Birmingham again

Friday:  7 am start as usual.   The trip to Birmingham though Solihull is to a large extent in a long wooded cutting.   The canal here is shallow with heaps of rubbish, much of it from the vegetation, so progress was slow.   Once past this section, in deeper water there seemed to be much less rubbish and even evidence of tree and bush trimming underway.   At the top of Camp Hill Locks there is a brand new facilities block with water point which we availed ourselves of.  Towards the bottom of these locks Pat was asked by three black youths if the dog was aggressive and if it would bite.  She replied in the affirmative, when one drewout an 8 inch blade from the back of his trousers and stated that if the dog bit him he would stab it.   They then moved on, one making a point of urinating in full view into the canal.  Should you call the police?  Well, I suppose yes, but what chance would there be of anything being achieved.   Anyway, further on at Ashted bottom Lock, who should appear but an actual policeman on foot patrol, so we did report the incident. I was so distracted by this unexpected turn of events that I did not notice that the boat, which I had left in the lock throat unthethered, was moving at about 3 inches a second and by the time I had turned round was out of reach in the middle of the pound.  Very fortunately, and I mean very, because I could see no alternative, there was a very weak breeze blowing in our direction and after some mintes I was able to jump aboard!! And we saw the only other moving boat of the day!   Christine Potter on Polly Otter no less.   Arrival at Farmers Bridge Junction / Cambrian Wharf at 13:40.