Merry Hill to Wyken Basin

Thursday 10^th September

It was very chilly first thing today and it did not warm up very much all day.

We dropped off the rubbish at the facilities at The Waterfront, and then made our way to Blowers Green Lock – the only one for today. We took on water at the Pump House next to the lock and were able to dispose of most of our recycling (there had been no recycling bin at The Waterfront).

                                        Clean and Tidy Rubbish Disposal Area

We’d now moved off the Dudley No.1 Canal to Dudley No.2.  The next couple of miles meandered through the parish in which we used to live. We had hoped to have coffee at the Bumble Hole Visitor Centre, but, like so many places, it was closed due to Covid-19. We spoke to a local dog-walker who said that the volunteers were still actively looking after the area. We made our own coffee and moved on through Netherton tunnel. The towpath through the tunnel is in good condition and we met a couple of Nordic walkers on the way through.

                                     Netherton Tunnel (and the light at the end of it)

Right turn onto the New Main Line at Dudley Port Junction, through Smethwick (lunch on the move) and into Birmingham. We moored at Cambrian Wharf and decided to take a short walk alongside the canals of central Birmingham. We visited the Lego Shop and had a chat with the couple on Good Enough who had followed us up Delph yesterday and whom we had followed through Blowers Green this morning.

                                                                                                 Lego Giraffe

There were very few people (and boats) around, presumably because of the recent stabbings and the rise in Covid-19 cases. There was no sound at all from The Flapper during the evening.

Miles: 13.00        Locks: 1                Total Miles: 162.50           Total Locks: 110

Friday 11^th September

Another day of lots of locks lay in front of us so we made an early start leaving our mooring at 7.45 to start down the Farmers Bridge flight – this is yet another canal, the Birmingham-Fazeley. 

                                                               Farmers Bridge Locks

Another boat, La Dolce Vita, was before us though. They had started down the locks soon after 7.00 so were well ahead of us. Although we were having to turn every lock, we made good progress and caught La Dolce Vita up a couple of locks from the bottom. 

                                          Attractive development on Farmers Bridge Flight            

We paused to have a coffee before starting down the Aston flight. Then onwards working with the crew of La Dolce Vita, we finished the flight. La Dolce Vita stopped for water, so we overtook them and carried on to the Minworth locks. Here we met a couple of boats coming up the locks – there had been very few boats around all day.

We moored at Cuttle Bridge Inn – not the quietest of moorings being under the flight path to Birmingham Airport, but with an outlook on harvested fields. We had a late lunch – unlike on Wednesday when lunch was missed completely!

We enjoyed a walk through some of the fields opposite our mooring before settling down for the evening.

Weather was dry but cloudy and breezy for most of the day with some sunshine in the late afternoon.

We leant on the evening news that stricter Covid-19 restrictions had been announced for Birmingham, Sandwell and Solihull.

Miles: 8.00          Locks: 27              Total Miles: 168.50           Total Locks: 137

Saturday 12^th September

We woke to a bright, sunny morning and it remained sunny all day, though a sharp breeze meant it was not always warm.

We set off just after 8.00, but were obviously following at least one other boat as most of the eleven Curdworth Locks were set against us (except for a couple in the middle when we crossed with a boat going towards Birmingham). This is a pleasant flight with planters of herbs and flowers at the side of many of the the locks, together with notices announcing preparations for wildflower meadows.

We stopped for coffee on the moorings between Locks 8 & 9 and then carried on as far as Fazeley Mill Marina. Parts of this stretch of canal are very shallow and we had slight problems when passing other boats. We were going to have a pump out oat the marina, but there were already a couple of boats wanting the same thing, so we moored up and had lunch while we waited.

After having the pump out, we moved along the canal and moored opposite David and Mary Litchfield’s home. We needed to post a granddaughter’s birthday card so walked round to the local Tesco Express for a stamp and some milk. We then found a post-box and returned to the boat.

Steve decided he needed to go into the weed hatch and remove stuff from round the propeller – nothing very exciting, just plastic bags and an unidentifiable ring of rubber and plastic.

We held a conversation with David and Mary across the canal.

Fish and chips for our evening meal and then coffee with David and Mary.

Miles: 6.50          Locks: 11              Total Miles: 175.00           Total Locks: 148

Sunday 13^th September

We left Fazeley at 8.30 and turned on to the Coventry Canal. Even this early, we began to see more boats than we had done yesterday – it certainly looks as if people are avoiding Birmingham. 

Glascote Locks were their usual slow selves, but at least this time there was no queue (see 24^th August).

                                                            Poem at Glascote Locks

We stopped for coffee near Alvecote Marina.

Today was sunny and hot – completely different from any other day this trip. We were glad of the gentle breeze.

We stopped for lunch before starting the Atherstone Locks, and then just did the first (or last, if you go by the numbering) four locks before stopping for the day.

The beam on the bottom gate of the bottom lock snapped a few weeks ago - the photo shows the temporary repair.

                                                Fields either side of River Anker

                                            The same area in September 2019

Miles: 9.00          Locks: 6                Total Miles: 184.00           Total Locks: 154

Monday 14^th September

Another lovely day – warm and sunny. We met boats at several of the remaining seven Atherstone locks; some of them had made very early starts to avoid the heat of the day – one had left Hartshill at 6.30. VLKs at top lock helped us through. We got rid of our rubbish (but not our recycling) at the facility at top lock.

We had coffee on the move, but stopped at Springwood Haven to pick up a new gas bottle (and an ice cream).

We stopped for lunch in Nuneaton near the Cock and Bear Bridge and then made our way towards Hawkesbury. Through the lock there and onto the Oxford Canal and the last leg before our home base. We arrived back at the basin at about 4.00. We transferred our belongings from the boat to our car, and then had a last cup of tea on the boat before going home.

It wasn’t the trip we had planned, but it had been a good one nonetheless.

Miles: 13.75        Locks: 8                Total Miles: 197.75           Total Locks: 162

Acton Trussell to Merry Hill

Saturday 5^th September

Although the morning dawned bright and sunny, it definitely feels like autumn. We set off at 8.30 following another boat. We made slow, but steady, progress up Shutt Hill, Park Gate, Longford and Penkridge Locks before stopping at Penkridge for water, shopping and lunch in that order. We enjoyed our stroll round Penkridge which has a variety of shops and some interesting looking buildings.

Filance, Otherton, Rodbaston and Boggs Locks followed much the same pattern as the morning ones – not exactly a queue, but always following close behind another boat and more often than not, waiting for one to come down.

It looks as if it has been a good year for moorhens – we have seen several groups of young ones.

                                                 Teenage Moorhens

We moored after Boggs Lock at a surprisingly peaceful spot despite the M6 and the A5 being close by. We walked along to Gailey Lock and were told by the VLK there that the Canal Shop is closed as the mother and daughter who run it are still shielding because of Covid-19.

We have had several hours of welcome warm sunshine today.

Miles: 6.5             Locks: 8                Total Miles: 106.75           Total Locks: 61

Sunday 6^th September

Another bright, sunny morning – we’ll see if it warms up as it did yesterday.

As two boats went past while we were still moored up, we thought we’d leave and join the queue. However, it turned out to be a cruiser and a narrowboat small enough to share locks with the cruiser. The narrowboat was Ark Wright which we had seen at more than one lock yesterday.

Most of the lock landing above Brick Kiln Lock cannot be used as it has sunk! On to Gailey Lock, following Ark Wright and the cruiser again. The top gate of this lock had been damaged recently and a temporary repair put in place which is supposed to last until a full repair is carried out in February. The VLK we spoke to yesterday doesn’t think it will last that long!

    

                                                   Sunken Lock Landing

                                                Chain forming temporary repair

Ark Wright and the cruiser stopped to use the facilities and we carried on towards Autherley Junction where we stopped for lunch. Ark Wright passed us while we were having lunch, so when we arrived at Compton Lock (the first for 12 miles), we found ourselves following him through yet another lock!

Ark Wright moored at Compton while we carried on and went down Wightwick Mill and Wightwight Locks, before mooring at Castlecroft. This is familiar territory for us as we lived just up the road for 7 years when Steve was vicar here – we left 22 years ago! We had a short walk past our old house and surrounding streets before returning to Chyandour and joining our church’s Zoom service.

The morning stayed cool, but the afternoon was warm and sunny until about 3.30 when we had a couple of hours rain.

Miles: 11.50        Locks: 5                Total Miles: 118.25           Total Locks: 66

Monday 7^th September

We woke to mist over the canal and the morning continued cloudy and cool, but the afternoon was another sunny one.

                                            Misty Morning at Castlecroft

The Ark Wright team must have been up early as they went past our mooring at 7.30.

We left just before 8.00 which was early for us on this trip, but we had arranged to meet friends in Wombourne so needed to be there in good time.

It was not a good day for getting through locks quickly; all were set against us and there were no other boats around so we were working them alone. 

                                                        Bratch Locks

The exceptions were the Bratch Locks where, as usual, we had the help of a friendly lock-keeper, and then at Botterham Staircase Locks where the crew of the boat two in front of us (not Ark  Wright) had opened paddles in the wrong order with the result that their boat was sitting on the bottom of the top lock and couldn’t move. We (that is, us two, two from the boat in front of us and two from a boat waiting to come up the lock) opened and closed paddles for about 40 minutes and worked the stuck boat, the one coming up, the one in front of us and us through the two locks. We went down two more locks, Marsh and Swindon, and then decided to call it a day.

Before the chaos at Botterham, we had moored at Wombourne and walked round to our friends’ house for coffee. We have known them for over 20 years and after using their boat, Chyandour, for holidays for many of those years, we bought her off them about 5 years ago.

From our mooring in Swindon, we were able to join a Zoom PCC meeting from our church back home.

Miles: 5.50          Locks: 11              Total Miles: 123.75           Total Locks: 77

Tuesday 8^th September

We left our mooring and descended the next two locks, Hinksford and Greensforge, then moored and walked round to Ashwood Nurseries where we had coffee before wandering around the plant displays and buying on or two things. By this time, the weather was sunny and very warm – much warmer than any other day of this trip.

Back onto the boat and two more locks (Rocky and Gothersley) on the Staffs and Worcs before we turn off onto the Stourbridge Canal. Up the four locks of the Stourton Flight before stopping for lunch.

                                                    Stourton Locks

The choice was then whether to continue on the main canal or to turn off and go into Stourbridge itself. This is what we decided to do, so we went right to the end, winded and then moored for the night. 

                                                Water Lilies on Stourbridge Arm

We walked into Stourbridge and picked up a takeaway from Cellars, an Indian restaurant – it was very good!

Miles: 8.50          Locks: 8                Total Miles: 144.75           Total Locks: 85

Wednesday 9^th September

We had a busy day in front of us, so we left Stourbridge just before 8.00. Unfortunately, we met another boat at a bridge on a bend, and the ensuing toing and froing delayed us slightly. One result of this was that we arrived at the foot of Stourbridge Locks as a boat was already in the first lock. 

                                   Buildings old and new on the Stourbridge Flight

Following a boat meant that we had to turn every single lock so going up the 16 locks took 3¼ hours rather than the 2½ we’d expected. 

We had a very welcome cup of coffee and then carried on to the bottom of the Delph flight. There we discovered we would be following two other boats, each of them single handed. There are eight locks in this flight, but by the end we felt we had done more like 24 as we had worked up and down helping the two men on their own. And to add to it, as we worked the second man through the last lock, another single hander turned up needing to go down the lock. We told her to stay on her boat and we worked her through – our last good turn of the day! 

                                                 Overflow on the Delph Flight

                                                      Delph Locks

A few minutes later we moored up for the night on the embankment overlooking the Merry Hill shopping centre.

We had not intended this trip to be a tour of Steve's previous parishes, but from Merry Hill, you can see St Anfrew's Netherton where we lived before retirement.

                                          St Andrew's just visible on hillside

We had one brief shower of rain mid-morning but otherwise the weather was fine and there was a lot of warm sunshine in the afternoon and evening.

Miles: 4.75          Locks: 24              Total Miles: 149.50           Total Locks: 109

Shobnall to Acton Trussell

                         

 Sunday 30^th August – Monday 31^st August

At home.

Tuesday 1^st September

Following a blood test for Steve and collecting medication for both of us, we retraced our steps from home to Shobnall Marina. We stayed in the marina while we had lunch and then we, very carefully, reversed out of our mooring spot. This was accomplished with no problem, avoiding the obstruction which had caused the trouble when we arrived.

The day had brightened and warmed up after a chilly start. Today’s plan was to make the short journey to Branston and moor near The Bridge Inn where we had booked a meal to celebrate our wedding anniversary. After mooring and having a cup of tea, I walked along to Tatenhill Lock and back by the water park path. Later in the evening, we enjoyed an excellent meal at The Bridge.

                                                            Branston Water Park

Miles: 1.25                  Locks: 1                    Total Miles: 74.50              Total Locks: 37

 Wednesday 2^nd September

With rain promised for later, we were on the move soon after 8.30. A boat went into Tatenhill Lock ahead of us, but we were soon through ourselves. We had a very good run through the next five locks, (Barton Turn, Wychnor, Alrewas, Bagnall and Common), as there were a lot of boats coming down, so we were able to go straight into the lock, didn’t have to close top gates and there were always crew from other boats to help. Added entertainment was provided at Alrewas Lock, where the dog from the boat which had just descended refused to get back on her boat. Her owner moored up and came back to collect her, but she evaded him for some considerable time before he was able to catch her. 

We saw Wanderin’ Bark and the Jam Butty moored in Alrewas village, but no-one was on board. I hope we see them somewhere on our travels – I need chilli jam! The five locks at Fradley Junction took a bit longer than the previous five as there were boats going in both directions, but we had help from some VLKs so were not really delayed. Looking for a mooring above Shadehouse Lock, we were able to slide into a space vacated by a boat heading for the lock. Good timing as almost as soon as we had tied up, the rain started and continued for several hours.

 Miles: 7.25                  Locks: 11                 Total Miles: 81.75                  Total Locks: 48

Thursday 3^rd September

Unlike yesterday, today’s weather is forecast to be better this afternoon than this morning. There was a lot of rain overnight and this continued until about 10.00. So we had a cup of coffee and then set off. I walked along the towpath to Wood End Lock. Considering the amount of rain we had had over the last 24 hours, the towpath was in remarkably good condition.

There was a boat waiting to go into the lock. So I helped the VLK work that one through and then set the lock for us. That was the only lock for today.

We stopped for lunch in Rugeley; as we boated through Rugeley, we saw 3 families of swans each with 3 or 4 cygnets. 

We made our way to the Taft where Peter and Julie Thorn were expecting us. They have set up a Covid-19 safe area for refreshments – either end of a big table in their covered barbeque area. It was lovely to see them and chat with them, and to be so enthusiastically greeted by Amber the dog.

 

                                                       Chyandour at The Taft

We went for a walk before our evening meal while there was still some warmth in the sunshine.

                            

                                                Sunset at The Taft

Miles: 9.50                 Locks: 1                Total Miles: 91.25                        Total Locks: 49

 

Friday 4^th September

Before 8 o’clock, a boat passed us on its way to Colwich Lock, so we thought we’d better get a move on and leave too before a queue built up. By the time we got to the lock, we were following one boat, one was coming down the lock and there were another two behind us. And all before 8.30!

We had booked a visitor’s slot online at Shugborough, so we moored at Essex Bridge and wandered up to the car park to get signed in. We had coffee and cake in their tea-room and then enjoyed a good walk around the grounds (the house is still not open) before returning to the boat to continue on our way. 

                          

                                      Essex Bridge - 16thC packhorse bridge over River Trent

    

                                                        Shugborough Hall

We went up Haywood Lock and then turned onto the Staffs and Worcs canal at Great Haywood. Tixall Wide was crowded so we continued through Tixall Lock and had lunch on the move before stopping for a pump-out at Stafford Boat Club. We moored at a pleasant spot opposite fields above Deptmore Lock.

The weather for most of the day had been grey and cool, though the sun had come out briefly while we were at Shugborough.

Miles: 9.00                  Locks: 4                Total Miles: 100.25           Total Locks: 53