October Trip

A little bit late, but some pictures from our October Trip.

CaRT work boat, broken down in the Edgbaston Tunnel.

Banner for the Lapal Canal restoration, just past Bridge 80. The restored canal will join the Worcester and Birmingham canal at this point, but this has recently (Dec/Jan 12/13) been thrown into some doubt with the most recent plans for the new Sainsburys at Selly Oak no longer showing a link through its site.

Water mooring point just before Gas Street Basin

clear of boats (see reference to Jamie Diddle in previous posts)

Start of Grand Union canal, from Digbeth branch.

Typhoo Basin at end of Digbeth Branch (time for a tea break)

Some interesting 'Banksy' type graffiti at the water point between bridges 102 and 103 on the Grand Union just past the Bordesley Junction.

One of the 3 Garrison locks, part of the proposed route for HS2.

 Very low water level in one of the pounds.

Which led to our fouling the prop with a length of wire hawser. Holding us up for 2 hours whilst I cleared it.

Birmingham and Fazeley Canal

Drayton foot bridge

 Fradley Junction and The Swan

 Trent and Mersey Canal

Fox and Anchor at Cross Green on the Staffordshire and Worcestershire Canal

Bottom of the Wolverhampton 21 at Aldersley Junction

Just over 2 hours later

Chillington Wharf

 

View from Stewart Aqueduct down to Birmingham main line.

Leaving the Engine Branch where we had stayed overnight

Toll house at top of Smethwick locks

Smethwick Junction, back on the main line.

Two friends joined us on the last part of the journey through Birmingham and back to Alvechurch.

Terry studying the route and Sarah with me at the tiller.

Water Point Mooring Update

At the time of the problem referred to below I rang C&RT to complain, but as it was a Saturday, only got an answerphone message. I followed up with an email when I got home and received a reasonably positive response from C&RT's local enforcement officer. This promised to "...ensure that contact is made with the boat owner to establish whether they understand boating conduct, such as:

·         Where it is appropriate to moor and where not.

·         To adhere to the allotted time constraints, for courtesy to other users."

As we are going to cruise up to the Gas Basin again in a couple of weeks it will be interesting to see if Janie Diddle is still there?

July12 Trip - Saturday (Return to Alvechurch)

After a slightly annoying start a very uneventful day.

BCN Society work boats

The only problem was at the very start when attempting to top up with water. As we rounded the corner into the Worcester & Birmingham canal I could see what appeared to be two boats topping up with water. No problem, I just put the engine into neutral and held my position waiting for them to finish. As one of the boats pulled away I realised that the other boat was not topping up with water, but was moored, blocking the water point. Not a real problem, but just thoughtless of the boater (Nb Janie Diddle), still I made as much noise as possible and eventually someone managed to rouse themselves, although when their inconsiderate behaviour was pointed out to them said they were not the boat owner and he had gone off to collect a car!

Boat blocking the water point.

Whilst topping up the water Erica and her friend caught up with us for a tour of the boat, which suitably impressed Erica's friend.

Once we had topped up the water we enjoyed a very uneventful cruise back to Alvechurch. At the Crown Meadow Arm Josie spent a little bit of time practising reversing and winding. Skills very usefully put to use back at Alvechurch where Eos needs to be reversed back into the berth.



Cadbury Factory on way back to Alvechurch



Toll House at King' Norton Junction

We had planned to have our evening meal at the Weighbridge, but unfortunately John & Jayne were on holiday (Norwegian fjords apparently) so no food was being cooked. Went to the Coach & Horses in Weatheroak.