Continuing on the southwards section of the Four Counties Ring towards Wolverhampton, we set off from our overnight mooring outside Penkridge to tackle the two locks in Penkridge and four more in quick succession. Some of the lock entrances are difficult to gauge, particularly if they have a powerful bywash, a channel diverting water around the lock to control water levels, coming in from the left. We worked out a solution: steer at a 45 degree angle to the lock entrance until the last minute, then smartly bring the tiller over to the left and straighten up to go into the lock.
Oh no, we can't look… stuck on the corner again
The bridges here can be tricky too, some angled in such a way to trap a 55' boat in the subsequent left-handed curve - Jan got caught once and had to reverse to get around the bend. Another bridge was angled left and so low that Denis had to crouch down to avoid being hit on the head. All good practice, though!
Working a gate paddle
Brick Kiln Lock
Waiting to ascend Gailey Top Lock, another boat emerged from the lock gates and stopped under the bridge for what seemed like ages - then an anguished shriek was heard "Tony, I need you here and I need you now!". The unfortunate Tony scuttled down the slope to join the boat, probably wishing he were miles away.
Gailey is pretty with its old canal buildings, including a spectacular tollkeeper's watchtower.
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