Yet more stoppages!!

Captains Log

Canal Date 16^th November 2009

Travels 3 miles yards

O Narrow lock

2 Tunnels

Current Location Near Alvechurch

Map Ref SO 019 711

Filled with water and decided to move on to a new location for a few days. The preferred locations was going to be either Bittell lakes if there are suitable moorings if not then continue on to Hopwood.

Whilst removing the mooring pins the rain started, slow at first and then it poured.

Only a few yards to the water tap so I did not bother to put on water proofs, big mistake, within minutes I was shivering with the cold and damp?

The rain stopped as quickly as it started and the sun came out to play. No matter how hard it shined it still did not create any significant warmth. It gets very lazy this time of year!

We soon had filled our water tank and set of into Tardebigge tunnel. Now I have travelled through many canal tunnels over the years but this one was different. It is the only tunnel that I have been through that is fully fitted with Christmas Lights. I suppose we will have our peaceful lives disturbed by young people looking for Farther Christmas very soon – Bah Humbug!!

The other thing about the tunnel is that it is just about the driest tunnel that I have been though, not a drip anywhere, most unusual indeed.

Not far after clearing Tardebigge tunnel we came to Shortwood tunnel, this is about the same length as Tardebigge and again cut through Sandstone. This time it was like driving an old discovery after a rain storm i.e. a continuous and unwelcome stream of cold running water dripping on your head. (Only Disco owners will fully understand this)

When we exited the tunnel we were met with just about the perfect autumn picture. Guess who had flat batteries in his camera?

We were looking for a toilet pump-out; the first site is the Anglo Welsh base. This appeared to be closed so we carried on to the Alvechurch Boat Centre.

When we arrived at the Alvechurch Marina we were met with a total closure. They were dredging and all of there hire fleet were at home. Absolutely no way to pass, so to much disgust of a local fisherman, we were forced to turn round. Not even half way to the Lakes! We are totally boxed in now, only 3 miles of navigable canal open to us.

It can only get better in the New Year.

We are planning on staying here overnight and then moving on a bit further tomorrow.

I suspect we will be back at out starting spot very soon.

Blocked by stoppages all round!

Captains Log

Canal Date 25th October 2009

Travels 200 yards

1 Narrow lock

Current Location Opposite Tardebigge BW Yard

Map Ref SO 991 691

Moved all of 200yards today to fill with water.

We decided to stop here rather than return to our last position.

Once again, we have meet up with our old friend Chris MC. We are moored next Paddington, his boat. That is twice in 4 months. Quite remarkable as either of us had no idea where the other was.

Our plan was to move on from here for a month and then return in December for our winter moorings. After looking at the “stoppages program” it was obvious that we are not going anywhere far. The Tardebigge locks below us are closed so we can not go back. The Stratford canal in closed almost at the start, so we can not go there. The Worcester Birmingham Canal is closed at Selly Oak. So we can not go very far at all. I think that the best trip we can make is to Kings Norton Junction and back. That is not very far at all, still it will charge the batteries and replenish out hot water for a day or so.

Locks, Locks and even more locks

Captains Log
Canal Date 22nd October 2009

Travels

Tuesday
5 1/2 Miles
5 Narrow locks

Wednesday
42 Narrow Locks
6 1/2 Miles

Current Location Tardebigge Top Lock
Map Ref SO 991 691

Tuesday;
We set off in so-so weather, a bit cool but ok. Not long after setting sail the weather did what it is best at and changed, and not for the better either, It changed from being a bit cool to being dam cold and then the light mist became persistent rain. Not the heavy sort, more the very small droplets but plenty of them. You know, the sort that makes you very wet.
As a result of the weather (and me getting colder) we did not travel very far. We soon decided that it was time to stop and to get warm. This left us with even more locks to play with on the next day.

Wednesday,
Big day today.
Not only is today the first anniversary of owning Daddy Cook, we also had some 42 locks to work!
We woke up at first light, or at least we put the light on when we woke up.
It was about 8.30 – very early for us. I had arranged for Dave, a good old friend, to spend the day with us and help us with the Tardebigge locks, he was keener than us and was walking down the locks to meet us a bit earlier than I had expected. He had a good 3 mile walk before he found us. It would have been less but we had a problem with one lock gate and spent some time trying to open it fully. We that is my excuse anyway.

When we did met up we had already done 6 locks, he was a bit warm from his exercise so we stopped for a much deserved bacon butty and coffee. We were soon underway again and after completing about other 1,000 or so locks I sensed that a mutiny was brewing. In order to quell the mutiny I ordered that a lunch break should be organised.
45 minutes later we were fed and watered and on the move. On looking at the guide map we were not going to make the summit in daylight, not a problem, we would travel until light stopped play and moor up for the night. Not long after we started off, I had a call from Bob. He was delivering a load of fire wood for me. After a false start he arranged to meet up at a road bridge up the flight. Bob arrived as expected, we stopped for another coffee and a chat, it’s always nice to see friend, another 45 minutes later we were moving again, this time I was sure that we would not make the summit tonight.
After speaking to the crew they said that we would indeed make the summit. I had my doubts. We had 20 locks left to do and only 1 ½ hours of daylight. Following our previous progress, this was not going to happen.
I don’t know what happened but the locks were taking less than 5 minutes and it was looking more and more possible. Eventually we made the top lock with just enough daylight as to be safe. One more lock would have put us into darknessnes. It was a close call but we did it.

Thursday,
Day off from boating today, I looked round the boat, I will have to get the blacking out and replace a few bits where we tried to make the lock entrance just a bit wider for the following traffic. Later, we took the cratch cover back to Wilsons of Kinver to have the tear repaired.
Bless them, they did it while we waited, the repair is not very noticeable and the cost was more than reasonable.

Note to self:
Must try harder to navigate through bridge holes without banging the sides!!! It is embarrassing and potentially expensive.

Birmingham - Worcester Canal

Captains Log
Canal Date 19th October 2009

Travels 18 Miles
3 River Locks
2 Wide Locks
8 Narrow locks
2 Staircase Locks

Current Location Tiberton – Offerton Bottom lock
Map Ref SO 89131 57956

We carried out a permanent repair to the plumbing, all galvanised iron pipe & fittings have been removed and replaced with Stainless Steel. That should last a bit longer. We plucked up courage to fill the water tank and to continue our voyage. No leaks, no disasters so we set of on a full days travel. (Glyn will be so proud of us.)

The narrow locks at Stourport have a dog leg built into them. I cocked it up on the way in and I cocked it up on the way out! Still a lot to learn I think.
Once on the river Severn we made good progress and managed to go straight through Worcester. (I was determined not to stop there again – to busy and noisy for us)
We then turned into the Worcester – Birmingham canal. As you go into Diglas Basin you go through some wide locks, these are just about the hardest locks to work that we have found so far. The canal goes through the centre of Worcester and is a typical town canal, with the odd bits of graffiti here and there, but very soon you find yourself in open countryside made all the better with the spectacular colours of autumn. The trip along the canal went with out incident, much better than the last few trips! We travelled longer today than expected, The first mooring site we looked at was when we were well clear of Worcester but it was next to what looked like a Gypsy site, moved on quite quickly from there, then there followed a long procession of large factory unit, some very noisy and some a bit smelly, then we were close to a main road, so on it went. When we did decide on a spot, we could not get to the bank. I think it was a lump of coal that had not been marked on the charts.
Pam tried out a new slow cooker. Bunged in a few veggies and a lump of something dead and by the time we stopped it smelt lovely and tasted even better. Better than Pub food!

We shall move on tomorrow and will moor up somewhere near the bottom of Tardebigge locks. The will leave all day Wednesday to make our accent to the summit.

Bridge, Bang, Cruch, Rip, Ups

Captains Log

Canal Date 16^th October 2009

Travels 7 Miles

3

4 Narrow locks

Current Location Stourport on Severn

We moved on to Stourport for the weekend, on route we stopped off at Kidderminster for a bit of shopping. Why is it that when you walk around a shopping centre you always find something that you cannot live without, even though you have lived quite happily with out for the last 58 years? This time it was a bread bin.

After being robbed, as usual, at the checkout at Sainsbury’s, we continued our voyage towards Stourport. By now the light mist/drizzle had turned into rain. Not what the weather man had promised at all! I was travelling into the wind, glasses misted, sitting on a rather wet seat, with cold wet hands. Still smiling, still happy with my little lot. Then it all went a bit pear shaped. A momentary lapse of concentration. Too close to the bridge, the boat did not react to the steering. Possibly something on the bottom. Then I hit the side of the bridge. Only kissed it but hard enough to damage the front cratch cover.

I did say “Oh bother, tut tut, never mind worse things happen at sea”, and other such phrases! On inspection we found that the cover was damaged in the corner. Not enough to let water in or to flap about, but bad enough to warrant a professional repair as soon as possible.

It’s funny, but after that little incident, my concentration levels were much higher for the rest of the trip.

We are moored on the visitor moorings in Stourport, and intend to stay here for the weekend, and then we shall travel down the River Severn to Diglis Basin and on to the Birmingham Worcester Canal.