The Wolverhampton 21

On route to the Wolverhampton 21 (flight of locks) we thought that weed might be a problem

 But we didn't expect to find these 2 guys round the bend cutting and collecting the weed.

As we reached Wolverhampton (& the top of Wolverhampton 21), we went under a large bridge with the Wolverhampton rail station's car park on it.

The sign for the locks, and the junction with the Wyrley & Essington canal.  Aldersley junction is at the bottom of the Wolverhampton flight.

The "21" are single/narrow locks, but like the last time we did this flight (a few years ago) we were following someone down which meant we had to fill every lock first, and therefore doing the flight took longer and was harder work than it would have been if all the locks had been in our favour.

Wolverhampton Top Lock

The second lock, with the boat we were following in the distance heading towards lock 3.

At last a boat coming up the flight towards us

Not even a third of the way down and we had the threat of bad, wet weather.

Every lock and every piece of paddle gear has handcuff (anti vandal) mechanisms fitted

The industrial backdrop begins to give way to some countryside as we went down the flight.

We did get wet - it rained for 2 locks.

The penultimate lock.  Unlike all the others this lock has single gates on each end.  The rest all have 2 gates on the bottom end.

The bottom lock.  The ground paddles face each other on this one for some reason.

The bottom lock - looking down to the Staffs & Worcs canal below.

The bottom lock seen from the Staffs & Worcs canal.

The signpost says Stourpost to the left and Great Heywood to the right - we went right.