Stourbridge

Mike set off in good time as today we had to retrieve the car from Teddesley. We also had the Stourbridge Sixteen to negotiate first. The top lock needed some clearing as the entrance was obstructed by quite a bit of timber, including an estate agent's For Sale sign. That cleared we set off down the flight.

Stourbridge Top Lock

Locks 9 and 10 are very close together - just a couple of metres between them, almost a staircase.

Locks 9  and 10

Once we had started it took us just over the two hours to complete the flight and arrive at Wordsley Junction where we turned up the arm to Stourbridge town centre. We had previously arranged to leave the boat here (The Old Bonded Warehouse) for the next week or so as it is a secure site - we stayed here overnight on our Canal 40 trip)

Stourbridge Bottom lock

Whilst Christine sorted out the exact mooring space that was reserved for us, Mike managed a quick 'service' although we left filling the water tank until we return with Alice.

A quick change and Mike was off to the station - the trip involved four trains, taking just a little over an hour. The first train, from Stourbridge Town station to Stourbridge Junction is the shortest train we have ever seen on the main rail network - but it shuttles to and fro every ten minutes.

Stourbridge Town Shuttle Train

The connections worked well - Mike managed a slightly earlier train than planned from Smethwick Galton Bridge to Wolverhampton which meant that he had time for a cup of tea from the station cafe.

The plan had been to catch a bus from Penkridge to Teddesley but as it was at least 45 minutes wait, Mike opted to walk which took just about half an hour.

Meanwhile, Christine had been cleaning the boat ready to leave tomorrow - we are not making an early start so as to allow most of the holiday traffic to be ahead of us.
 
After Mike returned Christine looked around the town centre and identified a locally recommended fish and chip shop we shall probably return later! (We did - the portions were ginormous!)

3.8 miles - 16 locks