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Tuesday 12 March 2024

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Heavy rain over night and first thing this morning but not to heavy when we set off at quarter past nine. We have never moored in this spot before and found it very quiet. It wasn’t long before we reached Glascote locks, we expected these to be against us as a boat passed us late yesterday afternoon. To our surprise the top lock was empty, looking closely it was due to the offside bottom paddle being up about 4”. It required the use of a windlass to take it right down.
By the time we reached the marina the drizzle was very light and thankfully no wind which made the revers down the marina to our slot relatively easy.

If you wish to see the complete journey on Google maps then its here you can also see all the trips we have made this year.

This trip we have covered some 116 miles, 118 locks in some 60 hours, we also did several tunnels, some 4 times and some only once.

Todays Journey image

3½ miles, 2 locks in 1¾ hours

Monday 11 March 2024

Fazeley Junction

Bit of a grey morning but no rain, we set off a little after ten and headed for yet another tunnel, that makes 6 this trip, one of them 4 times. Today it was Curdworth tunnel and we had to wait as aDSCF9059 boat was coming the other way. Hopefully this will mean Curdworth locks are with us. Curdworth tunnel is another snug one with a towpath, but in this case it has a very slight bend and bump in the offside south end.
Sure enough Curdworth Lock No.1 was with us, but it was the only one. The rest needed turning probably due to the 6 inch square hole in the top of the top gate. DSCF9061

There wasn’t much activity down by lock 4 on HS2 with only a couple of vans on site, nothing at all on the offside.DSCF9062

When we reached lock No.10 we could see a boat ahead just entering lock No.11, maybe we have followed them all the way down the flight from Lock 2?
Passing Debbi’s Day Boats Midland Marine Services were grit blasting a boat ready blacking, there are not that many yards that do blasting so its worth remembering, I don’t know if they can do the base plate as well.DSCF9069

At Fazeley Junction we reversed up to the water point and filled with water before passing under bridge 77 onto the Coventry Canal and moored for the night.

 

Todays Journey image

7 miles, 11 locks in 5 hours.

Sunday 10 March 2024

Wiggins bridge, Curdworth

It started raining during the night and it still hasn’t stopped. One of the boats opposite set off about 8am going the same way as us so he had over a two hour start on us.
We set off in light rain through the old gauging lock and down to Salford Junction where we turned right on the Birmingham and Fazeley canal. Things looked up along here as we met a boat so maybe Minworth would be with us and lo and behold it was. But the good times were not to last, below the lock the single hander who had been moored at Star City was just pulling away so we would be following him down the next two locks. At the bottom lock CRT as so keen on looking after the infrastructure that have wrapped this paddle gear so it doesn’t get wet.DSCF9057

We chugged on for another half an hour or so to moor up in the rain just before Wiggins Bridge and Curdworth, I was going to moor in front of the Cuttle Bridge Inn but the road is just a little bit quieter here.

Todays Journey image

5 miles, 3 locks in 2¼ hours

Saturday 9 March 2024

Star City (sort of)

Last night looking for something different to eat we went to Mooncat and I must say it wasn’t what I expected. The food was nice and the music great, but I wasn’t expecting the entertainment supplement on the bill, I was hoping for a nice quite meal in a Japanese restaurant. IMG_20240308_195329

This morning the boat behind set off at 9am, it was gone ten when we left so we were a but miffed to see them at the top of Farmers Bridge Locks, but it turned out OK, they were just filling with water before going the other way. They even opened the gates on the top lock for us.
The octagonal high rise building is really takingDSCF9033 shape one of the many high rise buildings going up in the area. It looks as if they build the centre spine first and then the rest of the building round it. There is another odd shaped one further down that up to 22 floors so far. I am rather a fan of the old painted signage on brickwork as I posted in this blog however this one in Birmingham is less than 10 years old, maybe only 5, I cant see it standing the test of time .DSCF9035

Just above lock 13 you go under a large railway bridge, the side vaults have steel grills over them but not just plain steel ones, something more decorative to which someone has added some paint. DSCF9037

Down at Aston junction we turned right to the Ashted flight of locks, the first lock drops you straight into the mouth of Ashted Tunnel, not theDSCF9038

largest of bores but it does have a tow path all the way through, it also has its fair share of cobwebs and electric light under them.DSCF9039

The development beyond the tunnel is coming on. They have rather a fancy idea how the area will look when they have finished. Boats mooed in the bywash etc.  DSCF9041On the other side of the canal I have never noticed this old property left in the middle of all the new development  before, I suppose its because we normally go in the opposite direction.DSCF9045

Another couple of locks and you come to HS2, like it of hate it, there is some interesting civil engineering going on with concrete and rusty steel.DSCF9046

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I wonder if they will put the bridge over without a lengthy canal stoppage.
Then it was on to yet another tunnel, tis one is much larger and curved, you cant see end to end. Its Curzon Street Tunnel and it carries the railway over the canal.DSCF9049

From the end of the tunnel is only a short step to Digbeth Junction and on to Warwick Bar an old stop lock with back to back gates so regardless of which canal were higher, the water wouldn’t flow from one to the other, its also the location of the banana warehouse which is being renovated at the moment. I have seen boat try to go under the lean-to section but there is a solid wall about an inch under the surface.DSCF9050 The next junction was Bordesley Junction, again a left turn and a short stop for lunch on the moorings. Looking at the rubbish dumped outside the flats probably by the people living their I wouldn’t stop overnight. On down the five Garrison locks, again all against us and we come to more HS2 work. Here due to a floating towpath and new piling on the offside the canal is narrowed between bridges 108 and 108a requiring single file operation, its probably about 250 yards  of straight canal but they feel it necessary to have traffic lights to control the traffic. I would guess if they see a dozen boats a week that’s it not 50 a day,all that’s needed is a sign saying one way traffic please wait until the way ahead is clear, you can see from end to end.DSCF9053

Last time we were this way they were working on the bridge that carries high voltage cables across the canal, the work is now complete and the bridge looks very smart.DSCF9054

Our planned stop for tonight was the Star City secure moorings, but unfortunately and a first for us, they were full, se we are moored towpath side right opposite. There are a couple of other boats moored here that have been here for moths and haven been burnt out, so hopefully we will survive the night.

Todays Journey  image

24 locks, 5¼ miles in 4¾ hours

Friday 8 March 2024

Birmingham Oozells loop

Early start for us today for two reasons, one the scrap yard opposite starts work at 7-30am and two, we were moored outside Phoenix the BCNS work boat and they have a corporate volunteer day today and will want to use her.
Most of the locks were still reasonably full and all the pounds OK.
The bottom lock cottage although not looking much like the original still looks lived in and is actually two properties. The chimney pots look to be original, maybe.DSCF9020

Down at Oldbury Locks Junction we went left along the Old Main line towards Birmingham. It looks like an incinerator power station they are building by Spon Lane.DSCF9022

Back under the gloom of the M5 and all its scaffolding passing under this disused foot bridge, I don’t know if there are plans to restore it and its held together with scaffolding.DSCF9023

Next on the agenda was the Steward Aqueduct where it crosses the New Main Line  right beside where the motorway support columns are set into the canal bed. I wonder how much that disrupted the traffic.DSCF9024

It wasn’t long before we were into another tunnel, this one much more modern than any of the others we passed through with a cavernous concrete lining. DSCF9027

As it was still early, well in our book anyway, we decided to take a trip up the engine arm, so once more we crossed the New Maine Line,  this time on the Engine Arm Aqueduct. The Engine Arm is a dead DSCF9028end but it has a secure 48hr mooring at the end, a service block and a good winding hole, the last couple of hundred yard are all long term moorings let by CRT.DSCF9029

We retraced our steps back to the Old Main Line and turned right down the 3 Smethwick Locks to take us back to the Main Line into Birmingham, but we weren’t finished yet, rather than straight on it was round the Soho Loop, we have not been round in this direction for some time and the new flats look really big this way as you see the 15 story block first. They are also installing a brand new foot bridge, its almost as wide as the existing road bridge beside it.DSCF9031

At the end of the loop we went straight across the Main line and onto the Icknield Loop, again we don’t normally do it this way round. I wonder how long it will be before the whole island is a brand new housing estate, there are more new shells up and lots of foundations laid. There are still old buildings opposite the CRT yard where the feeder comes in, but how long before they are cleared, the moored boats were all gone .DSCF9032Back to the Main Line and again right into Birmingham and then right at Ladywood Junction and round the Oozells Loop hoping we didn’t meet the trip boat coming the other way. Once round by the Gym we slotted into one of the vacant moorings for the night, there were already two boats here.

Todays Journey image

9 locks, 8¼ miles in 4 hours

Thursday 7 March 2024

Titford Pumphouse

First job this morning was fill the water tank while having breakfast and then when the shop opened we took on 185 lts of diesel @ 84p/lt and emptied the toilet tank for £10.It was then a case of getting offDSCF9007the leeward bank. in the end I went out through the bridge backwards. It was then back to Gosty Tunnel, hopefully this photo gives an idea how tight it is.DSCF9010

Strangely the centre section is quite high, I think this was rebuilt following a roof collapse but then you come to another low section with yet another picture, not sure why it says Hawne basin 1 Mile as we have just left there .  DSCF9013

The road bridge over the disused entrance is finally back in use, only single file with traffic lights at the moment but well used. There is still quite a bit of work to do.DSCF9014

We saw our first boat on the move since Sunday at Windmill end Junction where we turned right to go through Netherton Tunnel for the forth time this trip. as you can see a bit more room than Gosty Tunnel. DSCF9015

Again the fishermen were sat by the cottages just through the aqueduct. Down to the main line at Dudley Port junction and turn right to Bromford Junction where we went up the three Spon Lane Locks. Coming into the bottom lock the junction is very silted and slipping out of gear saw the boat stop dead, it needed a bit of power to reach the gates. As we were going up the flight there was a large crane ahead working just before Spon Lane junction, I have no idea what they are building.DSCF9016

At the junction we turned through about 300°back on  ourselves, thankfully the turn went well as I had quite an audience from the scaffolding under the motorway. I thought this work was all finished.DSCF9017

From here the canal is a bit wiggly crossing the New Main Line  on Steward Aqueduct where I spotted the second boat of the day in the distance below us. At Oldbury junction it was another left on to the Titford Branch and up the 6 Oldbury Locks or Crow as it was known. Here we had a very nice surprise, Phil had been down and set the full flight for us, so every bottom gate was open.DSCF9018

At the top we reversed down behind the old pumphouse on the Tat Bank branch and moored against the BCNS workboat Phoenix for the night ready for the BCNS meeting tonight.

Todays Journey image

9¼ miles, 9 locks in 4¼ hours

Wednesday 6 March 2024

Hawne Basin

Well after yesterdays glorious weather today was cool, overcast and slightly misty.DSCF9005We set off through Tipton to Tipton Junction and turned left along the Old Main Line to Brades Hall Junction with the view to go down the Brades Hall locks and Gower branch to the New Main line. When we arrive there was a group of “Community Payback” people clearing the area and their leader warned us that below the stair case was bone dry and he wasn’t wrong. We did not attempt to rewater it but turned round and retraced our steps to Tipton and took an alternative route down Factory Locks again passing this BCN cottage for the second time.DSCF9004

I couldn’t see any sign of the sunken boat but the water is no where near so clear now, or maybe its drifted to one side?
At Dudley Port Junction we turned right to Netherton Tunnel for the third time this trip. The junction is quite close to the Railway station of the same name.DSCF9006

Netherton tunnel was, to put it mildly, wet. Once at the other end it was left at Windmill End Junction and down the Dudley No.2 canal to Hawne basin, this meant passing through Gosty Tunnel, the opposite of Netherton Tunnel, low and narrow and less than half the length. Clear of the far end the canal is wide and deep until you reach the end of navigating at Hawne Basin, The bridge over the entrance is even lower than the tunnel. Our reason for come her was to fill with diesel, but due to our rerouting by the time we arrived they were  closed, so we are now moored at the service Quay ready for 10am in the morning. The journey was probably a third longer than it should have been.

Todays |Journey image

12 miles, 3 locks in 4½ hours

Tuesday 5 March 2024

Tipton, John the lock moorings

Last night I planned to walk down and see if the LED/solar light that was thrown in the canal was working, but as I had my slippers on and it was chucking it down with rain that plan changed greatly.
This morning we were woken buy the builders across the other side of the canal, not sure what time they started, they also had tree surgeons working over there kicking up a din, but it was a lovely sunny morning and Diana did a bit of shopping before we set off.
A bit of advice to anyone planning on mooring in the Bentley Arm, ether go in forward or pull the boat out on ropes. I had no problem yesterday but today it was an instant ball of weed round the prop. I few thrashes back and forth and we were making reasonable progress, of course we took the obligatory photo under the mirror arch.DSCF8991Its now in need of a bit of a clean but access will be a problem unless it can be done from a boat with a window cleaners pole and brush.
Back at Horseley Fields Junction we turned left and I didn’t do much better than when we came a couple of days back, you can see where the wall is falling into the cut, its taken part of the signpost with it.DSCF8992

I pulled in at the CRT base and cleared the prop of the weed and short length of strimmer cord that was holding it all together. One of the bridges along here on a bend if fitted with rollers to protect the corners of the bridge from the towing lines and also make it easier for the horse to pull the line round the bend, these are a smaller diameter than I have come across on other canals and look as if they are made of iron. I don’t think they rotated that well.DSCF8995

There is lot of new housing along the towpath side with quite large estates, If I owned this house I don’t think I would be to happy, the end of the property is supposed to be white rendering, but its covered with brown streaks that look like they have leaked through it, its not the only property like it.DSCF8994

At Deepfield junction we turned left and made our way up the Bradley Arm, A thoughtful local pointed out it was a dead end. It shows how well used it is(n’t). We didn’t have any real problems, it was a bit weedy for a short section that kept fouling the prop but a bit of backwards soon cleared it and we made good time to the end. Thankfully there was room to wind, last time we were this way there were lots of CRT boats moored here, today just an old woodenDSCF8999

sunken boat and some hoppers all beyond the winding hole, I use to be able to get round in the entrance to the basin, but a few years back they piled it and narrowed the canal by about 2 foot. There was plenty of activity in the workshops by the sound of things.DSCF8998

On our way back we passed this weed cutter moored just by the winding hole at Highfields. I don’t know why it was there or who owns it.DSCF9001

Back at the Wolverhampton level we again turned left and headed through Coseley Tunnel, it was just as wet as last time and back to moor at John the Locks moorings in Tipton, where the geese are being extra h=noisy this afternoon, it must be the lovely warm weather, up to 14°C this afternoon.

Todays Journey image

10 miles, no locks in 3¾ hours.