June 27th moored back on Staffs & Worcs at Stourton Junction
         158 miles, 159 locks, 3 swing bridges and 9 tunnels from Dunham Massey

Wednesday 27th June

Spending day moored at the Junction on the 5 day moorings.

Walked the dogs along towpath beside River Stour to Gothersley roundhouse and lock.   Finished off working on holes for ventilation of the new fridge.  Generally a lazy day.

Tuesday 26th June

Rather grey and overcast with showers today.  After exercising the dogs we walked back up the Stoubridge canal lock flight

passed the derelict Stuart Crystal site

to the Red House Cone

and visited the Stuart Crystal Museum this morning.

Very interesting but lacking in attendance at craft shops and the cafe was closed.  Walked back down the flight enjoying the poppies alongside the towpath.

After a late lunch we decided to move on down the final four locks of the Stourbridge canal to Stewponey. No sooner on the move than it started raining again, but thankfully didn't last for long.  Bit of a shuffle at junction trying to reverse onto Staffs & Worcs passed a moored boat to get to the moorings but managed in the end.

Monday 25nd June.

Left Merry Hill with a little sunshine in evidence and the day got better, summer was back today!   Bridie
elected to steer today as the Delph locks are deep and do not have bridges at the tail nor very easy top gate
crossing.  Apart from grounding on an obstruction after the first lock a generally enjoyable flight of eight

locks quickly descended to Black Delph Junction.

This was followed by a rather winding pound to Leys Junction and the start of the descent down the Stourbridge flight of 16 locks.  Lock 4 would have been a useful break with a pub and a mooring outside the police station but the powers that be decided that we should press on!
Ultimately having passed Wordsley Junction with the arm to Stourbridge on our left we cruised on about half a mile to just beyond Bells Mill bridge near the site of the 2008 breach and moored up.  Took the dogs for a walk along the Stourbridge Arm to work up an appetite for dinner (just in case 24 locks wasn't enough)!