Festina Lente.

Thursday 10th August 2017 near Rowington.
"Make haste slowly", which sums up our "dash" down to Enslow at 3 mph! Only 79 miles and 108 locks, "Piece of cake", said M. In 2011, we had toyed with the idea of calling MM "Festina Lente" but we found out that there are 28 other boats with that name and it turns out that "Many Meetings" has been the perfect choice of name for her as we meet so many nice people on the waterways.
So, an early farewell to Cadbury World, bathed in early morning sunshine with the first train of the day already approaching Bournville Station at 6am.

At King's Norton Junction, the Stratford & Avon Canal branches off the Worcester & Birmingham Canal, which has been our companion for several weeks - we were sad to say farewell to the W&B, its been a truly lovely canal. The, now derelict, house at the junction was once the offices of the W&B Canal Company.

Almost immediately after the junction is the first lock, but it was a stop lock with just one inch of difference so it is now left open. It is an unusual "guillotine" lock that looks very intimidating. Wouldn't want to be under that if it came down!

Now we are leaving Greater Birmingham behind, the canal becomes even more rural.

Along the towpath we saw many trees laden with greengages.

The Lapworth flight consists of 20 narrow locks, the paddle gear is listed, so they can't be updated and they are very stiff and hard to turn; but we make a good team. M sets each lock and then R takes MM through while M goes on to set the next lock. We got into a good rhythm and did all 20 very quickly but we also stopped to look at the views because it is such a pretty canal.

How lovely to live in this house - the lucky lady on the bike was just cycling home!

A curious family engaged R in conversation at one of the locks, so we invited them on board to go down to the next lock. They were so excited to be on a narrowboat going through a lock!

Happiness is a Magnum half way down the flight (it was a lovely hot day and we were working quite hard!)

Kingswood Junction and MM emerging from the last lock. Phew! They were tough.

Tom o' the Wood Moorings. That name must tell a story.

We paused here for tea and then moved on to Rowington, where we knew there were moorings with a splendid view.
As the sun set, we had our supper outside on the towpath and R relaxed outside reading with a well deserved glass of wine.

Today: 16 miles, 20 locks and 8.5 hours.
Trip: 177 miles, 164 locks and 133.2 hours.