Black Delph to Kinver.

A child not much older than 7 tried to untie us early evening yesterday. I banged the window, he said sorry and ran off. We had no more trouble in this spot. In fact a hire boat moored alongside with a group from Hull on. I directed them to the Bull and Bladder for a good pint ant we went there also a little later

Near Prestwood

Stourbridge Canal

So it was a bright Saturday morning at 0800 that we set off through the final lock in the Delph flight and headed out under Brettel Lane bridge through Hawbush to the Leys junction at Buckpool. This is the start of the Stourbridge 16 lock flight. First two locks were fine then the next pound was empty due to overnight vandalism. With the help of our overnight neighbours from Hull, who were following us by this time, we ran some water down to refill the canal but this delayed us by about an hour. Despite this minor setback we completed the lock flight in good time. I like the canal below these locks. very rural and arborial despite being so close to a conurbation

Dadfords shed where Stourbridge Lion is due to be repainted next year

At lock 4 of the Stourton flight we came across a cyclist who had dropped part of his wheel hub into the canal while trying to fix a puncture. I always carry a magnet on a line to retrieve anything that falls overboard so we used this to fish about in the canal but only retrieved an old screwdriver and a rusty metal stake.He decided that he would walk to the nearest cycle shop.

This is the penultimate day of the trip and am slightly sad as I will miss the daily routine of taking the mooring lines off cranking up the revs on the engine and seeing where the waters take us. Never mind, we moored up at 1530 in Kinver.

197 miles 168 locks

Tonight we should meet Alan and Lynne plus Mr Lees and Jackie for a bight to eat.