Back to Bromley because...

I forgot to publish this when we returned from our last trip so here it is now. I realised as we are back on the boat and away again.

 Something came up at home and the plan was made to get back to Kings Bromley marina quickly instead of the three days we thought we had. Not a problem really as it was only 6 hours away.

It had rained in the early hours but was really just a mizzle now. Not designed to lift the mood, despite not really getting wet! Helen was at the helm as we are going down hill.

The lock was full as one had not long passed us, and there was one coming up No.2 so we were able to swap with them. There was another waiting at the bottom of No.2 so we could leave the gates for them too. A nice easy trip down.

As we popped out at the junction we could see the work going on at Tolson's Mill that was opened in 1886 with the work been done by a Lichfield builder. It was designed to produce narrow strips of fabric. It was later part of Sir Robert Peel's empire. It is now being converted to flats with 10 on each of the five floors. A one bedroom flat is £147500 if you are interested. One the other side of the junction is the United Methodist Free Chapel built in the same year 1886. I think this has the same owner and is also being converted to 1 and 2 bed flats for between £140000 and £2100000.

The canal from Fazeley to Fradley is noticeably shallower that the Main Coventry canal.. It is also much more encroached on by reads etc than the other. There are spots where boats are afeared to pass despite it generally only being reeds that will move over somewhat.

I got a good view of one of the old WWII hangers of RAF Fradley today.

I just glanced over to my left as we went through the swing bridge at Fradlkey and got the shock of my life when I saw this staring back at me. I hadn't been expecting it!

It was all quiet at Fradley as we swung to the left and headed up the locks.

It looked like volunteers were being assessed at the locks. They were so busy yacking that they didn't notice me until Helen caught up and got there.

We were soon up Shadehouse Lock too and on our way. The rain/mizzle had stopped by now and we just chugged on. As we got a little further from the lock we had the cleared area on our left for where the HS2 is coming through and these trees on the right look to be marked up for clearing on the right. It doesn't look like so a big chunk on this side though.

With Ravenshaw Wood on our left and the mature trees on the tow path it is a lovely stretch and we were soon up our last lock and back in the marina.

We went on the fuel berth and filled up before spinning again and heading on to our berth nearby. We were all fast by 1530 and on our way home at 1630. We were just outside Hull in 90  mins when we got stuck in a jam. A car had broken down and the road was down to one lane. After getting home we unloaded the car and unexpectedly I was on my way again as I could now go to our choir practice in somebodies back garden. I can't wait ti start singing inside again as there are no acoustics out doors!!

Well that's it for a few days but we will be back shortly and of on abnother trip. Hopefully by the weekend.