A slight panic

Wednesday 15^th July; Compton to Wombourne

A grey morning, cool and intermittently damp.  We were running out of milk and bread, so I wanted to pop up to the small Sainsbury’s – but could I find my contactless card?  Oh no! Panic!  We turned the boat upside down (not literally, it's a bit heavy for that) and I phoned the last shop I had used it in – last Saturday - but no luck.  So cash it would have to be.  When I got back, Dave had found it – phew!

The locks are nice little ones on this canal, at least this section.  They have handy little bridges by the bottom gates

And they are not excessively deep, around 9’.

The bridges also have attractive name plates, and not just a boring old number, although some plates are a bit wonky.

and some of the bridges are delightful.

The one at Awbridge is very fancy.  A family was here with their dog, and so socially distancing that we were barely acknowledged.

We had plenty of time to appreciate them, as we were following a single-hander – sometimes I could help him, sometimes not.  He decided to stop for lunch soon after Awbridge.  We carried on, past the socially distanced nets of the Beacon Cricket Club

towards Bratch locks, where we moored beforehand for some lunch. 

Two lockies were on duty, we were the only boat moving, and we were down in a jiffy with barely time for me to dispose of the rubbish and recycling.  We were only the 9^th boat of the day.

 

I was able to get on before we descended the bottom lock, thanks to the lovely lockies!

We went on to our last lock of the day, Bumblehole, above which was moored Naughty Lass, whose owner Robbie vlogs and has done programmes for the BBC too.  We said hi but didn’t stop.  We were making for Wombourne, where there is a good-sized Sainsbury’s close to the canal.  Off I went, with trolley, mask, gloves and sanitiser to find that 4 pm is an excellent time to visit.  The shop was well organised for distancing; about a third of the customers were wearing masks, but none of the staff. 

NB Naughty Lass

As I got back the weather was on the turn and time was getting on a bit, so although it’s not the prettiest spot we decided to stay put.

5 ½ miles, 9 locks including Bratch locks.