Back on the Staffordshire and Worcestershire Canal.

 Tuesday 16th Augut 2022 in Gailey.

M, rising early as usual, drew back the curtains and was overjoyed to see a kingfisher flitting to and fro on the far side of the canal opposite.  After two nights moored at Autherley Junction it was time to move on so we walked into Morrisons for a final "few bits", topped off MM with water and headed off through the stop lock.

Sadly, our friends Annie and Peter, who run the Napton Narrowboats hire base, were off for the day, so we didn't have a chance to say goodbye and to thank them for their hospitality. We will have to send them a card instead. We took one last look back through the bridge and then turned right to go south to top up with diesel at Oxley Marina.

At Aldersley Junction, we winded where the BCN joins the Staffs & Worcs Canal.

As we turned, we looked up to the first lock in the Wolverhampton flight of 21 locks. The one time we wanted to do this flight it was closed because a lock wall had collapsed, so we still haven't done it - but it's always good to have something to look forward to another time....

On the north side of the junction is a very attractive bridge. It has a "horse arch", that seemed to link to old (now bricked up) stables.

On the way back up to Autherley Junction we passed under these four bridges carrying roads and trains. Quite impressive as you pass underneath.

The owner of this boat was surprised when M was able to translate its name. He said that she was the first person who actually knew what it says. His narrowboat has a "Lister" diesel engine and the motto reads: "Lister drives this boat everywhere!"

Just north of Autherley Junction is a very narrow section where the canal was cut through hard rock. There was a boat in front of us and he had pulled into one of the laybys to let an oncoming boat pass. R also had to back MM into another layby behind us to let the same boat pass. It's tight! For novices hiring their first ever boat from Napton's, this stretch is certainly a baptism of fire!

The hot weather is beginning to have an effect on the trees. These trees have turned colour and their leaves are visibly wilting.

This group of young canoeists had just had a race and there was a great deal of crowing going on from the winners, who were ribbing the losers! R blew MM's horn in celebration which caused much merriment. Marvellous to see youngsters out doing something energetic and having fun in the process.

A pair of damsel flies landed on MM's roof and were quite unpeturbed to have an interested audience watching the mating process. Not being a devotee of the Damsel Fly Karma Sutra, we could only surmise that he was holding her by the neck with his tail while she got what she needed into her tail from his abdomen. Copies of the movie version are available in plain brown envelopes to any damsel fly with a credit card!

Finally, we arrived in Gailey and moored up just before the lock. It was here that we moored on 17th April 2010 on our first night on the first ever boat, nb "Emma", that we hired. Happy memories!

Today: 9 miles, 1 lock and 5.5 hours (including power).

Trip: 369 Miles, 224 locks and 201.4 hours.