Jim said one of the problems of the Lowsonford moorings was that it's seven locks in either direction to turn around. Perhaps that explains why there seem to be so many empty spaces. Some boats could have been out cruising, of course. Or maybe the reason was the one identified a few weeks ago by Bruce on Sanity: before when moorings became vacant the next person on the waiting list could take up the place almost immediately; now, the mooring tendering process takes so long, that spaces are empty for months.
We knew we had quite a long way to go today, so we were up early, slipped out of the Saltisford Arm at 7.30, and had tea and toast on the way. The first locks of the day were the two at the Cape. The pound between them was extremely low, thanks to very leaky gates in the lower lock. Then it was the long journey through Warwick and Leamington Spa, although we did make a quick stop at the Warwick Tesco, which is right by the canal.
We arrived back at Stockton Top at around 4.30, and moored on the outside of the marina. We fancied a drink, but found that The Boat doesn't open until 6pm. Some Kate Boats staff were taking the tiniest narrow boat I've ever seen, Mumble, for a spin -- literally.
We moored in the Saltisford Arm, where we are behind Liberty Belle. We went into town for a late lunch, then had a wander round before returning to the boat and lighting the fire.
5 miles, 21 locks. (Totals: 122 miles, 200 locks)
At our penultimate lock, Adrian (who was on lock duty) got rather frustrated to find an Anglo welsh hire boat on the lock landing above the lock. He'd hoped they were coming down, to save him some work, but in fact there was no-one to be seen. Five people arrived back on their bikes as we were rising in the lock, and one came over to say how pleased they were that the lock would be set for them. Adrian asked if they realised they were on a lock mooring; they did, but said there was nowhere else to stop. Adrian pointed out that there was plenty of space below the lock. Then to make matters worse, they all stood and watched, without even offering to help open the gate!
More excitement at the last lock before the junction, where a boat was being hauled across the basin. Its propshaft had become detatched from the gear box. We turned right onto the link, then right again onto the Grand Union. Now we're really on our way back home. We're moored just through Bridge 62, on the Rowington embankment, with a great view across the valley.
I'd forgotten to get milk at the shop this morning, so I walked the mile or so to Shrewley. It included going through the towpath tunnel up to the main street of the village. Nicholson says it's exciting and slippery; Pearson says it makes an entertaining walk. In truth, it's very steep and very dark. And I've no idea how you'd get down to the towpath the other side of the tunnel: there are no signs showing the way.
8 miles, 17 locks. (Totals: 117 miles, 179 locks)
We've moored for the night at Wootton Wawen, arriving at just before 4. We were hoping to visit the farm shop, but it turns out that it's closed on Mondays!
7 miles, 17 locks. (Totals: 109 miles, 162 locks)
9 miles, 20 locks. (Totals: 102 miles, 145 locks)
Having hardly seen a moving boat for days, we were rather taken by surprise by the number of boats about. We made our way along the Worcs and Birmingham Canal, taking two hours to reach King's Norton Junction, where we turned left onto the Stratford.
What did come as a surprise, though, was how green the canal was. Even though there were often factories, houses, or roads nearby, we were surrounded by trees and wildlife. We saw dozens of herons, the occasional kingfisher, and three-inch dragon flies.
We reached Ryders Green Locks at around 10 am. It was busy with BW men mowing and strimming, and one of them went up the flight and set all the locks for us. It was another surprisingly attractive flight, considering that there's industry all around.
At Ryders Green Junction we continued onto the Wednesbury Old Canal, then at Pudding Green Junction we turned onto the Birmingham Main Line. We stayed on the New Main Line all the way into the city, passing under the Stewart Aqueduct that's we'd crossed over the other day. We arrived at Sherborne Wharf at 1.30pm, and filled with diesel, pumped out, replaced a gas bottle, and started some washing. Then we moored at the end of the Oozells Street Loop, and went for a late lunch. The rest of the afternoon wa spent pottering about.
We're glad we did the W&E and the Walsall Canals. They're much more pleasant than we'd expected, and although the rubbish and the weed is a problem, it's not insurmountable. And if more boats used the waterways, surely things would improve.
Tomorrow, we head out of Birmingham on the Worcs and Birmingham Canal, then turn onto the Stratford.
14 miles, 8 locks. (Totals: 71 miles, 92 locks)
9 miles, 3 locks (Totals: 44, 76)
The takes a strange loop, the result of a road scheme, which puts the two forms of transport right next to each other. There's also lots of graffitti all over the place. The bottom lock is next to Bordesley Junction, where the Saltley Cut goes off to the right. We continued on the Grand Union, through Warwick Bar, and took a quick spin into Typhoo Basin (there's not much to see!). Then it was on to the Digbeth Branch, and up the six Ashted Locks. These had the advantage of single gates at both ends, and there are attractive reedy pounds. The problem is that none of the locks are on the same line, so lining up properly is almost impossible.
We stopped for lunch at the top of the locks, then made the short journey to Aston Junction, to turn onto the Birmingham and Fazeley Canal towards the Farmer's Bridge Flight. A boat was just going into the bottom lock, and apparently hadn't enjoyed their trip down the locks. I told them it was one of my favourite flights!
A little way up the flight, I could hear paddles being wound, but couldn't see a boat. Then I spotted a man in a suit, carrying a windlass. "Are you Paul?", I asked. And it was: Paul Balmer, from Waterway Routes, who'd been reading the blog and came to help us up the flight! There are some unusual locks, with some under bridges and a couple under a tower block.
Paul was also helping a couple of New Zealanders, readers of his blog, who were on their way down. We crossed in one of the smallest pounds of the flight. Thanks to Paul's help, we completed the thirteen locks of the Farmer's Bridge in just an hour and a quarter, and were soon at the top.
After a quick cuppa, Paul then took me for a look at his boat, and we were for a cruise round the Icknield Port Loop so I could experience electric powered boating. The silence and smoothness make it ideal for the filming Paul does.
In the evening, Adrian and I went to pick up take away burgers from the Gourmet Burger Company, which we took back to the boat. No TV signal here, so we've been watching the DVD of the Llangollen Canal, which Paul kindly gave us. All in all, a fascinating day, through some interesting industrial heritage, with the added excitement of meeting a fellow blogger!
11 miles, 25 locks. (Totals: 36 miles, 73 locks)
There were no other boats in sight when we left our mooring, and headed up the remaining 17 Hatton locks. The first one was empty, but most of the rest were either full, or had an annoying few inches in them, so a paddle needed to be lifted. We were four or five locks from the top before we met any boats coming down. Even then, the top gates were so leaky that the locks had begun to fill.
Although boats were scarce, the locks were busy with walkers, cyclists, and runners. Many of the walkers wanted to know about the locks. I felt like a tourist guide! We completed the 17 locks of the morning in 2 hours 20 minutes, which we thought was pretty good going.
We're always taken by surprise by how long it takes to get from the top of Hatton to Kingswood Junction. In our minds, the junction is much closer than it actually is. Just before we stopped for lunch, the sun came out, and the temperature shot up. Lunch stop was just beyond Kingswood Junction -- the start of the new territory for us. Each other time we've come this way, we've been turning onto or from the Stratford Canal; this time, it we were continuing on the Grand Union. The surroundings were much more pleasant than we'd expected (although we were constantly accompanied by planes taking off from Birmingham Airport.)
When we reached the Knowle Locks, a boat was just coming out, and a Kate Hire boat was going in. It took a couple of hoots on the horn to stop them closing the gates in our face, but then we joined them in the bottom lock. Fortunately, the other boat had loads of crew (mostly just visiting for the day), so the locks were set well ahead. I was at the helm for these locks, and I suggested to the other skipper than we do some synchronised boating: leaving the lock together, keeping close, and entering the next one together. It worked well, and is so much easier than going in one after the other.
Thanks to all the help, we completed the five locks in no time. It's a very pretty area, with well kept lawns, and well maintained locks. The flight, although quite short, looks impressive, as the locks are close together and quite deep.
We continued until Catherine de Barnes (very close to the airport), where we moored up at about 4.45. Not the most attractive mooring ever, but it'll do. There's a paper shop in the village (next to an art gallery!), and a 3G signal. Tonight, there's a chicken roasting in the over; tomorrow, into Birmingham.
13 miles, 22 locks. (Totals: 25 miles, 48 locks)
The towpath was busy with walkers, runners, and cyclists, and there's the odd train going by quite nearby. But there aren't many boats on the flight -- just a couple of Kate hire boats going up so far. Tonight, we'll eat on board. Tomorrow, we'll do the rest of the flight, and carry on to Catherine de Barnes.
10 miles, 16 locks. (Total: 12 miles, 26 locks)
My second article about Whitefield is in the new issue of Canal Boat. This one concentrates on some of the challenges faced during the build.
I've been looking forward to using this proper map holder, to keep our canal guides dry. Adrian bought it for me for my birthday back in March (just after our last trip). It's a bit big, as it's intended for an Ordnance Survey map rather than a Pearson's or a Nicholson's. But I'm hoping it'll be more effective than the freezer bag and clothes peg I've used up to now. It's certainly looking as though we'll need it.
We're planning to do a lot of locks this trip, so we thought it might be an idea to have some form of communication between the helmsman and the lock worker. We've seen other boaters with two-way radios, and they can be really useful when the next lock is through a bridge or round a corner.
It was beginning to get dark by this time, but there were still a few people walking up and down the towpath, and there were two boats a couple of locks from the top. They said it had just them just under three hours to do the 21 locks in the flight, which was pretty good going. At the top lock, we suggested the crews got on board, and we closed the gates behind them.
We've done the Hatton flight in both directions in the past (in rain on the way up in 2005, and in sweltering sunshine on the way down in 2006). On our trip later this month, we plan to do the flight in both directions.
We walked up the towpath past the visitor moorings to lock 30.
It was 6.30 by this time, and we'd seen the Fleur de Lys on the other side of the canal, so decided to go there for dinner. There's a lovely big canalside garden, but if you want to eat outside you're limited to the patio, which puts the car park in between you and the garden and canal. We opted to try items from the pie menu, which were pretty good, if a little expensive. We're just hoping it's as sunny when we do this stretch on the boat, as it was just over a week ago.
Posts
All Comments
