sunday off. Silverstone, you know. Oh, and I think there’s a football match on somewhere, too.

This canal, like many others, has an active preservation society. The SWCS is one of the oldest in the country, having been formed in 1959. They have an informative website.

Locks 4, miles 8½