Thats not weed in the weed hatch.

Well on Saturday we decided that valour was the better part of discretion and headed off to Birmingham and the famous Gas Street Basin. It rained for most of the journey then stopped once we'd arrived, which is typical.

Weather for not even fit for ducks

1st visit down the weed hatch of the trip. Thick plastic packaging and no weeds. I got lost in Birmingham only to discover I was only 200 yards from where I'd set off. Gas Street is well worth a visit, but was noisy at 3am Sunday, but just high spirits and no ropes untied, so gas street survived.

Gas Street

Our next destination was Wolverhampton. The canal to Wolverhampton from around Dudley and on was filthy. But still we saw some miserable fishermen and I know that's a stereotype but look

Not all like that?

From the canal, the route into Wolverhampton is quite a depressing site, with decaying industry all around. Three trips down the weed hatch doesn't help with such delights as under wear, plastic, tinsel and god alone knows what. That night we moored at the top of the flight and went to a local pub the Great Western. What a lovely local, the beer was good and then later they brought out a sharing plate of food for each table, including ham, cheese, black pudding, pork pie and various pickles and bread. We were with Dave who has a web site which tells you all about canal side pubs a subject in which he is a bit of an expert. You can find his website here http://www.canalandriversidepubs.co.uk/

To avoid the "nutters" on the 21 lock Wolverhampton flight we were away early (07{50) and managed Wolverhampton to Gnosall on the Shropshire Union by 18:00. Another weed hatch visit, but something useful found a newish fender.

For anyone thinking of doing parts of the BCN, I would recommend the following attire as modelled by a passing male model we spoke to.

When searching for an arm length rubber glove, however, please be very careful with the links you select!! For this type of work, ones without diamantes or studs are best.

So today we have moved to  Market Drayton. As a town it appears to have been badly hit by recession. We took Eric and Wilma to the vets on the way

The Shroppie is certainly a lovely canal with a deep cuttings snd tall bridges and long deep straights