Hademore, Birmingham & Fazeley – Wednesday 26 September 2012
Another meal on ‘Eleventh Heaven’ and as always good company.  Up and ready at 09:00 with a brief stop to a pharmacy in the town, then onward.  There are no locks for the first few miles (between Rugeley and Fradley) so it was just a steady chug along.  At King’s Bromley Wharf I said goodbye as Chris and Les turned in.  A mile further on I came to the first of the 3 Fradley locks before the turn onto the Coventry canal with a swing bridge, lots of gongoozlers (watchers) at the locks (it seemed to be a coach trip!) and the only problem was the middle lock where one of the top paddles had not closed properly, even though being wound down, so the boat was being washed back.  Eventually I got it out to a cheer and went on.  The swing bridge was opened for me by a couple of walkers then again just steady run on to here.  The B&F was built along the proposed line of the Coventry canal the building of which had been delayed between 1768 (Act of Parliament) and 1799.  The change is marked by a stone set into the tow-path and the fact that the bridges have names rather than numbers.  Just before Whittington Bridge I passed “Banque a Barque” a Braidbar boat, we exchanged waves.  I have managed to pick up some rope round the propeller that I had difficulty with and gave up at 18:00 after 2 hours of trying.  Head down in the weed hatch gives me a headache – I will clear it in the morning.