Gailey

Compton Lock, Wolverhampton

Rain was forecast for tomorrow so we set off extra early at 8am with the aim of going a few miles beyond our planned destination.  The canal ascended through 3 locks in the suburbs of Wolverhampton to its top level, the locks for the rest of our journey on the Staffs and Worcestershire Canal will be down hill.  Travelling through Wolverhampton by canal there is little indication that one is in an industrial city.  Occasionally a back garden can be seen through the trees but little else.

The Shropshire Union Canal leaves the Staffs & Worcestershire

Beyond Wolverhampton the scenery becomes less attractive than the previous section from Stourport with more industry,  roads and fields and no distant views.   The Birmingham Main Line leaves to the east and shortly afterwards the Shropshire Union branches towards Chester. 

Narrow Cutting at Autherley

After the juctions there is a third of a mile or so of very narrow cutting little wider than a boat except in a few passing places.  We have cruised this way many times and this is the first time we have met 3 boats going in the opposite diection.  The cutting arose because when the canal was built in the 1760's the rock in the area was found to be too hard to easily remove and so the waterway has built as narrow as possible to minimise costs

We ate lunch on the move and arrived at Gailey, 3 miles beyond the planned destination at 13:30.

5 hours 30 mins, 3 locks, 12.3 miles