Windmill End

Last night we used the remainder of our 3 for 1 Tesco vouchers at Bella Italia as its close to the moorings. The food is nice but there are lots of other places I prefer if spending that sort of money on a meal. It rained most of the night but about half nine it finally stopped so we set off and within minutes a very fine drizzle started, so on went the coats. I expected the weed to be much worse both her and on the Wolverhampton Level but it wasn’t too bad. We saw a few boats about and one overtook us on the Wolverhampton Level, after that I stopped and cleared the prop of some polly and the remains of a very substantial baseball hat.
At Factory locks a boat had just gone down the top lock, so we had a couple of locks to turn, the third was OK because a boat arrived below and came up. The boat that has been on the hard for as long as I can remember has gone from beside the top lock and the large caravan has had all the aluminium removed, the site look quite vandalised with slates off the roof etc. I take it its been vacated in readiness for the restoration work and redevelopment, (details here) if they don’t get on with it soon there will be nothing to restore, but maybe that’s the plan.
There is a strange formation on the walls of Factory Locks by the top gates, its not only forming on the walls but also the wooden gate.

This chap was sitting on the nose of the island not giving a hoot about the boat coming up or us going down.

We carried on down the New Main Line almost dead straight until we reached Dudley Port Junction where it was hard right to Netherton Tunnel, I really dislike this tunnel with its towpath each side as the light on the walls is so far from the navigation, I wonder all over the place. Eventually we reached Windmill End Junction where we winded and drew back to the water point, I think the plumber who fitted the tap had a sense of humour or maybe just wasn’t thinking when the bottom of the thread on the tap is almost level with the bottom of the enclosure  entrance, how he expected anyone to easily screw an adaptor on and fit a hose I don’t know. Once filled with water we moved up clear of the water point and moored for the night.

 

Todays Journey

10 miles, 3 locks in 4¼ hours

Wednesfield Junction

Well another change of plan, just to keep you on your toes.
When we woke up this morning it was actually sunny so by 7-30 we were on our way down to Aldersley Junction where we turned sharp right into the first of the Wolverhampton 21 locks, it was just 7-38 am. Two reasons for starting early, hopefully we will be up before the rain and if we are first up the chances are the locks will be with us. Thankfully we only had to turn three locks and the rest were mainly empty, a couple have a few inches to drain out and all the pounds were on weir.
At the first lock there was a very tame family of ducks who just sat and watched me work the top paddle.

The railway crosses the canal in several places and this was a sight we haven seen much this week.

At one of the locks, as it was nearly full Diana said I think there is a duck in the lock, I hadn’t seen anything as I entered but there by the bows of the boat was a Wood Pigeon looking sorry for its self, so I hoiked it out and it scurried off into the long grass, nut I would be surprised it it will survive.
This was once the Springfield Brewery but has been restored and is now the Thomas Telford University Technical College. At least it wasn’t burned down like lots of other old buildings

We carried on to the top lock, clearing it at 10-31 am. not a bad run for a couple of oldies.

There is a short arm beside the top lock with about 4 boats in it, but on the hard beside the arm is a rather poorly wooden butty, it will take a lot of work and money for her to float again.
The suggested mooring from Canal Planner  for the night was just at the top of the locks or through the bridge,but we decided to go somewhere a bit nicer, under Wolverhampton Tunnel, more like a big bridgeand turning right left at Horseley Field Junction on the Wyrley & Essington canal. Just before the junction a pair of swans are having a late attempt at raising a family with a nest full of eggs.

Every time we come under this stainless steel bridge I try to photograph our reflection, but today I wondered if a short video would look better.

We carried on just a little bit further to the remains of the Bentley Arm where we reversed in and moored for the night. We even got here before it rained.

Today’s Journey

4 miles, 21 locks in 4 hours

Autherley Junction

Well the weather forecast wasn’t wrong, it’s raining, it was raining when we got up, stopped for 5 minutes at about 10-30 when we set off and has rained ever since. There are a few boats on the move and one made there presence felt coming up behind us rather fast, so at the first opportunity we pulled well over and waved them past, likewise I overtook a day boat near the Anchor pub who was creeping along by the bank.
I don't think putting mooring rings right outside the pub on the blind bend was the best idea that BWB ever had. A little further on there was plenty of water discharging from the sewage works, entering the canal giving a good cross current and making the water inky black.

Some of the graffiti under the  M54 bridge is quite outstanding, I hope the people who did it can put their talent to good use .

We met a hire boat in the narrows at the last passing place, I am not sure who was steering as they were head to toe in waterproofs but they tucked the boat in beautifully for me to pass.

A quick plug for a very worthwhile organisation who do a lot to keep the BCN open for boaters.

At this point the rain was at its heaviest and as well as my coat I had the brolly out to keep the worst off. It was far to our planed mooring for the night, just past Autherley Junction opposite Oxley Marine.

 

Todays Journey 6½ miles, no locks in 2¼ hours

Four Ashes

We were away just before 10 o’clock, the moorings directly opposite the Stafford Boat Club are defiantly the quietest on this stretch of canal, after this the M6 soon makes its self heard. A boat passed at about half nine and just as we set off one came towards us however Deptmore lock was against us with a boat approaching from above and our luck with locks didn’t improve all day. I am sure that all the cows lying down in a bunch means something weather wise but we didn’t get any rain until this afternoon above Gailey lock when it chucked it down for quarter of an hour.

The house on the towpath side at Acton Trussle has a lovely show of flowers between the towpath and the canal and before anyone shouts, its an official “No Mooring” area

When we got to Teddesley the boat coming in was so slow that Diana had time to go to the chandlers and still be back to operated the bottom paddles for them. At another lock the lock was full, all gates closed and the boater in the galley when Diana walked up there .
As the services were free at Penkridge, plenty of time to walk up and check while a boat slowly entered the  lock, after the boat we were following left. I stopped to fill with water, not a bad tap, but we were still behind the same hire boat at Filance Lock. Its surprising how these little holdups at each lock can add time to your journey, today I would estimate it added an hour, good job we don’t try to run to a tight schedule.
We passed these two boats on the hard at Teddesley, I don’t know if they plan to blast them before painting them?

An observation of bottom lock gates today that I have not noticed before, calking between the planks that is coming out, I dont know if this is put in during the build or an attempt to reduce the leaks.

We had planned to moor just above Gailey Lock, but as I said, just as we left the lock it started raining so as I had the brolly up and a coat on we continued on past the chemical works at Four Ashes and as the rain had stopped moored for the night a little after Calf Heath Bridge 77.

I know know, thanks to Richard why we haven’t seen any trains on the main line, its down to HS2 work at Street Hay, so the line is closed for a few days.

 

Today’s Journey

5 miles, 11 locks in 5¾ hours

Hazlestrine

Rugeley was surprisingly quiet with very few boats moored to the south of Tesco. We set off at quarter to ten on a rather chilly morning, but things did warm up mid morning. On On the north side of town you pass Naomi’s Landing, always something to make you smile.

The next stretch of canal runs parallel to the railway, I think they must be on strike again as all we have seen is one goods train on a separate line crossing the canal.
At Colwich Lock there was a boat going up and another waiting. On the waiting boat when it was their turn both the occupants stayed on the boat, Diana closed the gates for them and a boater coming down filled the lock, the crew did get off and open a the gate but didn’t even take a windlass to drop a paddle. We were behind them again at Haywood Lock but held back to let them start locking up. At that point Diana went up and the lady apologised saying she had helped previous boats there were lots of people up there with windlasses but they just stood there and didn’t do anything.
At Haywood junction we turned left, looking back at the junction I spotted this notice. Note the Elsan Disposal is the marinas, not CRT.

We were followed along the Staffs and Worcester canal by a private boat and a work flat working on the towpath, although the towpath at Tixall Wide is closed for refurbishment there were as many boats as normal moored along there and people were still walking it.  As we crossed Tixall Wide the private boat was rapidly catching me and looked to be getting ready to overtake, so I wound it on a bit. When we slowed at the far side the lad on the boat behind asked if they could come by as they needed to be at Stratford on Saturday, so I eased off, pulled to the side and waved them through. I don’t think he has the slightest hope in getting there. They are also resurfacing the towpath above Tixall storing their materials at Tixall Wharf.
Our original plan was to moor by the Stafford Link but decided to go on a bit and moor opposite the Stafford Boat club. On this stretch we noticed that the hedge behind the towpath had been cut in several patches, could this be to see the wild life on the marshes or the fishermen to put their poles.

Another point for fellow boaters to note is that Stafford Boat club no longer encourage people to wind in the club basin entrance.

 

Today’s Journey

11 miles, 3 locks in 5 hours

Rugeley

Last night we celebrated our thirty first wedding anniversary at Delhi Divan well they did have an offer on. Tuesday night is banquet night if pre booked, a meal for  £13-95 plus of course drinks, but they are very reasonably priced unlike a lot of restaurants and the food was great. When we came out it had finally stopped raining.
We set off at our normal 10am. a couple of boats had been by in each direction but that’s all, back past the winding hole where this carved tree stands in the garden, it seems to becoming a popular ide now if you have a tree lowered.

As expected Bagnall lock was against us but the boot ahead pulled over and moored just above the lock, on up to Common Lock and the boat now ahead had just left and one was coming down. All the locks in Fradley had a Volockie on them so all were set ready for us.
Alrewas seems to welcome boats and I suspect the local businesses benefit from it, several boaters were in the Indian.

One of the boats on the long term moorings is actually propelled by two electric outboard motors, I wouldn’t want to be following it to far as I guess progress would be slow. It also looks as if the rudder has been removed so the motors are also used to steer. I wonder what the stopping power is like? 

The towpath above Fradley locks is being upgraded and large sections are closed but as we witnessed at Wood End Lock this is not deterring some walkers who just circumnavigate the barriers. All the materials are stored at Armitage and are transported to site by boat

Approaching the outskirts of Rugeley it looks as if someone is keen on home made beer as I think this is a crop of hops growing beside the canal.

A little further on we saw CRT’s new contractors trimming the grass between the hard surface and the waters edge and doing a very neat job.

We moored a short way before the shops in Rugeley for the night

Today’s Journey

9½ Miles, 8 locks in 4½ hours

Alrewas

Well the plan just changed, today we decided to go to Alweras for the night see https://canalplan.uk/journey/19491_cp the reason being we wanted to go out for dinner, we considered The Plum Pudding but its changed hands and no longer an Italian restaurant, so we are going somewhere in Alweras.
In view of the weather forecast we set off at 9-30 with next to no breeze and slightly cool, I even put a fleece on after an hour. We had a good run to Fradley where we wanted to fill with water but both taps were in use, however the boat at the front walked to do the swing bridge, didn’t do it and came back shouting he was almost finished and a couple of minutes later he was off. As we filled with water it started to rain, life was a bit chaotic at the junction with most boat coming or going towards Alrewas, add to that a bunch of canoes and paddle boards being launched by the top of the lock from the lock moorings. When we nosed out through the swing bridge there was one boat in the lock going down and one waiting with the canoes etc launching by his bows.  They all eventually went up the Coventry Canal and I waited for my turn at the locks. It was going to be a slow journey with boats seemingly taking for ever to come into or leave a lock. BY now it was raining much harder, as we were working down Keepers Lock the Volockie left us and went for his lunch, I think we met a boat at every lock but we still queued at each one . Most of these locks have water coming not only under the top gate but through the cills.

We chugged down passed all the long term moorings to Common Lock. The marina here now looks quite full with a very nice looking workshop at the end of the slipway.

We didn’t meet any more boats so its close the gate before you leave, half way to Bagnall lock we passed a semi moored boat, it pin at the front had pulled out of the bank, I was about to pull along side and re-pin it when I spotted someone onboard, a few blasts with the new horn I fitted while filling with water soon attracted the owners attention and he was able to sort it.  A little further on and we passed a field of corn with a bank of poppies flowering in it, they must have missed that with the weed killer.

A new sign has been erected at Bagnall lock to indicate the river flow, not sure if its yellow and improving or yellow and getting worse but likely to change.

There are two moorings between the lock and the winding hole, the first was vacant but on a bend the second had the boat we had been following moored there, so we winded and reversed further down under the bridge to find another couple of vacant 14 day moorings that will do us for the night.

Today’s journey

 

5½ miles, 5 locks in 4¼hours

Huddlesford

Well the weather forecast wasn’t wrong for today, we had several short but heavy showers today and sunshine this afternoon. The rain hit us so quickly I didn’t have time to put a coat on, just grabbed the brolly.
Yesterday evening I picked up on Facebook that there was a tree across the canal at Hopwas but couldn’t find anything about it on the stoppage list, it was actually cleared away last night but the stoppage notice came out this morning followed by another an hour later to say it was cleared, this was all some 15 hours after the stoppage was removed. I asked on Facebook this morning for an update and finding out it was clear we set off just before ten. The canal was surprisingly busy, I expect partly to the holdup yesterday. We followed another boat for most of the journey, he was going slightly slower than I would have liked to travel but it did have the advantage that he warned oncoming boats I was behind, often just out of sight due to bends and bridges.
I did manage a couple of photos today, one of a clutch of very young ducklings, possibly  a second brood.

The other photo is of what looks like a heat exchanger strapped to a chimney, if anyone knows what its for please say.
We chugged on through the showers and sunshine mooring for the day by the entrance to Orchard Marina

Today’s Journey

7¾ miles, no locks in 3 hours

Tamworth

Well as you can see we are back following a week boating in France. Details here. Now for today. We left sunny Suffolk 9-50 am. and yes it was sunny, but that changed on the A14 and we had several heavy showers with strong gusting wind but even so it only took us three and a quarter hours to reach the moorings. Needless to say as soon as I unlocked the boat and opened the car boot the sky’s opened. Diana sheltered in the boat and I got back in the car for a while, but it didn't last long. Once the car was unloaded we had yet another heavy shower. It was quarter to four before we set off as I had to adjust the alternator belt before we left and have lunch of course.
This time we have a plan which you can see here but it may change

 

 

 

 

 

 

We didn’t think we would see many boats on the move, one winding a short way from the marina who waved me by and then at Glascote locks as we entered the top lock a hire boat entered the bottom, so could leave the gates for them and then another hire boat arrived at the top of the locks, we didn’t go much further just crossing the aqueduct over the river Tame and mooring against the piling almost opposite the CRT yard. So far I have been unable to get a tv picture, is it no signal (we are close to Tamworth, us aerial or duff TV. (who took the signal strength meter home last trip?

Todays Journey              3½ miles 2 locks in 1¾ hours

Home moorings (Hotel California)

We set of to a fine, sunny morning but with a very cool breeze and we met boats regularly all day, several in bridge holes. As we got to Streethay HS2 had all their plant lined up ready for tomorrow morning.

They have also moved on quite a bit since we passed on our outward trip.

Yesterday I mentioned the boat with the extra long rope fenders who moors just below the lock, these are how they are supposed to be fitted, it would bother me they might catch something.

I know they say bad weather is coming if the cows are all laying down together, but I am not sure what sheep doing it signifies

The housing estate just before Fazeley is really making head way, they build the wooded internal framing first, cover it with a damp proof membrane, add the roof and then brick up the outside, a system that has been used on Scotland for over 50 years.
It was quite slow going from here as there were three boats ahead  and we met several plus moored boats.  At Fazeley Junction the boat ahead of us joined the queue for the water point, we turned right to go to Fazeley Mill Marina for a pumpout, when we arrived they were still closed for lunch and thankfully no one was on the services so we slid in backwards to wait the arrival of the afternoon staff, once that was sorted and we bought a couple of ice creams, well it was much warmer now, we headed back the Fazeley Junction and arrived just as the boat we had followed early finally got to the water point. We turned right and headed to Glascote Locks which were both against us with a boat having just gone up the first lock and no one coming down. Rather than moor in this area for the night we carried on to spend the night in the marina, on the way we passed a tree that was part way across the canal, fallen from the offside but plenty of room to get through.

We also passed this boat with knitted mushroom vent covers, I guess it saves polishing them, not that I ever polish ours.

When we arrived at the marina the wind had freshened a bit, but was in the idle direction to just slowly swing my bow to port as I reversed down and into our slot.

Todays Journey14¼ miles, 2 locks in 6½ hours.