Sunday, Alvechurch to Hockley Heath

A lovely sunny autumn day for a leisurely cruise down the Worcester and Birmingham Canal to Kings Norton Junction, then down the Stratford Canal as far as Hockley Heath.

Heading for Wast Hill tunnel.

First sign of another boat on the move, NB Skintus!

After a wet Wast Hill Tunnel we met a few other boats near Kings Norton then turned onto the Stratford Canal, the guillotine lock looks quite uncared for here.

More boats about near Kings Norton.

The first section of the Stratford is quite boring, being lined with vegetation as it passes through urban areas and this does not really open out till Shirley and Dickens Heath.
At Earlswood we moored for a while and took a stroll to have a look at the engine house at Earlswood Reservoir. This feeds the Stratford canal with water pumped up from Earlswood reservoir into a feeder that joins the canal at Lady Lane. There used to be a steam beam engine, but now has electric pumps. The engine house has a "sold" sign so no doubt will be developed as housing.

Earlswood Engine House with feeder to Stratford Canal under bridge.

Earlswood Reservoir.

Now moored at a quiet Hockley Heath. Good day, hoping for more of the same weather tommorow.