Yet another Monday morning but no trains packed with  commuters  here to prick our conscience  last was spent moored at Hockley Heath another suburb of Birmingham after a long and very hot Sunday  to give you an idea of the area a steak in a bar was eighteen pounds and the garage is an agency for Rollers and new Maclarens .
Sunday we ascended the Lapworth flight of locks nineteen in total each one lifting us around seven to eight feet these are all together in one large run but are narrow so that when we got a system going it was quite quick with Hilary setting the lock for me to enter starting it filling and then going on up to the next one to start on that while I brought the boat out into the next pound closed the lock down and so on for most of the day .
The final challenge for the day was two lift bridges which had to be wound up and back down to allow the boat through.
The distance covered seven miles!
Saturday was a day of broad locks twenty three in total each with a similar lift but  lucky to meet a guy called Mick who walked with us setting locks ready , filling and helping all round he did this in his spare time for pleasure he also helps some one with working boats as well.
Only five and a half miles today.
This evening we have moved on to Shirley  and tomorrow will head up into the centre of Birmingham