St George's Day

Our little contribution to St. George's Day.

Having passed through many locks again yesterday we decided to have a more relaxing day today but not until Sue had flown the flag(s).

Yesterday was quite an eventful day. We endured all combinations of weather:

and a row of blue and green mushrooms:

Why would you???

Even Tempranillo was frothing at the mouth after passing through 21 locks on the Staffordshire and Worcestershire Canal:

As I have mentioned previously, The Midlands is not short of water and this froth is produced when the lock paddles are opened quickly and the power of the water forces its way rapidly into the lock. 

It also froths up the lock gates.

This canal was one of the first to be constructed in the 1700's by James Brindley who had a dream to form a 'Grand Cross' of waterways that would link industries to the centre of the country and allow easy movement of the wealth of minerals like coal, iron ore and limestone that were being mined in The Black Country at the time.

He built his first lock on the Staffs & Worcester at Compton to the West of Wolverhampton, which was the one and only lock we passed through today.

Compton Lock

A short part of Brindley's canal is only just wide enough for a single boat as the passage had to be cut, by hand in those days, through solid rock to avoid installing locks to go up over and down again.

Tight squeeze!

Today was very relaxing and enjoyable. Beautiful countryside, bendy canal (makes it more fun) and lovely sunny weather. What a pleasure life is when the sun shines. Though last night was pleasurable too as we had guests aboard. Sue had arranged to meet Cari and Anita along with Anita's Husband John who she got to know via Facebook. Anita and John are the parents of Ben, who was serving out in Afghanistan and Sue had sent him care parcels.