We made a late start today hoping, unsucessfully, that it would stop raining. By midday we decided that getting wet was the only option. I think the rain had addled peoples' brains. Coming through Lock 1 we spotted that the boaters at Lock 2 were emptying the lock with the top gate open! This would have meant that all the water from the pound ( the bit of canal between the two locks) would have flowed out through Lock 2 leaving us stuck in Lock 1 with nowhere to go. Ray ran down to alert them before it became a serious problem. These things happen sometimes but not very often. Except for today, as we exited Lock 3 I saw the boater from a boat in Lock 4 running back to Lock 5. My first instinct was that he had left something behind. No, the boaters at Lock 5 were emptying the lock with the top gate still open! Twice in one day, on the same lock flight!
There were a lot of boats on the move today so it took us about three and a half hours to get through the eleven locks, but at least it stopped raining around Lock 4. We carried on towards Tamworth but decided to stop short as I'm always a bit dubious about mooring in built up areas particularly on a Saturday night. It's OK if someone has recommended a mooring or you get there early enough to move on it it looks dodgy. We found a nice spot just north of the M42 bridge, far enough from it to avoid the traffic noise. I might add a photo tomorrow morning, the light this evening is awful, very grey and overcast.
Not a bad view to wake up to!
Today's journey 5.3 miles and 11 locks
So far we have travelled 163.4 miles, 168 locks, 4 swing bridges, 2 lift bridges and 3 tunnels.
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