Monday 14th September - Compton to Bratch Locks
A bit of a drizzly cruise this morning, hence no photos, but we arrived at the Bratch Locks and moored up and by the afternoon the sun had arrived and we went for a walk back along the canal, across to the disused railway and back to the Bratch locks.
A beautiful stretch of the canal, with the cricket ground on the left of the canal. Toby loved this walk as he was off the lad for a lot of the time.
A very sad sight, a boat sunk and looking a real mess!
At Awbridge Lock is this fascinating carving in the stone coppices on the bridge. According to long-standing local legend, a detailed carving of a sailing ship on the southern wall of the stone bridge parapet (or bridge pier) was etched by a French prisoner of war during the Napoleonic Wars. Many French POWs of that era were detained in England and frequently put to work on civil engineering and infrastructure projects, leaving behind small relics of their craftsmanship.
Walking back along the railway line we passed The Platform, a cafe in the old station waiting room. It was closed when we walked past but a visit another time.
This is the old pumping station, built to look like a fairy castle with pretty brick patterns and turrets on all the corners. The Bratch Pumping Station is a beautifully ornate building that was constructed after a dispute over water prices between Bilston and Wolverhampton. It contains a fully working vertical triple expansion steam engine which is operated on open days by Friends of The Bratch.
Sunset on Ella in the evening.
4 miles, 5 locks, 2hrs 42mins
Tuesday 15th September - Bratch Locks
Today we have decided to stop above the Bratch Locks and work on the side of the boat. Cleaning the new paint work and touching up any marks on the blacking below the rubbing strip. Took a couple of hours but it was very satisfying and we were very pleased with our efforts. A walk back to The Platform where we had a lovely lunch, well worth a visit if you are ever out this way.
Wednesday 16th September - Bratch Locks to Ashwood Marina
A lovely sunny morning so we set off through the Bratch Locks helped by a jolly crew of volunteers who worked the locks for us!
Waving happily as we passed through the final chamber and out onto the canal again. The Bratch Locks consist of three locks and two bridges that use red and blue brick. Between each of the locks there are very short pounds and it is essential to follow the rule - blue before red - so that water is emptied into or taken from the neighbouring ponds. The two-storey octagonal tollhouse attached to bridge number 48 has doors at the level of both the middle and upper locks.
This is Bumblehole Lock and last time we came through the house looked derelict. Today it is looking much more loved and has a landrover parked outside.
Work has obviously gone on inside clearing the house as in the garden is this upright piano, a shame to leave it sitting out in all the elements, but maybe they just don’t want it.
We moved on to a set of staircase locks and unfortunately Dave made an error whilst emptying the top lock into the second lock and Ella ended up stuck on the bottom of the lock, and it was a very deep lock. Eventually it was sorted by letting water in behind me and bringing the boat back up to the top before starting again. I think Dave was hugely embarrassed to have made what he called a school boy error, but there was no harm done and we made our way through safely in the end.
Dave bringing the boat into the lock ably assisted by Toby checking how close he is to the edge of the lock. One woof - looking good, two woofs - your way a bit, hehe.
We stopped at Greensforge to fill up with water and then dropped down the lock and found a pleasant open quiet mooring opposite Ashwood Marina. After lunch, a delightful walk took us to Ashwood Nurseries where we bought some plants to go on the roof and a solar lantern shaped like a balloon. I wanted something to hang on the tiller when we are moored up.
4.25 miles, 10 locks, 3hrs 42mins
Thursday 17th September - Ashwood Marina to Hyde Lock, Kinver
Another lovely sunny start to the morning and we set off from our mooring and headed for Kinver. This is a circular weir, I’ve only ever seen them on this canal, and these circular overflows were also referred to as "Brindley Lobster Pot Weirs". The water would flow over the lip and down to the pound below or into a neighbouring stream.
In the sunshine, this must be one of the most beautiful canals on the network.
Dunsley Tunnel, on the Staffordshire and Worcestershire Canal, was one of the earliest built on any British canal (about 1772). It is only 23 yards long and unusually for a tunnel of this age it has a towing path. It is an accommodation bridge allowing farm access to meadows by the River Stour.
Hyde Lock is one of the prettiest locks on this canal, the gateway into the garden is a miniature lock gate, how cute is that? We are moored above the lock on a quiet bend in the canal opposite a field with geese and a wood beside us with remains of the disused railway in amongst the trees.
And here is the solar balloon hanging from the tiller and lit up by solar power, so pleased with this purchase! At dusk before the balloon lit up we were treated to an aerial display from some bats swooping along the side of the boat and into the trees, it was amazing!
3.5 miles, 3 locks, 2hrs 18mins.
Friday 18th September - Above Hyde Lock
We are staying on this mooring so that we can black the side of the boat and clean the roof and sides.
Afterwards we went for a walk to the winding hole and back again to have lunch in The Vine at the lock. By this time it had started raining and it carried on for the rest of the afternoon and evening. So a quiet time on the boat relaxing to the sound of rain glorious rain!
Saturday 19th September - Above Hyde Lock to Whittington and back to Kinver
A lovely short cruise today from our mooring through 2 locks, turning around at Whittington Winding Hole and mooring again below Kinver Lock.
These two plants came from our daughter’s wedding at the beginning of August, they were given as cuttings from a plant called ‘Blushing Bride’ for the wedding favours. One is ours and the other is for my sister Helen, they are enjoying the rain and sunshine and looking very healthy.
Dropping down through Hyde Lock and then slowly past the long line of moored boats. On then through Kinver Lock where it suddenly became very busy with boats queueing top and bottom.
Here we are approaching Whittington and the winding hole is on the left just past the large tree. The breeze was in our favour as it was blowing towards me and would help to push the front of the boat round, hence the name winding hole.
The nose of the boat perfectly positioned in the V of the winding hole, half way through the 180 degree turn to the left. It is possible to turn a 70’ boat here so plenty of room for our 57’.
Returning back the way we had come and past the chimpanzee family enjoying a snack by the canal.
We moored up and tidied the boat before settling down for lunch. I spotted out the window a Jay in the undergrowth and was amazed that it stayed long enough for me to get a photo. Although they're the most colourful members of the crow family, Jays are actually quite difficult to see. They are shy woodland birds, rarely moving far from cover. Jays are famous for their acorn feeding habits and in the autumn you may see them burying acorns for retrieving later in the winter.
A walk into Kinver through the Brockley Riverside Walk in the afternoon and we spotted a doorway into the rock behind a lovely house. I wonder where the doors lead?
Sunday 20th September - Below Kinver Lock
Today we have decided to stay in Kinver and work on the windows. Andy, the boat painter, had told us that it would be necessary to tighten the screws holding the windows in place after three weeks in order to stop them from leaking in years to come. This meant removing the wooden frames around each window and tightening the fixing with something like an Allen key. After nine windows and two hours we were done and felt very pleased with ourselves!
After lunch we went for a walk up to Hyde Lock and this is the garden gate in the shape of a lock with a paddle mechanism beside it.
After crossing over the canal we continued walking through the trees on the other side, beautiful in the dappled sunlight and warm sunshine.
At the end of the road was this pretty house with a hexagonal turret and named ‘Tinkers Cottage’ - looking far less like a cottage in my opinion!
