First locks cut short.

Once more we woke to a lovely day and following a peaceful night. We went off for a walk about 1000 and headed for Middleton Hall to the west of the canal. The route led us through some lovely wooded walks that had been prepared by the RSPB. It passed a rookery and a heronry. I was surprised how many people were out and about 'twitching'.

The Langley Brook runs through the woodland and into the Kingsbry Water Park on the other side of the canal, also administered by the RSPB. There was plenty of bluebells in the woods too.

Middleton hall is mentioned in the Domesday Book but the oldest building is from 1285. It has seen many famous people and the owner, Sir Francis Wiiloughby, was Knighted in his own Great Hall by Elizabeth I. As she had stayed for a week and her entourage had consumed 69 beef cattle, 128 sheep and 2000 chickens he perhaps deserved!

The Hall's stable block and courtyard is the next project for the team. The bricks are in place of the original wattle and daub infill. The the arch, in the courtyard, are several shops and a cafe. It would have been a shame not to have a coffee and teracake in the sun.

Despite being owned by several illustrious families over the years the final family moved there family seat elsewhere and rented the place out. It still housed eminent people with Francis Willughby and John Rae who wrote and published the first ornithological book. However in 1925 it was sold to Amey Roadstone who worked all the sand and gravel quarries around. The bought it for the land and the buildings were left to go to rack and ruin. In the 1970's ramblers stumbled across it and eventually it was made Grade II listed and a Trust was set up to restore it. It is all done by volunteers and they have done a great job with still more to do. It wasn't open on Thursdays but the walled gardens and Hall can be gone round and we will make the effort next time past.

We bought a pork pie and some unusual cheeses in the Courtyard and they filled up lunch when we got back to the boat. We set off at about 1330 to go up the Curdworth. I thought that 11 locks would be just about right to break Helen back into the routine. It didn't take us long to get back in the swing of things. All the locks were against us but we didn't think anything of it until after the Dog and Doublet pub when a fisherman told us the canal was blocked. There was a boat on the lock landing at No.7 and we moored up before the lock to go and explore. It seems that a by-wash culvert had developed a hole. The team were there and I was informed that they would be finished bu 1800 and then the pound below would need to be refilled.

This is the low pound that needs to be filled. It means that we can have a rest and do the locks in two bites and funnily enough it is only a short walk back to the pub! Another good day.