It all went wrong!

Penkridge to Bridge 72
5 hours, 6 locks

The started well enough. Well, once we had got out of bed anyway! A pleasant cruise with a few locks, including Rodbaston Lock, which the boat I had a share in was named after. Had lunch just past Gailey Wharf and continued through the chemical works (lovely!). That’s when things went down hill a bit – but it makes it the most memorable day of the trip!

We could have winded at the junction with the Hatherton branch. But there was plenty of space there, so we decided to go on a bit further to the winding hole between bridges 74 and 75. It looked plenty big enough, but was silted up. It nearly went round, and felt like if we tried ‘one more time’ it would probably go. But having gone forwards, backwards, tried different approaches, used the rope, used the bow-thruster and having filled the stern with twigs and nearly getting jammed across the canal I decided to give up as it was getting dark.

So we went on to the next winding hole about a mile further. Having turned successfully, it was time to find somewhere to moor as it was now getting dark and cold. We found a nice spot opposite a nature reserve so stopped to put the pins in. Which would have been fine if the hammer didn’t decide to snap in the process! So now tired, cold and wanting to stop, we had to find somewhere to moor with some piling, so that we could use the piling hooks. We were slightly naughty as the only place we could find wasn’t on the towpath side. Never mind, we did no harm and would be away in the morning.