Down to the country.

There was a bit of rain before we got up and it must have been light as it didn't wake me up. A couple of boats came up the Ashted Locks after 2100 last night and moored on the off side, apparently as they were worried about mooring in the area. Needless to say we survived. When we set off we found that they had left all the top gates open the previous evening.

After the first lockid Ashted Tunnel which is quite tight with a taller boat and paint can take a bigger beating than going through the Standedge Tunnel.

We completed the rest of the flight with no further mishaps and decided to have a poke about in Typhoo Basin. It doesn't lookm like anything further has altered since we last had a look min a couple of years ago. It must have been a very busy terminus of the canal at one time.

The shed that was the Fyffes Banana facility with the warehouse behind. Previous to that I think it was used by Pickfords when they were large canal carriers. It is right next to Warwick Bar that still has the two stop locks in place, one for each company.

This is a better photo of the Fellows Morton and Clayton Warehouse than the one I took when we came in the other direction. You can see the rounded wall wall that lead round in a basin to the large blue doors of their own private dock.

As we approached Bordesley Junction there was a boat just about to leave the last of the Camp Hill Locks. I bet they were miffed that we took the lead there. As it turned out they needn't have been as every lock needed to be filled any way, and as I lifted a paddle when we left it would have been easier for them in the end. The first stretch of the Saltley Cut after the junction is almost like a tunnel there are that many bridges on the straight section.

Halfway down the flight we came across Steam boat Adamant leaving. The boat was actually built in 1992 but of the bow sections of two barges that were built around 1900. The whistle is very loud.

The bottom lock of the Garrison flight looking down from the wrecked lock cottage. The picture shows the sloping paddle gear. Along the tow path there were plenty of hazel trees and as I collected some nuts I came across some with a little hole nippled in them. As far as I remember that indicates a doormouse has eaten them. It seems an unlikely spot for doormouse in the heart of industrial Birmingham but it shows the advantage of the canals as a green corridor.

Just as we approached Star City moorings we could see the boats there hurriedly preparing to let go and the last one let go when we were only a couple of boat lengths from him. Then as we approached Salford Junction another boat passed going our way so we were in a queue. never mind as the sun was now trying to come out. After making the turn into the Birmingham and Fazeley you run alongside the M6 for a way.

We stopped for water at the bottom of the first of the Minworth Locks. The rubbish skips have been removed from here through. We carried on past Curdworth and through the 52yd tunnel. We moored just before the top of the Curdworth locks. I popped into the village to get some milk and then when I got back I collected some hazelnuts. I think I have had better luck this time and hopefully will soon have enough to make some hazel nut butter as there are plenty on the trees and plenty of trees along the cut. Macy cat is glad to be away from brick and concrete and busy tow paths and has enjoyed rooting about in the grass this evening.