Into central Birmingham

We set off early at 8:30am for the 10 mile lock-free trip into central Birmingham, travelling all the way within the built-up area of the city.  The weather was dry and we were making reasonable progress.  On the way we stopped at a water point to fill up the tank and a boatyard for a  pump-out.

Rubbish from around the prop

 The boat was moving very slowly with some vibration.  I had ascribed this to the canal being very shallow, but after a while decided to check the prop.  It was one of the worst prop foulings we have ever had on Densie - a curtain and black plastic bag were wrapped tightly around the blades.  It was surprising the engine hadnt stalled.  With 10 minutes pulling the rubbish was removed and we went on our way, travelling very much faster and more smoothly.

On the Worcester & Birmingham Canal about 1 mile from Central Birmingham

Approaching Gas Street Basin

The flowery bridge links Symphony Hall and Brindley Place

At Kings Norton Junction we turned right onto the Worcester & Birmingham Canal going through the University area and Edgbaston in the occasional heavy shower of rain... Soon after 1 pm we cruised through Gas Street Basin and past Symphony Hall and Brindley Place, mooring up at our normal spot below the Sealife Centre and opposite the National Indoor Arena.

We are going out tonight to a recommended Indian Restaurant and tomorrow we will be at  Symphony Hall to hear a classical concert.  No more news until we leave on Thursday.

Staying near Shirley Draw Bridge

We havent moved today.  It was a choice between a night in Birmingham, with the possible implication that we stayed for 3 days on a 2 day mooring.  Remaining here tonight avoids the question and the area is much quieter with less chance of disturbance during the night.

The weather has been damp all day and it is now raining fairly heavily.

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.

Just half a mile

Ascending the Lapworth flight

Moored on our own above Lock 6 at Lapworth

We are ahead of schedule and dont want to be in central Birmingham until Monday at the very earliest.  It had rained heavily overnight and was still damp when we got up so so we didnt set off until 11:30 and then only moved 0.5 miles and 9 locks up the canal helped by a CRT volunteer.  Densie is moored 4 locks below the top of the flight at a point whee there is a significant distance between locks.  Total journey time 1.5 hours.

During our journey many runners passed by.  A member of a team taking part who has unable to run because of injury was walking on the towpath and provided some information. The run was from the other side of Stratford on Avon to Bournville in Birmingham, a total of 30 miles.  Some people were undertaking the whole distance, others as a 3-person relay, 10 miles each.  The person out in front was a member of Birchfield Harriers and of "elite" ranking.  I was told a runner of this standard could expect to run 10 miles in 1 hour 5 minutes.  We will be passing Bounville in two day's time - plenty fast enough!

Back on the narrow canals - up the Stratford Canal

On the Grand Union above Hatton

Shrewley Tunnel with towpath tunnel

 After yesterday's exertions today was quieter.  We left the Hatton flight moorngs at 8:40 and cruised towards Birmingham in unexpectedly (to us) nice scenery and sunny weather.  Early on we passed through Shrewley Tunnel with its unique (as far as I can recollect) separate tunnel for the towpath.  The canal tunnel was fairly wet, I suspect the towpath tunnel wouldnt be any better.

Densie entering Lock 19 on the Lapworth Flight

At Kingswood Junction we left the wide Grand Union and returned to the narrow canals joining the Stratford Canal which links Birmingham and Stratford on Avon..  The journey into Birmingham starts with 19 locks of the Lapworth flight.  These, being narrow locks, are much easier and quicker to operate than the wide locks on the Grand Union.  We moored up after ascending 6 locks where a gap between locks leaves space for visitor moorings.  In total a journey of 5.5 miles and 6 locks in 3.5 hours.

The Hatton Flight

Densie and Boojum wait for the lock gates to be opened on the Hatton Flight

A change of pace today as we ascended the daunting 21 lock Hatton Flight that takes the Grand Union Canal up 146 foot in 1.5 miles out of Warwick and into the countryside.  As before these locks are double width with heavy gates.  Luckily we were able to pair up with narrowboat Boojum and its experienced crew of 2.  For much of the journey the two boats travelled next to each other out of one lock and into the next speeding up lock entry and impressing the groups of sight-seers. At some locks further time was saved by "lock wheeling" -  one person going ahead to ready the next look whilst the previous one was filling.  3.5 hours after leaving last night's mooring we were able to moor again at the top of the flight and enjoy a shared bottle of beer.

Shopping in Leamington and then to Warwick

Yesterday Denise had noticed a shop selling Tilley hats so after breakfast we walked into Leamington centre to buy me a new one as my old hat is starting to disintegrate.    Going into the shop, a "Gentlemens Oufitter, established over 100 years" was like stepping back 30 years or more.  Rails full of tweed jackets and corduroy trousers, a wide range of shirts and smart ties, many other hats including boaters and countryman flat caps - great stuff!.  Having made my purchase the shopkeeper carefully wrote out a receipt by hand.

Just beyond the "gentlemen's outfitters" was a real fishmonger's and further on a butcher's.  Perhaps worth mentioning that yesterday we had lunch at a "Tea Rooms and Piano Bar".  Very good burger and chips accompanied by the uninterrupted light music of the resident pianist.  I am beginning to warm to Leamington!

On the Grand Union n Leamington

AT the bottom Cape Lock, Warwick

But we had to move on.  Finding a supermarket was urgent as there is little opportunity for major food shopping after Leamington until the other side of Birmngham.  For many years the standard place for boaters to stop was the Tescos  between Leamington and Warwick where there are a few moorings. However just a mile after leaving and still well within Leamington we passed near a Morrisons situated across the road that runs alongside the canal.   We got  everything we needed there and then carried on westwards.

After crossing the aqueduct over the River Avon we enter Warwick,   Up the two Cape Locks with narrowboat "Rusty Nail" and then we moored near the well known canalside "Cape of Good Hope" pub.  Overall  a total of 3 miles and two locks in 2 hours cruising.  An easy day, but tomorrow will be very, very different.  More news later.