The return of Acen!!

 Sorry about the missing days but we have been busy boating and then the Olympics it just made me lazy. So we're back.
We are sitting in the boat on the wettest day since we set out, six hours of solid rain. We are moored at Sharpness.

To catch up we left off at Springwood Haven on the 25th July.

Thursday 26th July
We set off in good weather, aiming to meet C & G at Fazeley tonight
Three and a bit miles arrived at the top of Atherstone locks, only could see one boat in front descending the first lock. So we started down, extremely hot, met a lot of boats coming the other way so that helped.
11.12am. at last lock.
15.00 Finished the Tamworth Locks.
15.30 arrived at Fazeley.
Chairs out on the bank, bubbly and cakes with C & G.

Saturday 28th July.
This is the day of the opening of the Olympic Games, we rang both our bells at the appropriate time (8.12 a.m.)
Moved off from Fazeley heading towards Birmingham on the Birmingham & Fazeley Canal. A good days cruising. We stopped at Minworth for the night.

Sunday 29th July

Moved off early to get through all the locks and hopefully moor in Birmingham soon after noon.
Having passed through the junction under the M6 near Spaghetti Junction we were well on our schedule.

At the Aston Flight we moved through the first pound and as we arrived at the next lock we were called on the VHF by Graham (who was in front of us) that he was stuck in the middle of the next pound due to the lack of water in it and if we were to use our lock we would deprive his pound of more water.

He had phoned CRT (BW) who were starting at the top of the flight letting water down and should be with us later.
In the meantime we had to be careful that the lock bellow us wasn't being used or we would be stuck.
Eventually the CRT men arrived and the pound that Autumn Years was in was watered and he moved up the locks.
We then moved up the lock to the pound that he had moved out of and promptly got stuck on the bottom where Autumn Years had been stuck!! More water was let down and eventually we escaped the pound. A bit of a nightmare.
We continued up the flight struggling in some places due to the lack of water.
Then on to the Farmers Bridge Locks. Although they were ok, with the day being made into a long one it wasn't the best way for the ladies to spend a Sunday.
Around 17.00 moored in Birmingham near the NIA, a very long day.

Monday 30th July.

Rested and had a look around.
At night we went to the Hippodrome to see Dirty Dancing.
Tuesday 31st July.
In the morning we all did the shops. In the afternoon we had a very interesting trip to the Back to Back Houses.

Wednesday 1st August.
Cruised past Gas Street Basin, filled with water and set off on the Worcester & Birmingham Canal. Stopping at Sainsburys near Selly Oak did essential shopping. On through the Wast Hills Tunnel all 2726 yds. and moored past Alvechurch Marina.
Thursday 2nd August.
Through the Shortwood Tunnel a mere 613 yds. then the Tardebigge Tunnel only 580 yds.
9.00 a.m at the top of Tardebigge Locks 30 locks later we cleared the bottom lock and moored up at 13. 20.
 All the locks were done in good weather but after we moored up it poured with rain.
We all went for dinner at the Queen's by bridge 48 and had a very good meal.
Friday 3rd August.
 A good cruising day, 12 locks.
We moored at the Junction with the Droitwich Canal at Hambury.
Saturday 4th August.

Turned onto the Droitwich Canal and started the descent of the locks. 5 locks and a crawl through high reeds we arrived at Droitwich and moored in the marina. It was a very nice mooring secured by a locked gate and surrounded the park, it was a short walk to the town and a good variety of shops.

Sunday 5th August.
Remained on the mooring and continued to enjoy our visit to Droitwich.
C&G were visited by Bob & June and their dog Phoenix, so it was Tea, coffee, cake & wine!!
Monday 6th August.
We had to stop another day in Droitwich as we had to have our girls Purdy & Darcey treated at a vet's.
it was just a precautionary treatment.
Tuesday 7th August.
It was time to move off, but as we  were going to tackle the River Seven after only a few miles Graham checked first with the lock keeper on the Seven and he gave us the OK.

More high reeds in a narrow navigation, 8 locks and we were on the Seven.
No problems the water was flowing gently. Through Bever Lock and a gentle cruise to Worcester.
Moored on the moorings next to the race course. It was a good mooring but dirty with the silt from when the river had washed over it. It was quite windy and the dust was blowing over the boat.
The dogs loved the race track and were able to have a good run.








Wednesday 8th August.
During the night we had some rain, which had turned the dry dirt on the bank into thick slimy mud. Before we could move off the boat had to be mopped down.
Passed through Diglis Lock and cruised down river to Uppton on Seven, ware we were able to moor on an empty floating pontoon.
Walked into the town. Uppton is a lovely interesting town, we visited a museum and several shops.

Thursday 9th August
Set off down river heading towards Gloucester.

Moored up for three days to view Gloucester, particularly the Outlet Shops near the Docks!!!!

Monday 13th August.

Set off towards Sharpness in good weather cruising the five miles to Saul Junction moored up.
Set off on a walk to view the River Seven.

Tuesday 14th August.

Sailed all the way to Sharpness and moored up just past the remains of the railway bridge that crossed the River Seven, until a foggy night in 1959 when an oil carrying barge hit the bridge, followed by another barge carrying petrol collided with that and demolished a span. The bridge was later demolished. We walked into Sharpness and around the docks.
In the evening we visited the Dockers Club for dinner.

Wednesday 15th August.

Heavy rain was forecast for most of the day, so we remained inside the boat until the rain and wind had stopped at about 15.00. Caught up with all the jobs and Jo did some cooking.