Hours 8 Miles 9 Locks 21

7.15 Single handed up the Wilmcote locks. The main problem was gates swinging open and closed, again had to use the boat to open one. Newdigate the coal boat, had moored over night by the lock cottage between locks 43 & 44. She moved off as I arrived up the lock below, so the wife drew the bottom paddle of the next lock ready for me.

9.15 Moored on the long pound between locks 42 & 43 for breakfast and a tidy up.

9.30 Carried on up the last three locks, the canal was now very busy with a constant stream of boats coming down.

10.45 Moored up at Wilmcote moorings for the family to visit the village

12.00 Moved on out into the country.

12.45 Moored immediately after the Edstone Aqueduct for lunch.

1.30 Moved on, very, very hot and the canal is sheltered so no wind but no shade either! As Angela said only mad dogs and English Men go out in the mid day sun!
Passed the hotel boats, motor Snape and butty Tarus double breasted moored up immediately after Wooton Wawen in the winding hole setting up for a Barbeque on the bank.

3.15 Joined a queue of four boats at Preston Bagot bottom lock, just very busy, no problems, but out of the lock by 3.45.

5.45 Stopped at Lowsonford for water.

6.30 Moored for the night on the lock moorings above Lock 30. No space left on the 24 hour Lowsonford moorings, and from experience we knew we could not moor beyond the lock.

Just settling down for the night when passed by a restored BWB motor on its way to Stratford for a Canal display at the weekend. Went out to take pictures and discovered the lock wheeler was an Ownership Owner on Orion.