no locks today, but no sunshine either.

We must have used up our sunshine ration yesterday.   Today dawned bleak and cold again, however we must look on the bright side...it wasn't raining!

This strange block of flats with steps cascading down to the canal
is at Dickens Heath 

A couple of lifting bridges today,
but this one was easy as it was electric.

So far this year the towpaths have been appallingly muddy so when we came across
 this beautifully tarmacked one Barney and I hopped off the boat for a decent walk.
 However a little further along we met diggers and workmen
who told me the towpath was closed!!!   So back on the boat for us.

They are making this expensive path all the way to the junction at Kings Norton......it must be for cyclists!

Just before the junction is what used to be a lock.
Just the guillotine gate is left

and this tells us why.

If we had turned right here we would have been on our way to Birmingham, but not for us this time.

Left hand down and Worcester here we come.........

We moored just after the junction, only one other boat here so we could pick our spot.

No locks tomorrow again, just one of my bete-noirs......a tunnel and a very long one, about 1/2 an hour.

Plenty of locks ahead though as we have the 30 locks of Tardebigge to do, probably on Wednesday so if any friends are feeling energetic just give us a call!!!

Total distance:10.67 miles 

Elapsed time:4h27m34s 

Locks:1  (and that was open......)

Bridges:35 
Average speed:2.39 mph (2.62 lock/mph)