Tuesday 29 September 2015

At last - I woke up this morning, yes this morning, not three times in the middle of the night because people were walking past laughing and talking at 2am, 4am and 5am!!!  I loved Birmingham but sleep better in the country!  We didn’t rush off this morning we just watched everyone else leave the moorings one by one!  I walked to the village which consisted of a few houses, a pub, a restaurant, a hairdressers and a Spar!

We left at about 12 noon and chugged through some lovely countryside, it’s hard to believe that we are only a few miles down the canal from where we came from yesterday – it’s like a different world.  We arrived at the top of the Knowle Hill flight of locks (five in all) looking down you can see for miles around – it probably helps that the sun was shining too.

Whilst the water tank was filling I strolled round to the boatyard and bought a couple of conservation keys so we can return Rob’s to him when we see him next. 

As we were about to leave a couple of boats were just appearing coming up the flight so we waited for them to come out and we went in.  It felt funny to be in huge wide locks again after all the singles we have been through over the past couple of weeks.

These locks were hard work – I started off in jeans, a t-shirt and a jumper and ended up in a pair of shorts and a light sleeveless cotton top!  Once at the bottom we were looking for somewhere to stop where there was a pub so I could give Lou an address for Sam to drop her back to us tomorrow.  As we left the open countryside the banks we were wooded again therefore it became cooler again so on went the jumpers and jackets again!

We stopped at a place called Tuners Green where there was a pub in a very pretty village but with no shops or anything else around except a couple of different weathervanes!  Another nice quiet, very dark spot!

Early morning cruise by - the working boats from yesterday.

Glad we are not leaving now and following them again.

My walk to the village looking back - you can just see us, the only boat left on the mooring!

Back our in the countryside.

Funny little boat that is obviously lived on.

And it's even got a lawn!

First lock at the top of the Knowle Hill Flight.

We've got our work cut out...

Looking over to the village of Knowle.

Look there's a weathervane on that church roof!

The June Rose looks small in these locks.

Last one to open - nearly there.

I wonder if we will ever do these locks again...

Horsey weathervane.

Chocolate box cottage.

Duck weathervane.

Stratford Canal - been there done that!

Looking at the channel that joins the Stratford on Avon Canal - a good few weeks ago I took a photo looking back the other way.

Turners Green Village - Tom O' The Woods Pub.

I told you I had seen a few weathervanes today.

There we are - quite little spot - I'm in for a good night's sleep.

I like this one and the sun is going down in the background

And another one!