Onwards to Tardebigge.

We set off early-ish on a damp morning to tackle the six Astwood Locks. The canal in these parts is rather overgrown with reeds making it quite narrow in many places. Luckily we didn’t meet any boats coming towards us! It is a shame that the towpath had been worn into a deep groove by bicyclists, turning it into streams and bogs along the way.

 

This cottage had beautifully kept gardens bursting with fruit and vegetables on either side of the lock.

There was time to admire the refurbished ‘Boat and Barge Inn’ displaying all sorts of meal-deals, as we stopped at the water-tap opposite.

 

I spotted some makers marks impressed into the rounded blue brick toppers along the side of the locks.

  

As there weren't any desirable mooring spots we carried on up the six Stoke Locks to arrive at the bottom of the Tardebigge flight.

 

We will spend a nice quiet night here in readiness to tackle the next twenty-nine locks in one go!