Walton-on-the-hill to Gailey Wharf

Thursday 5th July

This was an absolute scorcher, no breeze and seemed really hot even at 9am. Sunhat required! We are living in shorts and T-shirts at the moment. Not that I'm complaining, we have been so very lucky with the weather! We had to do 9 locks today and I was so glad it was John's turn to be lock keeper and I just had to steer the boat! 😀

The village at Acton Trussell had some scarecrows on display.

I liked this fireman! 😁

We went through the first lock and I decided to do the gates on this one. There was a boat coming down so we waited our turn.

John got off and I took the boat to lock 2 whilst he moved the car further on. He would meet me at the lock.

Dex got back on board. John went to do the lock without him as we decided it was too hot. He normally likes to spend all his time on the roof but because it's so hot the roof is unbearable so he jumps down and goes to lie in the shade below decks.

Through this lock and then we moored up so John could go and buy some new fenders at the boat chandlery.

We passed by the place where Bourne Narrowboats are manufactured. 

Some of the houses around here were very impressive. 

More mobile homes with lovely well kept gardens. 

I loved these hollyhocks.

We arrived at Penkridge lock. These narrow locks with bridges before the entrance are quite tricky and I did bump the sides a few times. Some however I managed perfectly which was great!

The Boat pub at Penkridge. 

Mr Brookes topping up his tan! 

When we came out we were able to leave the gates open as another boat was going down.

I liked this boat name! 😄

I had to hold the rope at this lock as no-where to tie up! Very strange..

Another lock and another pub! 

They clearly have a comedian at this pub! 😄

This Marina bridge made me chuckle as it's pretty pathetic compared with the magnificent stone and iron ones we have seen previously.

And another lock. 

A duck family resting in the shade.

I was so glad of my sunhat today, it really was roasting. 

This stretch of canal is very close to the M6 so not exactly peaceful. But at least we weren't in a traffic jam!

Here we are finally at Gailey lock and the last of the day - hurray! 

This is where we picked up the hire boat for our honeymoon back in 2013. That started our love of narrowboating! They used to be called Viking Narrowboats with yellow and red livery but they had been either taken over or rebranded. Very smart now!

We managed to find a nice spot in the shade to moor up for the night.