On the Stratford Canal to Shirley

Lapworth top lock

We left our moorings in cool but sunny weather at 9:45 and quickly ascended the remaining 4 Lapworth locks helped by the crew of the boat in front of us setting the lock paddles ready for us before they left.  After Lapworth Top Lock there are no further locks to work until the other side of Birmingham.

On the Stratford Canal 

In a cutting on the Stratford Canal

The canal then took us past two manual footpath lift bridges neither of which required any work from us as they were being operated by other boaters.  Going on to the west, the canal frequently passed through very attractive heavily wooded cuttings and  under the not so attractive M42 to take us to our planned moorings on the edge of Birmingham just beyond Shirley Draw Bridge.

Passing under Shirley Draw Bridge

Unlike the other two this bridge is on a busy road.  Fortunately it is highly automated - just press on the "Open" button to turn the traffic lights red, close the barriers and raise the bridge.  After the boat has passed through through press on the "Close" button to lower the bridge, open the barriers and turn the traffic lights green.  Finally one gives a cheery wave to the long queue of cars who have been patiently waiting and carries on one's way.

The statistics show 7.27 miles, 4 locks and 1 bridge in 3 hours 50 minutes.  At an average of over 3 "things" an hour this is reasonably good going.  However it hides the fact that although lock and bridge operation was quick, cruising was very slow.  Most of the journey was made at a speed of around 2 mph because of the shallowness of the canal and the need to drive slowly past the numerous moored boats.  With a normal cruising speed of 3 mph, 2 mph seems extremely slow.