Email: Water levels down

Reporting two weeks into a three week cruise—the water is down everywhere by about three inches, but certainly around Milton Keynes, but we have had no significant rain since Easter, so the water levels were no surprise.

The Staffs and Worcester Canal was deep, as it has just been dredged, but was really empty of boats. The Droitwich canals were busier, yes the water was low, but did not hinder passage at any time (we have a draft approaching two feet)...and what a lovely canal!

The Worcester & Birmingham Canal again was four inches down, but we managed to ascend the Tardebigge flight in two and three quarter hours, so again passage was swift. The pound levels fluctuated widely with usage/misuse/water pinching by naive hire boats, but most were brilliant.

So into Birmingham, the summit level/Main Line was down four inches, but that was topped up overnight, and was impressive considering the problems with reservoirs in the area. The Birmingham & Fazeley Canal, yes at 6am! was positively brimming, overflowing in some areas, yet the pound above Minworth was a foot down and shallow, but passage was easy! Now on the Coventry, all is okay here to!

So there is water, but there are few boats on some canals, and British Waterways are publishing the info some people demand! You can get about, maybe a little slower.

Now we are heading for the Grand Union Leicester section, where I know there is little water....so we may yet end up on the bottom!

Emma Payne, Nb Grumbleweed