Bratch

We were made most welcome in the Wolverhampton Boat Club clubhouse last night with members going out of their way to make conversation with us and the beer was only £2.20 a pint! We were moored right opposite the Sun Valley chicken processing plant that runs 24/7 but it did not interfere with our efforts to sleep though.
We cast off at 7am this morning as we wanted to pass the school near Aldersley junction early as we have been stoned there in the past by the pupils going to the school. No problem this time though. The sun was getting strong even at this time of the morning threatening to be a scorcher of a day.

Getting a bit narrow through here

A few locks to negotiate until we got to the well known Bratch Locks that are a noted feature of the Staffordshire and Worcestershire Canal, planned by James Brindley, and opened in 1772 as a three lock staircase. They were later re-engineered as three separate locks.

Waiting our turn

Next was the Bumblehole staircase(great name) that dropped us down a further 10 feet. By now it was getting really hot so we pulled up outside the Round Oak and sat in their garden enjoying a good old plate of fish and chips and a couple of pints of Wye Valley Goddess beer. Through a few more locks and the heat beat us so we moored in the shade near the newly refurbished Old Bush Inn now named The Hinksford arms. A couple of quick cool showers and its off to their garden to enjoy an evening meal out in the countryside.