Change of Scenery.

0 Locks, 7.23 Miles, 1 Tunnel. Now moored at Wednesfield.

Tipton Malthouse stables, now preserved.

What a fantastic day to do some cruising, clear blue sky and improving temperatures, too good a day to waste moored up. The plan was to travel up the Wolverhampton level to Horseley Fields Junction then head up the Wyrley and Essington Canal. Our first goal will be Sneyd Junction and we will then re-assess the situation from there.

Call this art? I suppose somebody got paid megabucks for this non descript sculpture.

As this area is all industrial, past and present there wasn’t much to catch our eye except for the first signs of spring with a pair of swans nest building. The cob appeared to be an older, more mature bird whereas the female gave the appearance of being a last year or so fledgling as her beak was only just turned orange.

Derek sweating tears clearing a sofa cushion and ladies top from the prop in freezing cold water.

Passing through an area of vehicle wrecking yards and furniture upholstery factories our engine came to sudden stop. Luckily we managed to drift into the bank where I had the rather cold task of heading down the weed hatch. What I found did not please me as it was a Chenille/Tapestry material, very heavy and expensive looking couch seat cover and ladies top. The couch seat did have a foam insert but I was told by Derek on Uccello that it had popped out and floated away. As for the material, it was extremely well made with rope edging and wasn’t going to tear easily so I had to hack it to pieces with a knife to get it free. My hand and arm were numb for quite a while afterwards.

Community payback (Probation Service) Wolverhampton and BW rubbish collection boat.

2105 locks, 4118.67 miles, 81 tunnels, 130 swing bridges and 58 lift bridges since Nov 2006