NB Aqualife: Monday 8/6 falling Sands Lock to after Bridge 26, Caunsall

Construction of this canal,the Staffordshire and Worcestershire began immediately after that of the Trent and Mersey to join the Rivers Trent, Mersey and Severn. Engineered by James Brindley the canal was completed in 1772. It stretches 46 miles (43 locks) from Great Haywood on the Trent and Mersey to the River Severn at Stouport.

We upped stakes at 10.00 this morning, a very late start for us, heading for Kidderminster, of carpet making fame. Passing under the Falling Sands viaduct over which steam trains of the Severn Valley Railway puff and pant their way the 16 miles between Kidderminster and Brigworth.

Caldwell Bridge and Lock

This small toad/very large frog was sunning himself up beside the lock.mi had to work around him and after disturbing him for the third time he made what sounded like an exasperated fart and hopped of a few feet to somewhere a bit quieter.

Speaking of fauna, I saw another Kingfisher and a Jay today. And I finally identified the yellow and gray bird with the bouncy tail that hangs around a lot of lock gates - a grey wagtail

Lawrence and Aqua Life slowly rising in the lock

Caldwell top gate weighs 1210 kegs. The heaviest I have noticed so far is 1.9'toms

Rock face the 'navvies' had to cut away

It is very attractive

We had a bit of trouble with this shipping hazard mooring up in Kidderminster

We toedmupmformamcouple of hours where Tescomhas thoughtfully or cleverly provided moorings for boaters beside their supermarket. Did a re supply and had some morning tea back on the boat before moving on again. Passed this mixture of old and new buildings

Passed some old mills waiting for a new lease of life

And into Kidderminster Lock, I think one of the deepest on this canal, with a rise of 11'10". And it was working this lock, of all of them, that I had a blonde seniors (yes, that serious) moment and opened the gate paddle first almost swamping Aqua Life, and of course there was an audience! Luckily, Lawrence had Aqua Life at the back of the lock and my brain switched back on, and I dropped the paddle before the boat was sucked forward under the plume of water pouring into the lock.

The Church of St Mary and All Saints (hedging their bets with this name). The length of the low brick wall on the left is the aqueduct over the River Stour

Looking down from the aqueduct to the River Stour below. Reminds me very much of the Tarwin River at Willowbank

Old Weavers Wharf and crane below the church. I wonder if the boatmen of old used to watch their P's and Q's when unloading here

We went through two more Locks and moored up just after the second, Wolverley and the very inviting Lock Pub right beside it. But we showed some will power, for once, and had a chicken and veg and udon noodle stir fry, done in a saucepan. Edible, but I think the pub would have been a better bet. From here the course of the canal became really tortuous and narrow as it proceeded up the enclosed and thickly wooded valley; forced into endless detours by the steep red sandstone cliffs.

Winding along the wooded way

Through a cutting

Passed some more interesting rock faces

Aqua Life coming out of Debdale Lock. An impressive promontory of sandstone forces the canal to double back on itself in a big horseshoe to reach this lock.