We took Wednesday off to avoid the rain, then set off yesterday planning to get to Bratch Locks by early afternoon. In fact we were there before 12:00...
It's a very pretty stretch along here, now the outskirts of Wolverhampton are behind us...
Leaving Wightwick Mill Lock, our first for the day.
The locks along here are set in fine wooded country, watered by the Smestow Brook, a tributary of the Stour, running alongside the canal.
Leaving Dimmingsdale Lock after being helped down by a hire boat crew.
Fine decorated parapet on Awbridge Lock tail bridge.
The locks here started life as a conventional triple staircase where one chamber drops directly into the next. The waste of water this causes was addressed by building side ponds to temporarily hold the overspill when the chambers are emptied. Each chamber is separated from the next by a very short pound to control the levels. 
This morning we motored the short distance to the top lock, to find a volunteer lockie in attendance which made my job a lot easier!
Bratch Top Lock
Very deep chambers...
Those steps have seen a few boots over the years!
We popped out of the bottom lock after only 30 minutes, and 5 minutes more saw us arrive at the delightfully named but slightly care-worn Bumblehole Lock.
By half-eleven we were tied up in Wombourne, just before Wombourne Bridge. Handy for the shops here.
Our neighbours...
We're stopping here tonight, then moving on a short distance tomorrow to wait out the rest of the weekend.
Locks 8, miles 4¾
1 comment:
Just as nice as I remember it, we were coming the other way from Upton on Severn.
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