The Wolverhampton 21

We left Autherley Junction yesterday morning a little later than planned, the temperature had dropped last night and on my morning walk with Dudley the towpath was like a skating rink so we thought it best to let it thaw a bit before tackling the locks. We had left the back canopy down last night, as we knew it was just a quick stop, and this morning James' bench had a layer of ice on it.

It was a short way to Aldersley Junction where the main line goes off and straight into the bottom lock of the Wolverhampton 21. Most of the locks were full, so had to be emptied before getting LJ in and refiling, so it was quite slow progress but I was also being carefully as it was still quite slippy around the locks - we didn't want a repeat of November 2013 - Click here.

The first lock of the day

Missing paddle so this one too ages to fill

The pound was a little low at this one

We came across a photo shoot

And finally at the top

We stopped off at the CRT yard for water

Once through the locks we continued onwards and turned left at Horseley Fields Junction onto the Wyrley ans Essington Canal. We continued on for about a mile and stopped in the little arm at Bentley Bridge next door to Cineworld alongside the retail park. 

I managed to get us on the mirror bridge - but I've got the camera right in front of my face

The view from the lounge window

And view from the front

Seems odd seeing a boat in the car park 

4.5 miles and 21 locks

Total 697 miles 647 locks

Calf Heath to Autherley Junction

We've had a busy few days doing some pen making preparations. I was on sawing duties, the big piece of Dane's base plate and James was rough rounding them on the lathe and drilling ready for the barrels. It was a great place to work, nothing really around for miles, only two people walked by the few days we were there, boat traffic was pretty low too so we had a nice peaceful time.

We took a little time out from our hard work and took Dudley for a stroll and came across this place ....

Doesn't sound too nice, but no smell and no noise and we were pretty close to it!

This morning, as promised, Martin on Fuel Boat Halsall arrived and we stocked up on our winter coal, a change of gas and topped up the diesel. He was done with us and continuing on his way before 9am.  The guys on the fuel boats work really hard and long hours so we like to use them if possible, hence our waiting out a few days here for him on his rounds. 

It was very cold this morning with a thick frost which formed after 7am, but it was lovely and sunny with no wind. After a cup of tea to warm us up after sorting our coal delivery we were on our way.

After a lovely couple of hours, and passing one other moving boat, we have now moored up at Autherley Junction, where the Shropshire Union goes off.

6 miles and 0 locks

692.5 miles and 626 locks

Penkridge to Calf Heath

We were going to move on yesterday, but a couple of pen orders came in Sunday evening and as we knew our next stop would be nowhere near a Post Office we stayed at Penkridge an extra day.

It was very mild this morning, we let the fire go out over night and didn't need to re-light it this morning. The first two locks and the stretch between them run parallel with the M6.

They're all quite deep locks on this stretch

Traffic on the M6 

I usually get off the boat a little way before the lock and walk Dudley to get it ready for James to bring LJ in, at the second lock of the day I walked all the way up and realised I had forgot my windlass, this is the first time it's happened - I do hope it's not an age thing! I had to walk back to get it, but Dudley did't mind though.

We managed to just get through Gailey lock before it started raining, nothing too drastic very light rain and enough to get us wet, still can't complain too much as it didn't feel cold. 

The only trouble with this time of year is the leaves

Gailey roundhouse

We past by the chemical works where there are notices telling you not to stop or moor for 200 meters, even if the alarm is sounding, in reality it was a lot further than 200 meters, maybe they missed a '0' off.

Not something you see everyday - a new engine being fitted in a CRT work boat

We're now moored up again for a few days waiting for Martin on Fuel Boat Halsall to pass by with some supplies.

4.5 miles and 5 locks
TOTAL 686.5 miles and 626 locks

Still in Penkridge

On Wednesday we popped to Penkridge Market, it is only held on Wednesdays and Saturdays. It was busy with lots of stalls. We picked up a few bits and pieces including a new bed for Dudley, he had really outgrown his old one and it had gone all lumpy so time for a new one.

Dudley testing out his new bed

This is the Star Inn where we went last Sunday for our lovely roast

It was a bit like an obstacle course trying to get along the towpath back to the boat. As we tried to get round some of the fishermen just totally ignored us, whilst others where really apologetic. I felt sorry for the guy in the last photo, he was apologising and asking if we could get round OK, he also said that he couldn't believe they had put the pegs out on such a narrow part of the towpath.

This guy totally ignored us

He didn't even have enough room for his stuff

The weather has been so different from last week, although still cold we've had a lot of rain, we were really lucky last week when we were out for blacking. Yesterday there was a thunder storm right overhead, it made a hell of a noise.

This was the last of the sun today

James has been keeping busy with pen making, we are going up to Birmingham for the Roving Canal Traders Christmas Market, this year it is going to be over two weekends and also the weekdays in between, so 9 days in total, so hopefully we should have a few nice days - last year it was just for the weekend and it was a total washout weather wise, windy and rainy for the whole weekend. 

We are leading up to a very busy time of year for us as we get a lot of orders for Christmas presents so if you're looking for a unique gift for someone who 'has everything', check out The Pen Maker's Boat. We can post (as long as we're near a Post Office) and also post overseas. You can also find us on Facebook Click here.

Penkridge

We got through Filance Lock on Sunday as it was due to close yesterday for winter maintenance, it's still open, although no boats have come through. 

I spent yesterday getting the inside of the boat tidied up and clean after being out for blacking. Today I sorted out the front, we had been moored fairly close to an Ash tree and over night it had shed a lot of leaves which ended up on the front deck. James sorted out the back and got his workshop organised. I also put all the tools (scrapers, rollers, brushes, etc) that we had been using back in the roof box. So we are all back to being ship-shape.

I forgot to mention when we went through the lock near Midland Chandlers at Penkridge a kind person had left a few carrier bags of apples by the lockside for us boaters to take. What a really lovely thing to do, I guess it's the house opposite the chandlers as I spotted an apple tree in the garden.  So today I've been busy in the kitchen (oops sorry galley) and we're going to be appled out - we have apple crumble, apple turnovers and apple and sultana cake - yum yum. 

James has got back to pen making, we're heading for the Christmas Floating Market in Birmingham next month. We will slowly make our way to Autherley Junction to meet up with Halsall the fuel boat, we were still out on the slipway when Martin passed through Stafford but will be back around the junction next weekend. We need to stock up on coal before heading back into Birmingham.