Going North on the Shropshire Union Canal

Our last posting was from the Cannock Extension Canal which is a branch off the Wyrley and Essington Canal.  We decided that it would not be wise to moor on a Saturday evening in the centre of Wolverhampton and so did a short day stopping at Sneyd Junction. 

There is a short arm here which used to go up through several locks to form two more branches of the canal.  You can see the remains of the first lock in the picture.

It was a very calm evening at Sneyd Junction as you can see from this view out of the window on Leo.











On Sunday we carried on to Wolverhampton

We passed this splendid Duck Castle.  You can see the weed in the canal which is very pretty but gives slow progress as the tendrils continually get wrapped round the prop.

We had lunch at the top of the 21 locks of the Wolverhampton flight.  The first lock is by the cottage.  We debated whether to go down, and in the end we did because it was quieter and safer lower down.

And here is where we spent Sunday night between locks 17 and 18 of the flight.  There are a couple of long pounds down here which are fine for mooring.  It is quiet and peaceful compared to the centre.









So what did we really think of the Wyrley and Essington?  It is a most underused canal. In six days we saw only half a dozen boats moving.  Sitting at the top of the flight in Wolverhampton we saw four boats in an hour!  The canal is fairly urban but as often forms a green corridor among houses.  Sometimes there are good views and occasionally you are in open country.  We especially enjoyed mooring by Chasewater Reservoir.  So in summary it is not a canal we will hurry back to visit, but it was certainly interesting and provides a different route through the West Midlands.  Once the restorations are complete of the link to Hatherton on the Staffs and Worcs and the link to Huddlestone near Lichfield on the Coventry Canal, we are sure the Wyrley will get a lot more use.

By Monday morning we were heading North on the Shropshire Union which we have not cruised for a couple of years.

But first we had to contend with navigating this.  We strongly suspect that it was a hire boat we saw coming up the Wolverhampton flight who left the bottom paddles partly open and the top gates wide open on lock 21, the last in the flight.  It took us a while to refill the pound and complete our descent from Wolverhampton on Monday.

Once through the last lock you are on the Staffs and Worcs Canal again for just half a mile turning right and then turning left (where the boat ahead is going) onto the Shropshire Union.  This starts with a stop lock with a fall of about 4 inches.  It was put in originally so that the Shropshire Union did not take water from the S&W.

The Wyrley and Essington is nicknamed the 'Curly Whirly' for good reasons but look how straight the Shroppie is.  This is a late canal built by Thomas Telford and has all his hallmarks of deep cuttings and high embankments.

This fine balustraded bridge was required by the local landowner to fit in with the estate.

Last night we moored in Brewood but out on the embankment in the sunshine not down in this cutting where we had moored before.  In this hot weather it is always a question whether to have the sun for the solar panel or the shade to keep us cool.

Brewood has some lovely old buildings including this strange house called Speedwell House after a horse.  A bet on the horse provided the funds to build the house.
















Today we've cruised on to Gnosall where we are moored tonight.

Soon after leaving Brewood you come over Stretton Aqueduct which crosses the A5.  Interesting that Telford was responsible also for the road.

Now we are on a much more popular canal.  We had to queue for the one lock today at Wheaton Aston.  Still we were able to have a coffee and chat to the others in line waiting their turn.

This is Cowley Tunnel cut, as you can see, through solid rock.  It is short and before it is a long narrow rock cut section of canal which was intended to be part of the tunnel but the top was taken off because the rock was unstable.








And finally a few novelty photos to finish off this posting:

These are our flowers on the roof of Leo.  The Fuschia on the left was a disaster earlier in the year after an attack of greenfly.  The Petunias  were half price in Pershore and have come on a treat.  We left the flowers in the care of David and Victoria when we went home for a few days and we are grateful for their tender care of them.

We are always on the lookout for the smallest narrowboat (not sure why) and reckon this might win the prize.  It looked like a model but there was a chap onboard whose head was bent because of the restricted headroom.

Here is an example of the mileposts along the Shroppie.  We are heading from Autherley Junction to Nantwich via Norbury Junction.











The Shroppie is lovely; quiet and peaceful with fine views from the embankments. There are few villages close by but those that are, seem to be interesting and full of old buildings.  The pubs are good too.

We shall be carrying on Northwards over the next few days.

Exploring the Birmingham Canal Navigations and more

Well it's been a while since I posted anything on this blog.  My excuses are that we had visitors over last weekend, we changed our method of internet connection and then, to cap it all, the fridge broke down.

As it has been a while I think the best way to catch up will be to tell you where we've been and then show a few photos of memorable people and places rather than the usual day by day account of our travels.

We returned back along the Stourbridge branch and then turned right up the 16 locks of the Stourbridge flight.  We then explored the Fens Branch, a couple of dead ends, North of the Stourbridge Canal.  There are some really nice green areas around Birmingham which have been developed on the location of old colliery workings.  Goodness it must have been grim when these were black rather than green.  We stopped below the 8 Delph locks last Friday and waited for our visitors, our daughter Lucy and her friend Becca.  They had expressed a wish to do some locks with us, so the following day we climbed the 8 locks to Merry Hill and moored by the shopping centre for Ian to sort out problems with charges on the dongle we have been using.  It took ages but we now have a "free" tablet to play with too.

We carried on to Park Head and walked up the three locks to see the South portal of the Dudley Tunnel and then cruised on to Windmill End (by the entrance to the Netherton Tunnel) for the evening.  We followed a recommendation from a fellow boater and went to Ma Pardoe's at the Swan at Netherton which was reasonably priced and excellent.  On Sunday we visited Hawne Basin via the Gosty Hill Tunnel.  This is only 600 yards long but varies in height from huge to just above our roof line.

Back down that branch and then through the Netherton Tunnel (which is cavernous) to Birmingham where we met with David and Victoria on Pas Mèche who we had not seen for nearly two weeks.  Cue for some photos:

This is taken part way up the Stourbridge 16 locks.  The curious cone shaped building is the Red Cone Glass Works.  Stourbridge is famous for making quality glass.

Here's our new lock crew for the eight Delph Locks.  Lucy is on the left and Becca on the right.  While the two young ones are posing you can see Helen in the background setting the next lock.  Actually Lucy and Becca did help a lot.

Here's a nice picture taken by Becca of the Wrights (though obviously without David) sitting on a lock beam on the Delph Locks.

This view is at Park Head looking down the three locks which lead up to the Dudley Tunnel.  The tunnel is not open to diesel engined boats unless under tow by an electric tug or by legging through.  We didn't.

Gosty Hill Tunnel has this odd picture of Dracula which looms up in the headlight.  You can see the drop in height of the tunnel at this point.

This interesting representation of spraying graffiti is one of several information boards on the Hawne Basin branch of the Dudley Canal.  It is beside a toll island in the canal where loaded boats were measured and charged tolls.

Netherton Tunnel is about a mile and three-quarters long with sufficient width to pass and a towpath each side.  It was one of the later canal tunnels built.

Coming into Birmingham we went round the loops of the Old Main Line and here is a most unusual situation with a cross roads of canals.

Here's a nice photo of Becca and Lucy.  Note that Becca has her hand on the tiller.  She proved to be an excellent steerer.

And here we are coming into Birmingham.  Pas Mèche is the green boat with the red flowers on top on the right.  We moored right behind.  It was lovely to see David and Victoria again, if only fairly briefly.

We had to say goodbye to Lucy and Becca who had to drive home and then we had a meal out with David and Victoria.  On Monday we descended the 13 Farmer's Bridge Locks and the 11 Aston Locks mooring together at Cuckoo Wharf close to Salford Junction which is a canal junction almost underneath the M6 junction known as Spaghetti Junction.  Here sadly we said our goodbyes and Pas Mèche went right on the Birmingham and Fazeley heading South while we turned left on the Tame Valley Canal.

We had problems with dry pounds on both the Perry Bar Locks (13) and the Rushall Locks (9) but since reaching the top on the Wyrley and Essington Canal and its branches we have had no problems other than the fridge which stopped working on Tuesday evening.  We only bought it last October and Shoreline who made it said it was an unusual fault and would have to be returned.  This is difficult from a canal boat but we were delighted that Darren Cook of Midland Chandlers who supplied the fridge agreed to deliver a new fridge to us at the top of the Rushall Locks on the same day we phoned them.  That really is excellent customer service.  Thank you Midland Chandlers for getting us out of a difficult situation.

On Thursday we cycled into Walsall and visited the Leather Museum.  This is well worth a visit and is even free!  Did you know that Walsall was, and to an extent still is, the centre of leather manufacture in the UK and at one time in the world?  Wendy in the museum who used to sew and make leather wallets and purses showed us how to stitch leather and went on to demonstrate the other machines common in a leather workshop.  Fascinating.  Even the coffee was cheap and good.  We had a quick look at the Town Wharf on the Walsall Canal but have decided not to cruise this canal.  The Town Wharf was deserted of boats and looks pretty exposed as a place to spend the night.

We are enjoying the Wyrley and Essington Canal and tonight we are moored on a branch called the Cannock Extension Canal.  Having moved a few hundred yards to avoid a noisy road we first got a mattress round the prop (stopped the engine instantly) and then Ian managed to fling the mallet into the canal.  All now satisfactorily resolved we're pleased to say, though the mattress was heavy and very difficult to remove.  Cue for some more pictures.

The Farmer's Bridge flight of locks creeps under buildings and railway arches as it heads downhill.

This is taken at Salford Junction and you can see Pas Mèche heading away as we turn the other way.  We are keeping in touch but there will be no more cruising together this year.  We haven't fallen out though so we hope to meet boats next year sometime.

The Tame Valley Canal finds its way at first among the columns that support Spaghetti Junction.

This shows part of the Perry Bar flight of locks.  It is close to houses and the Alexander Athletic Stadium but looks green and peaceful despite the anti-vandal locks on the paddle mechanisms.

The Tame Valley Canal is very straight with deep cuttings and a high embankment.  This tall bridge is called Chimney Bridge and spans the cutting.  There were distant views from the embankment of central Birmingham and of Netherton Hill.

This was one empty pound on the Rushall flight which we had to fill from above.

And further up the flight we came to a standstill aground and stuck under this bridge.  Though CRT said they would sort the problem in the end Helen cycled up to the next lock a mile and a half away and slowly managed to fill the long pound.

There are lots of weeds (or should that be flowers) on the Rushall Canal.  One CRT chap told us that only one boat a week comes up here, though in fact we've seen a very few boats on the move so it must be more than that.

A rare picture of Ian at the tiller having just come through the narrows at Catshill Junction where the Daw End Branch meets the main Wyrley and Essington.

On the Anglesey Branch there were lovely views of countryside so the BCN is not all built up townscapes.

This is the peaceful end of the Anglesey Branch and the Dam of Chasewater Reservoir is behind the buildings.  The Reservoir feeds the BCN canals.  There are a couple of short moorings right at the end where the water comes in from the reservoir, though we did not find these until we had turned and moored further back.

Chasewater Reservoir is a playground with sailing, water skiing and this 'wakeboarding' where the skier is pulled along a static wire.  All good entertainment for boaters!

We are forecast torrential thunderstorms for tomorrow, but unless the weather is dire we will cruise on the Wyrley and Essington (sensibly nicknamed the 'Curly Wyrley') to Wolverhampton before going down the 21 locks there on Sunday.  And then the Shroppie beckons.

Back on the Waterways again

We've been home for a few days partly to watch the Tour de Yorkshire as the first three days of the Tour de France seem to have been renamed this year.  Here is our picture of the peloton passing close to Ripley heading into the finish on Stage 1:

On Sunday the cyclists came through our home town of Knaresborough and we were there to cheer them on.

Anyway back on Leo by Monday afternoon we were on a mission to catch up with son David and girlfriend Victoria on Pas Mèche.  They did not come back to Yorkshire with us and have promised to cruise slowly until we catch them up.  On Monday we came out of Worcester Marina where we had left Leo and followed some Viking hire boats down the Diglis Locks.  We spent the night in the pound between the two broad Diglis Locks, though the lock keeper, Mike Thompson, advised against it.  There are mooring rings inviting boats to moor and in fact we were fine.  On Tuesday we came upriver to Stourport and came up the staircase locks to moor above the basins.  The lock keeper at Bevere Lock (seems to be pronounced 'Bevery') on the Severn took issue with our use of VHF radio to tell him we were coming.  Other lock keepers have welcomed use of radio.  It really isn't clear whether one should call ahead or simply hover below the lock until spotted.

Approaching Stourport Bridge - the canal turn right past the end of the floating pontoon

Wednesday we had a long day through Kidderminster and moored in a lovely spot just above Hyde Lock just beyond Kinver.

There is one remaining old mill in the centre of Kidderminster though it is now a Debenhams Store.  Sainsbury's above the deep Town Lock is right by the canal and very convenient or if you prefer Tesco that is equally close to the canal below the lock.

Much of the lower part of the Staffs and Worcester Canal is cut through red sandstone.  This curious cave is beside Debdale Lock.  It was apparently used for stabling horses, though as it is on the side away from the towpath it must have been difficult to get the horses in.

Today we are on new waters which is always fun.  After coming up Stewponey Lock we turned right at Stourton Junction and came up the four locks that begin the Stourbridge Canal.  After a couple of miles of delightful countryside you come to Wordsley Junction and turn right again on a short arm of a mile and a half into Stourbridge itself where we are now moored:

Leo is waiting below the Stourton Locks for Helen to open the gates.  Actually Helen is waiting for Ian to finish taking photos from the other side of the junction and get across the lock to drive Leo in!

Under this bridge a branch goes to the right to Stourbridge.  The lock straight ahead is the first of 16 up to Brierley Hill towards Birmingham.  Those can wait until tomorrow.

We love canal signs.  This is at the same junction.

The Stourbridge Arm is very weedy.  You can see there is a boat coming which means poor Leo has to move right into the weeds, clogging the propellor.

Is it a canal or an ornamental pond?  Very pretty but not so practical.

This is the end of the Stourbridge Arm showing the old crane and the Bonded Warehouse dating from 1790.  You have to pass through some private moorings to reach a tight winding hole to turn the boat by the warehouse.

Here is the view from on land looking up the arm from the end.













So what are our plans now?

We were planning on doing the Ribble Link at the end of July to get onto the Lancaster Canal.  However for a variety of reasons we are not going to do that until next year or after that.  So the plan now is to explore the Dudley Canals and then go through the one and three-quarter mile Netherton Tunnel and back into Central Birmingham.  We'll then follow the Wyrley and Essington Canal (part of the Birmingham Canal Navigations) to reach Wolverhampton by a circuitous route.  From Wolverhampton we will go down the 21 locks and join the Shropshire Union as we head North.

Later plans are for Chester, Ellesmere Port, River Weaver and perhaps even the Huddersfield Narrow and the Standedge Tunnel (the longest in the UK).  We are also discussing a short cruise along the Manchester Ship Canal.  So keep an eye on the blog and follow our progress.