It hasn't rained but I got soaked!

 Only one boat passed us going the same way before we left our overnight mooring. It actually made up 50% of all the moving boats we saw today. (Oh there was a day boat from the Lyons Yard too.) 

Just round the corner from ourt mooring was this reminder that there are only 153 days until Christmas.

Not much further  on was Bridge 22 with the winding hole just to the left before it. In Pearson's guide it says that there was a wharf here that was linked to a limestone quarry by a tramway. I can find no evidence of this on maps dated as far back as 1886, but there was a wharf with a weighbridge and there was another wharf just through the bridge on the towpath side next to Rotherham's Oak Farm

We saw several heron's today all of which stood stock still as we passed except this one as he knew I had the camera ready. We also  saw a kingfisher dash off ahead of us several times, but not so as to be able to get a picture.

We stopped at Wedge's Bakery by bridge 20 and Helen came back with a bag full of goodies. A fruit cake, some cobs, packets of scratchings and a Danish pastry and an Eccles cake. The bakery has been on this site since 1850 and do savouries and sandwiches too. Well worth a stop if passing.

The north Stratford Canal is very largely in shallow cuttings that are lined very very venerable trees. This does not support many mooring spots in the sun, but will be very welcome on a red hot day as providing some shade. Not so much fun in the rain me thinks.

Helen tells me it was 2016 that we were last this way and I remember that there was a couple who had taken on restoring this house. What a shame their dreams were not fulfilled. It has a nice little courtyard with outbuildings and is a real do'er up'er. I think the wall near the towpath is only being kept erect by the ivy.

A little further on was the long line of boats moored at the Earlswood Motorboat Club. They have a lovely clubhouse and shop. The wooden bridge is the feeder to the three canal reservoirs, Engine Pool, Terry's Pool and Windmill Pool. At the end of the arm was a pumping station and it was kept in coal via the canal until the 1936. It is elongated moorings for the boat club now. It must be interesting being moored at the top end as it is a long way to reverse in or out to moor up as there is no winding spot. Right opposite the entrance was a brick works in 1886 but goner 20 years later.

We have seen several ducks with second broods of ducklings along this stretch.

Dickens Heath is a new community that was dreamed up by the Solihull Council as a way to build 850 homes. The plan was passed in 1995 and the first building took place in 1997. By the canal this development seems to be out of place. I'm sure I remember the cascade working the first time we came this way. The community was built to have all the amenities and the housing reflects all types of accommodation and it is said there is a great community spirit here. There were loads walking the towpath, young and quite old. Nordic pole walkers seemed to be out in force today.

Just before we arrived at Shirley Drawbridge a dayboat came round the corner. We just about missed each other but I had to had to pass down her port side. Helen likes these bridges where it is just a key and a button that does everything for you. Very quick as well.

We stopped to top up the tank of water at Warstock and then carried on towards the King's Norton Junction but decided to moor up opposite the long line of moored boats at Lyons Yard, where there was a gap. On the way there was once again shallow cuttings and trees that give the canal an air of mystery. It seems that Frank Lyons set up the yard in the early 1980's.

Where we are moored is quite shallow so the boat didn't want to go too close as we came in. Normally Helen jumps off with the centre line but she missed the optimum time and rather than have to mess about trying to get close again I took the rope and with my long legs strode over to the bank, and straight into the cut! I went right under the filthy water but was soon out and tying up. It took four or five rinses to get much of the mud out of the clothes. A literal christening as I have never been under before.

Once we had lunch I did a few jobs like fixing new fire extinguishers and vent covers, and then made some now props for the solar panels. Before tea we walked up the tow path to the next bridge to get to a Lidl that was right by the canal as we needed some milk and odds and sods.