Lock-free crusing with some surprises - Lapworth to Birmingham
I had been recommended to go via the Stratford and the Worcester & Birmingham Canal to Birmingham rather than via the GU main line. It is slightly longer, but has narrow locks, so easier to do single-handed. Also after the Lapworth flight, there are no more locks all the way to Central Birmingham, roughly 16 miles. What a relief. I like doing locks as they are always an interesting change, but about five a day is alright, not 20. Anyway, it turned out that no locks doesn't necessarily mean easy cruising. The first obstacle I encountered was a draw bridge. The bridge was to be opened with the windlass, so far no problem. The issue was that the lock mechanism was on the off-side, i.e. on the other side from the towpath. You'll spot the problem immediately: when mooring up on the towpath you can cross the bridge to wind it up. But once it's open there is no way to get back to the boat. On the off-side there was only undergrowth, nowhere to moor other than a single boll