7.30 Set off on a beautiful morning with a light haze. As we passed them we realised that one of the two boats moored in front of us was Scallywag also from Blue Lias. Passed a massive new housing development going up on the West bank to the South of Bridge 13. Paused for 5 minutes at Bridge 8, the mechanised lift bridge, sorting bedding while Angela got out of the shower so everyone could 'help' with the bridge.

9.15 Stooped to fill with water on the North side of Bridge 5. 3 double tap points with very high pressure

9.30 Moved on again, Bridge 2, the Swing Bridge about which there was such a dispute is now finally dead! There is a barrier in place on the towpath side and brambles are starting to cover the bridge. At King's Norton Junction waited while Motor Yeoford and butty Arragon of Midland Canal Carrying Company winded in the junction. We then passed them moored up at the Bournville Moorings, we thought they were either awaiting new clients by train or had landed their crew to visit the Chocolate World.

12.30 Moored up for lunch just before Worcester Bar. The whole area has changed almost out of recognition since I was last through here over 15 years ago!

1.30 Moved off for Farmers Bridge. The area was very busy, lots of walkers, trip boats and water taxies all in a hurry. The Farmers Bridge locks were at first very slow as we had to wait for two boats coming up, but then we picked up speed, Angela steering and I lock wheeled with the kids. Took an average of just 8 minutes a lock, including the delays at the top ones!. Very impressive in their own way with massive buildings all around.

Straight onto the Ashton locks. For most of it we were the only boat. A man and his son in a wheelchair followed us for several locks talking about the boat and the canal. Angela and the kids worked the boat I lock wheeled. We then met three boats coming up a lock. They turned out to be a motor and butty of Midland Canal Carrying company with campers aboard and a disabled 70 ft being helped up to Gas Street. We worked down after the Motor had come up and then passed a very nice 1910 Inspection launch which was obviously not happy being made to follow these three all the way up to Gas Street. Checking the time I found we had kept to an average of 8 minutes a lock from the top of Farmers Bridge to the bottom of Ashton!
We then carried straight on intending to moor at the top of Minworth Locks for the night.

As we came to Bromford Bridge No. 2, Angela steering, we saw a group of teenagers on the bank beside the bridge. They started to throw stones into the canal. As we drew nearer they threw 8 ft square wire security fences into the canal I then shouted to them to stop or I would phone the police. They ignored me, so as we passed I dialled 999 and was talking to the police describing what was going on. Threats but stones only thrown near the boat not at it and the wire screens had gone to the bottom and failed to halt the boat, so once we were safely past I thanked the police and told them that as no harm had been done to us I would take the report no further. Angela then continued down the canal at maximum rev! while I phoned Canalphone and reported the incident. A few minutes later the area boss phoned back and I told him the story.
We then decided not to stop as originally planed but to carry on towards Curdworth to get totally out of the area.

8.00 We moored up just before Curdworth tunnel all very tired. It was difficult mooring in the area as generally very shallow and what mooring there was was already taken.

Miles 18 Locks 27 Time 11.25 hours.