The Cut

Henley on Thames – IWA calendar competition

It’s that time of year again…shortlisting of the IWA calendar competition. So France, Australia, select parts of the UK are you out there? Hope so. This year just one photo made the cut and I know it’s asking a lot – give the others a go and all that, but if you happen to have the time to vote then that’d be great, brilliant in fact. The photo has no narrowboat content whatsoever, other than we got there on one. Just click the IWA link above and be sure to select from the default drop down menu. Begging over, if you do click my way then a big bold…***THANK YOU!***

Other than locks, today had a bit of everything: lift bridge, winding hole (one we did fit in), repeat traffic clogging lift bridge, boat yard, tunnel, junction, longer tunnel and countryside. Turning left at Kings Norton Junction, it wasn’t long before we disappeared into the mouth of Wast Hill Tunnel piercing the hills above. Built in 1794, it’s a long one, just short of Harecastle but with room for two. Love a tunnel. We emerged into muddy waters, something to do with a feeder at the junction apparently. Other than murky water there were trees, lots of them, and with them Birmingham revealed a whole new side …on a straight run you can go from city centre to glorious countryside in around about four hours.

AJ and UM…we are almost in the land of The Lock Keeper’s Daughter but the Tardebigge flight has a stoppage – one day!

---