I’ve wondered about those steps. Good to know they’re doable - which end of the tunnel were you at? I’ve been through it twice, both times heading to Wolverhampton from Brum. First time I had no idea it was there, headed in and by the time I realised just how long and dark it was, realised that going back the way I came was almost as far as continuing so ploughed on with heart pounding and very slowly! The next time I was prepared with a head torch - entirely different experience.
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I was at the Birmingham end of the tunnel and had seen the men going up and down the steps, so knew they were doable. I quickly decided, after the verbal grief, taking into account the fact it was darkening quite rapidly, and I really did not like the look of that tunnel in the dark with just additional light from my phone, that going up the steps was the better part of valour and I could finish off the walk another time when I'd found where the steps to get me back down to canal level were!
I blame the horse - I lost a good 1/2 hour trying to sort him out.
Today's just been a standard kind of walk day with a rest day tomorrow. But, I am going to clean my several pairs of boots ready for the new year. At least two pairs are most unseemly after encountering what was hiding under leaves or in longer grass along a section of path where cyclists were not good at sharing space and I had to move fast without looking closely at what I might be walking into!! .
I'm keeping this year's targets for next year as, on reflection, they are doable in a year with healthier feet, no days lost to jury service, and hopefully fewer rainy days. I'm not a wet weather walker....