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The intention had been to move the boat at the end of March and a new moorinng had been booked form 1st April. Foot and mouth put paid to our plans and it was not until October that we got to do any boating. We had moored temporaily on a BW mooring near to the Marina we had just left. At first we could not get to the boat as the towpath was closed. Later we did not dare - we had young calves in our field at home and foot and mouth cases had occured in the village where the new mooring was located - we could not take the risk.
Saturday 29th September
We arrived back at the boat and unloaded everything from the Van.
Whilst unloading I saw Jannock heading south. Before it got too
late Jacquie drove off to Fazeley to park in the BW yard there,
where we intended to make by next weekend. She caught a taxi
back. I spent the time sorting out the boat including using the
generator to charge the batteries as the alternator light had
been coming on when we were last here, was it really eight months
ago. A whole summer had been lost due to foot and mouth.
Sunday 30th September
Major Tom was moored just a few boats along but I did not see
anybody aboard. We leave mid morning after a last look round the
marina shop, we had a split joint in the water system so I
thought it best to have some spare fittings to make repairs - we
would not have such a convenient supply where we were going. I
also bought a new battery, now we would have three in the box and
I would have to wire up the relays I already had so that third
battery would power the cold box. Jacquie walked a way with Edith
and Q'editha but after 15 minutes was back on board and took over
the helm. The alternator light was on suggesting that the battery
was still not charging but sometime about midday it went out. I
kept an eye, and a meter, on it and it seemed everything was
working properly - it must have been a slipping belt. We stopped
for lunch at about 1 O'clock just short of the locks.
We set off again at 14:30 and made our way down the locks. It was
a straight forward descent taking less than the two hours we
usually scheduled. Draco was not present at her moorings in the
long pound. At the bottom lock there was a bench I had not
noticed before, it was in memory of the owner of Victoria Eugenie
- we had often passed the time of day with him but never knew his
name. The boat was at its mooring near the corner. We had planned
to reach at least Napton junction tonight but carried on past. At
Bridge 108 I passed a boat going the other way in the bridgehole
- not many places where you can do that. We eventually tied up
for the night in the early evening at about 18:15 on a secluded
bit of towpath near to bridge xx.
Monday 1st October
It was again mid morning before we set off but not quite as late
as yesterday. It was quite windy which made it more difficult to
move off. When we got to Braunston Turn there was a queue at the
service point so I had a look round the chandlery whilst we
waited. There was only one tap working, no doubt this was part of
the reason for the queue, we ended up being there for an hour
before we left with a full water tank and full bottles of
drinking water. We stopped for a short break to walk the dogs
before we went down the Hillmorton flight. Whilst we were going
down a boat in the lock next to us got too close to the front of
the lock and caught its fender on the gate. I did not notice but
Jacquie did but could not attract my attention. A weak link
dropped the boat into the lock by allowing the fender to rise up
before I had chance to act. Jacquie was not very happy, she
believed I should have noticed earlier as I was on the lockside
between the pair of locks. Another 50 minutes took us to the
offside moorings near to Tesco where we stopped whilst I went
shopping.
The stop ended up being for an hour and a half and on setting off
it took about the same time again to reach our eveing mooring
which on this occasion was near to bridge 43.
Tuesday 2nd October
The weather forecast was for rain so we set of a bit earlier,
about 8:30, with our waterproofs on but the weather decided to
improve as we travelled. We arrived at Rose Narrowboats at about
10:00 and stopped for a pump out and a look round their
chandlery. There was duckweed around but not as bad as I had
found it last year. We passed Ansty at midday in bright sunshine
and with the wind less than yesterday it was quite different from
the forecast. We stopped for lunch at the Elephant and Castle,
Jacquie walked the dogs whilst I went to look for a paper. It
took me four attempts and quite a long walk to find the Telegraph
for which I had a pre paid voucher.
Lunch ended up being rushed when I got back to the boat and we
set off again at 2 O'clock. I filled up some water bottles whilst
waiting for the stop lock but soon we were turning north on the
Coventry Canal. We had not gone far when I realised I had left my
key at the water point and hurried back for it whilst Jacquie
cruised on slowly. We turned into the Ashby Canal at 15:30 and
shortly afterwards saw the trip boat Lady Godiva going the other
way. Although it was fairly close to Fenny Compton we had never
been up here so we did not know what to expect or where we might
find a mooring. We eventually found a good place to moor just
short of the 8-mile milepost where there was a good towpath for
the dogs.
Wednesday 3rd October
I start the morning wiring up the new battery whilst I wait for
Jacquie to wake up. She eventually surfaces at 8:30 thinking it
is 7:30! We are on our way before ten and noted the Nicholsons
mentions some offside moorings. When we get there it is not
obvious how you get to town and there are lots of moored boats so
I decide to try mooring on the towpath. It was a mistake, the
edge was shallow so difficult to moor and then the trip to the
shops involved a muddy track over the canal to join the route
from the visitor moorings! I managed to get the last Telegraph
before we were on our way again. We stopped again to drop off the
rubbish and let the puppies off - Morsom decide he wanted off as
well and jumped off uninvited. We had another 15 minute stop for
the dogs at Market Bosworth visitor moorings. On our way up the
canal I spotted the steam narrowbaot Adamant.
We decided that we would not try to get to the end of the canal
as time was tight and turned at bridge 53 at about 14:30. This
allowed time to look at the Motte and Bailey as we slowly passed
the boats moored to the adjacent field. Back at Market Bosworth
we stopped again to let the dogs off for a quick walk after which
Jacquie walked two of them on for a few bridges. Whilst the canal
was quite rural it did not seem too special when we were used t
the Oxford and had seen the Caldon just a year ago. I did wonder
at a few of the bridges if they might have been the inspiration
for the British Waterways logo of a bridge with rushes. We
stopped a photographed the aqueduct as we passed over and then
stopped for the night by an old railway bridge at about half past
five. That gave us time to walk the dogs along the track to the
old railway station at Shenton, and to have a quick look at the
battlefield.
Thursday 4th October
We set off just before 10:00 and stopped at the offside moorings
so I could go for a paper, Jacquie ended up with T&T across
the cut due to the wind and having to miss another boat coming
round the bend. There were no telegraphs left so I walked back to
the other bridge where I had arranged to meet Jacquie. Whilst I
was waiting I looked in at Ashby canal cruisers and bought a
couple of postcards although the selection was not too good -
late in the season I suppose. A little later we stopped to walk
the dogs near a factory with a very strong odour permeating the
air. At about midday we arrived at the New Marina at yyyy and
stopped to have a look. We bought some Diesel and some supplies
from the shop, including the elusive Telegraph. I was cooking us
some lunch when we came across a Club Line boat across the canal
and blocking our progress. I gave them a hand to get back into
the bank before we carried on.
After lunch Jacquie decided to walk some of the dogs but choose
the wettest bit of towpath to do it on! When we got back to the
junction the canal was busy with two coming into the Ashby and
one going past towards Coventry. We turned left towards Nuneaton
at 15:30 almost exactly 2 days after we entered the canal. At
Nuneaton we saw some interesting looking galvanised fencing in
the canal. I spent some time extracting them and storing them on
the bow, they appeared to be similar to towpath gates we had seen
further along the canal. With the gates secured we continued on
our way stopping for the night at the Anchor at just after six
p.m. Later in the evening we went in for a meal.
Friday 5th October
It had rained overnight and the forecast was for more but when we
set off at 9:30 it was sunny. We made it to Atherstone just
before 11 a.m. and we let the dogs off whilst the top lock was
filling and we chatted to the BW staff working there. Jacquie
took the boat down whilst I went off to the shop and joined her
again at the next lock down. There was slow boat ahead of us and
we started to catch up but this meant more work as the locks here
empty well but are slow to fill. We stopped in lock 10 to let the
dogs off whilst the boat ahead, Faith, went through the bottom
lock. We eventually left the flight at about 13:20 and ate the
batches I had bought for lunch.
We were out of the last lock of the day, Glascote bottom, just
after 4 p.m. and made it to Peel's wharf by 16:30, there were BW
staff getting ready to leave. Using some side fenders as rollers
we manoeuvred the gates to the van, they are quite heavy. We did
ask if we should try to return them but were told we should keep
them. We needed help to get them in the van, it was a tight
squeeze but we managed without having to get them in through the
side door. What Jacquie would do back in Somerset was another
question entirely! We then moved off and having turned went back
to more just through the bridge, next to a warehouse, on the
Birmingham route at about 17:30.
Saturday 6th October
Jacquie leaves from Peel's wharf at about 9:40 to go to a
committee meeting, she will be going from there home to Somerset
as she has to work Monday and Tuesday. I get a paper on the way
back to boat and although the engine is slow to start I am on my
way before 10:00. I leave the dogs below for the first mile or so
to get past the dog walking area. Drayton Manor bridge is open
and has a lot of boats moored nearby. I reach the bottom lock and
start the climb into Birmingham at just after 11 a.m.. When I
reach Doublet lock I find a convenient mooring ring so I stop to
give the dogs a quick walk. Here and, at other places on this
canal, there is a "place identifier" made from bricks
and tiles spelling out "Dog Field". Since the boat is
tied up I decide it might be a good lunchtime stop so I lock the
dogs below and walk back to the Dog and Doublet for a pint.
The afternoon is showery and they always seem to come at the
worst times when I have least access to waterproofs due to
working locks! I meet boats going the other way at several locks
however which makes life easier. Having taken on water below
Curdworth top lock I ascend the lock where is not too easy to get
back on board single handed due to the works for the Birmingham
North Relief Road which will pass here. There is a notice giving
telephone numbers for information about water conservation keys
as several locks in Birmingham require their use. A bit late for
someone coming in at a weekend perhaps? I leave there at 15:20
and carry on, I would have liked to let the dogs off for a quick
walk below Minworth locks but the canal is too shallow near to
the towpath. Leaving the top lock just after five I look for
somewhere that I will fell reasonably safe to moor at and find a
spot out of sight of the nearest bridges and with little sign of
habitation. With the dogs I should be alright and in any case I
only saw a few cyclists.
Sunday 7th October
I was wakened by an alarm from a nearby factory at just after 5
a.m. so I let the dogs off and then went back to bed. When I got
up again I walked off to find a church for Mass but the early
morning Mass shown in my guide is no longer said do I return to
the boat and move off just after 9 a.m. in sunshine although a
storm is forecast. There was a small fishing match near Salford
Junction when I pass at 9:30 going straight on. There are signs
warning of delays due to dredging and advising an alternative
rout - I decide to continue on. At lock 12 a fisherman tells me
he thinks they have finished dredging, he thinks that they have
run out of money. He talks of safes, cars and settees coming out
of the canal. Further along the canal the dredging equipment is
"moored" in the middle of the canal near to a lock, the
park here is full of people playing football. The next lock has
nowhere to tie up the boat whilst I set it - then I notice some
convenient bars under the road bridge and tie the boat to these.
Whilst I am rising in the lock I walk up to set the next one,
there is a fishing match going on here but a towpath on both
sides makes it reasonably easy. I have always wondered about the
gates in the bridges and I find out what they are for - A fire
engine stops on the bridge and unlocks the gate to check it is
still working they are so the fire brigade can use canal water in
case of need! As I walk back to close the gates to the lock the
bailiff in charge of the fishing match apologises saying if he
had thought he could have closed the gates for me. Lock eight is
the first one to need the water conservation key, the same as
those we got on the Leicester section a few years ago but much
easier as they are spring loaded. There are kids watching as I
work the lock and they close the gates behind me. The fishing
match is now also behind leaving a clear run up the Perry Barr
flight which looks splendid. Timing is bad however, I meet boats
going the other way at locks 6 and 7 but locks 6 and 5 need
emptying due to faults! The dogs get off for a quick bit of
exercise at lock 4. I get to the top and tie up on the Perry Barr
Visitor moorings at about 13:20. The water tap opposite is out of
use. Whilst having lunch it starts to rain and it gets very
heavy. As I am not in any hurry I decide to call it a day and
stay where I am for the night.
Monday 8th October
After walking up the road to find the shops and get a paper I am
moving just after nine a.m. following a short shower. It looks
quite wet on the towpath under the trees, we moored here a few
years ago. I notice that there are small brick pillars in the
embankment holding up the rock that forms the sides. There are
also areas where the canal is covered in floating rubbish. This
can be a very attractive section of canal if only the locals look
after it but today it is not at its best. I am at Rushall
junction just after ten and turn left, there are lots of laces
suitable for walking the dogs in this area. In the end I stop
just before Ocker Hill junction to give them a good walk. I walk
the puppies up to the Junction and notice a water point outside
the BW building - it is not shown in my copy of Nicholsons. I
decide to move the boat over to there and fill up. There is a
self pump out facility also available so I enquire about using
it. A card is needed which I buy for £5 it has ten credits on it
for the pump out and for the shower. A note on the pump out says
it will not work if there are not enough credits left on the card
but how many does it take? I give it a try, it means running back
and forth between the boat and the control panel which is in the
building. You can pause the pump out, you don't pay for the
pauses, whilst you rinse the tank. I decide it would be a lot
easier if I wasn't single handed at the moment but am pleasantly
surprised by the cost, it may be a mistake but I am charged one
unit (50 pence) for six minutes pumping which must be the
cheapest I have ever known. I decide to stay there for lunch as
well as there is no one else around and then walk the dogs again
before moving off again at about 13:10.
As I pass the tunnel branch I look in at the secure moorings, not
much room but quite a good place to be in the middle of a city.
Before I reach the first lock I notice black sediment being
churned up by the boat in places. Another lock requiring a water
conservation key is found and little to help someone working
single handed. It is not too bad when I reach the main flight as
the locks are close together and I can leave the boat in one
whilst I deal with another. The towpath is wide and I see a BW
van driving up alongside the locks. I leave the top of the flight
at just after 3 and have a chat with a cyclist. He says it is
nice to see a boat on this deserted stretch of canal. I discuss
the branch with him and he says it was alright a few years ago
but he has not been up it recently and would not recommend it
single handed - I decide to carry on an go up another day. As I
turn on to the main line there is a hire boat passing. I look for
somewhere to pull in to give the dogs a walk but despite towpaths
on both side cannot find anywhere moorable - most of it is too
shallow at the sides. Eventually I manage to get in and tied up
to some railings close enough to let the dogs stretch their legs.
Another couple of boats pass whilst I am tied up. The water here
looks a bit cleaner than it did at the locks so I also take the
opportunity to go down the weedhatch and clear the prop. The old
main line is closed as I pass Bromford Junction at about 16:20.
When I reach Smethick junction just before five there are two
hire boats going the other way. Eventually I make it to the
centre of town and tie up on 48 Hour Moorings at about 17:40 - I
will have to walk the dogs a fair way back along the towpath but
I am sure they will not complain.
Tuesday 9th October
Today I have to decide do I stay where I am or go exploring? I
walk the dogs and feed them and walk them again. As I do this I
notice that there is now a space on the 14 day moorings - moor
convenient for walking the dogs and in particular the old man.
The gas also runs out so I will have to get a new bottle. This is
a prestigious area so BW have a team clearing rubbish from the
towpath and the water I ask one of them if Sherbourne Wharf is
open and selling gas - they say they believe so. At 10:20 I leave
my mooring and turn into the Oozells street loop. Having bought
my gas I exit the loop and reverse into the 14-day mooring all by
just after 11. Now all I have to do, apart from charging
batteries, is to explore Birmingham on foot and keep the dogs
happy. I also took time to find New Street Station ready to meet
Jacquie there. There were problems however as some of the easier
looking routes went through shopping centres that looked like
they might be closed at night. She arrived safely so now we were
ready to finish moving T&T to her new home.
Wednesday 10th October
It would not take until the weekend to get T&T to Tibberton
so how would we spend the extra time? We could explore some of
the BCN or explore Birmingham. Jacquie decided we would do the
latter. First we went to the Sealife centre, it was crowded with
a school party but the tickets were valid all day so we left
after a quick look with the intention to return. We then had a
walk through town taking lunch and a drink in the Tap and Spile
overlooking Gas Street Basin. Back to the boat to walk the dogs
and charge the batteries for the camera and then a return visit
to the sealife centre. We were there until closing time when we
were hurried out as a private party was coming in. In the evening
we went to have a pub meal and then walked round the town centre
viewing the various sculptures and admiring the lighting effects.
Thursday 11th October
After a lazy start we left our mooring just before 11 a.m.. We
were facing the wrong way so we had to turn somewhere and decided
we might as well cruise the loops. I had done some exploring of
them on foot with the dogs on Tuesday now we would get to see
their whole length. It was nearly 11:20 when we turned into the
Soho loop and soon came across Winston Green Bridge. Jacquie
immediately recognised the name and took photos for work. Passing
through the bridge we noted that the prison used to have a water
entrance. We turned up to Hockley Port and stopped there to get
rid of rubbish and fill the drinking water bottles. We were not
used to these turns and both getting in and out took more effort
that perhaps it ought to have. At nearly 12:30 we sounded the
horn and crossed the main line into the Icknield Port loop, by
doing this we missed the fishermen on the main line. Passing the
BW yard at the end of the loop we carried on reached the towpath
limit where I had walked the dogs on Tuesday. Back onto the main
line we stopped for a quick comfort break for the dogs before
going round the Oozels street loop. Here we had to change the
memory card in the camera. We turned towards Gas Street and as we
entered Jacquie got off with the camera to take photos of T&T
in the basin. I took her down the basin towards the James
Brindley turned and went through into the Worcester and
Birmingham, at about 13:30, picking Jacquie up at the stop.
By the time we pass the Stratford canal, at about 15:20, Jacquie
is down below resting as she is not feeling to well - she will
need to be at her best tomorrow for the locks! Wast hill tunnel
takes about half an hour and we then cruise on to tie up for the
night opposite the mmmm pub at Alvechurch - there were a number
of hire boats tied up here as well.
Friday 12th October
We move off just before ten a.m. and stop at the boat yard where
Jacquie goes to have a look in the shop. Before Tardebigge tunnel
there is a boat yard that was Dartline and is now Anglo Welsh -
it is not shown in our Nicholsons. Through the tunnel we stop to
get rid of the rubbish before we start down the locks at about
11:20. There is a boat ahead of us without our rhythm so we catch
up with them. I tell them how I am working the locks and he
starts to use my technique but by the reservoir (which was empty
- apparently for repair work) he stops and lets us past. Jacquie
takes a turn at lock wheeling but the top paddles are a little
heavy for her and progress is not quite so fast. We leave
Tardebigge bottom lock at 16:10 and tie up round the corner to
walk the dogs. About an hour latter we set off again eventually
tying up below Stoke Works just before 7 p.m..
Saturday 13th October
Our last day, soon we would be at our new mooring. We have an
uneventful trip down passing the Droitwich canal with a notice,
that could do with repainting, mentioning the restoration work.
There is also a boat yard here and a lot of moored boats to slow
us down. In places the channel between the reeds is quite narrow
and there would be few places where it would be easy to moor. We
arrive at Tibberton in the early afternoon and look to tie up. We
had been told to tie on the end of the line of boats but there
was not enough room. There was a boat in front so we asked if
they were supposed to be there as we had been told to take the
end. It seems they had been told the same thing and had just
arrived themselves, they agreed to move up after their lunch. We
settled the dogs and went to the pub for lunch, it was a little
late but they were still serving.
©Michael Cobb 2002
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This page last updated 19/02/02