More canals than Venice!

Strange to some people but true. The network around the West Midlands covers 100 miles of navigable canals and could hardly be different to La Serenissima. While some of my fellow navigators continued after I dropped out in 2021, when there was a vacancy I came out of retirement. We are down to five people, with just one boat, and set to enjoy 7 days of uniquely fine weather. So warm in fact (up to 31C) that there's a warning to drink plenty of water.

We pick up the boat at Stourport, which was and still is, an important junction between the River Severn and the Staffordshire & Worcestershire Canal. It's picturesque and peaceful, as you can see. But after a couple of days we head towards Wolverhampton, where the scenery changes dramatically but the industrial wasteland has its own character. The term Black Country for this region is now used with some pride as it was Britain's engine room for heavy industry, powered by coal.

And then there are the pubs. The itinerary has been carefully chosen so that we can have an afternoon break and more beer tasting after we have tied up for the evening. The Great Western in Wolverhampton and the Vine (a.k.a. the Bull and Bladder) in Brierley Hill, are old favourites from previous trips.

After completing a loop on one of the Dudley canals, we are back on the bucolic S & W Canal. There's some local culture at the Weaver, canalside in Kidderminster, then we're tied up at base in Stourport. Quite a bit of work operating the locks but nobody gets hurt---not even me after falling down on the towpath one evening! A total of 56.5 miles, 88 locks and 46 hours. A very satisfying week.Read more