Lock 6 to Dickens Heath 9th April

Now that we’ve run out of National Trust properties it was time to move on. NB Jenny passed us this morning heading up the locks, this is a leap frog boat. One day we pass them, the next them us, and so on.

As we were getting ready to push off three volunteer lock keepers appeared at the lock behind us, one stayed put the other two headed in our direction. They stopped for a good chat just as we’d pushed away from the tow path, they then carried on up and chatted to some fishermen. As we worked through the first lock the volunteers walked on past up to the next lock where a hire boat was coming down. They stood and chatted to them for a bit then headed back to walk down the flight. We’re not sure if they were going to help the hire boat (which had at least three crew) or just keep finding people to chat with.

Lock 2 9th April 2015

Narnia 23rd March 2013

The last of the Lapworth locks was far easier than it was two years ago, the off side then was very overgrown and you had to fight past branches to operate the paddles and open gates. Today everything has been trimmed back, not a weed in sight. This was our Narnia Lock, but now that is only a memory.

Next was the lift bridge from hell! This bridge is very heavy (two years ago we had to sweep snow off it) but Mick did very well winding and winding. The next bridge was much easier.

Only £160,000 a mere snip.

£149,000 a bargain!

At Hockley Heath we moored up to try and do a bit of shopping. We did consider downsizing to a Rolls Royce or a McLaren, but the salesmen couldn’t tell us whether they had a pumpout, cassette or compost loo! A swimming pool would have been pure decadence on Lillian’s roof, so we left with just a pint of milk and a small loaf of plastic bread.

This pound is at the same level as the centre of Birmingham and we will remain at this height for the next 10 days whilst at Alvechurch. NB Jenny was moored up outside a pub. We wanted a mooring tonight still in the countryside and started looking for a suitable spot after bridge 17.  There is a long straight here, but with many moored boats leading up to Lady Lane Wharf we continued on, through a cutting and stopped just short of Dickens Heath. NB Jenny passed us soon after we had moored. Maybe they are heading to Alvechurch too.

Gorse, daffodils and fields of rapeseed are starting to turn the world yellow

This afternoon a loaf of bread has been proving whilst I’ve tried to clean some of the green off the cratch and pram covers. Boats have gone past us, but no-one is stopping. We hope our neighbours in Dickens Heath are nice. The name suggests it to be a small village, it was until it became a new village in 1997. this is when it grew by 1672 homes! Needless to say the tow path is much busier than we thought it would be.

4 locks, 5.31 miles, 2 lift bridges, 3 sightings of Jenny, 1/2 plastic loaf, 1 monster homemade loaf, £40,000 not enough change, 1 scrubbed cratch, 1 scrubbing brush in the cut, 3 slices each of leftover beef.