The best laid plans.......

.......often fall apart.

I have 6 batteries to recycle, I had been told of a scrap dealer by the canal at Tamworth so I checked their website for opening hours and Saturday’s they closed at 1pm, so I set off this morning at 8:45 to be sure of making it.

Passing through Hopwas again, I had stopped here on my trip down.

I bet the Red Lion was busy later, it’s been lovely weather.

And then on to Fazely junction, it was raining here when I came up and I had a perfectly timed short lunch stop here avoiding a downpour, not necessary today.

The Coventry canal is left-ish and Birmingham off to the right

Nice artwork

The branch off to Birmingham looked very tempting with the sun and the still water but not this trip.

Over the river Tame aqueduct.

And approaching the two Glascote locks at Tamworth

I had some good fortune here as a boat was coming down, I am now heading upwards and so he left the bottom gates open for me and the second lock was empty with a nice gap between the bottom gates to indicate that, so I was able to nudge those open saving more time stopping and setting off again, a gongoozler (canal watcher) videoed my progress up the second lock (after asking first, not that he needed to) to show his son later, or so he said J

The recycling scrap yard was just after the locks so I moored up at 11:30 and walked up to the road to check all was ok, and here’s that annoying fly in the ointment, they were closed, the sign on the locked gate said 1pm Staurdays so I assume they had all gone to the pub! I did not relish waiting until Monday so it’s plan ‘B’, whatever that is.

There was some strange artwork beneath this bridge, the words ‘ Support Structure’ followed by a white sketch of a mining pit prop which looked very amateurish and this, it say’s Wives and Mothers

I’ve no idea what it was about but never mind, I’ve no idea about lots of things these days!

Further along in the area of Drayton nature reserve was this colourful wheel, I assume ‘pit’ related but could see any information from my vantage point.

I have moored up at Polesworth for the night and had a quick wander around the town.

Looking along the High Street

I think this was the old school, no signs.

The gate house to Polesworth Abbey

Polesworth Abbey

Information about this can be found HERE 

There were a number of pubs, shops and other amenities and it looked like a nice town to visit for a day.

A very enjoyable cruise today despite the battery disposal disappointment, I am now wondering whether my reamining 5 bags of smokeless fuel will get used!

Totals Today: 9 miles : 2 Locks