Birmingham Explorer Cruise Week 5

 Monday 25th May - Warings Green Wharf to Tom o’ the Wood

A lovely morning and a very pleasant cruise to the top of the Lapworth Locks.  Toby and I walked part of the way.  

The buttercups are still covering the surrounding fields with the most glorious shade of yellow.

At the start of the flight of locks we were met by Roger and Judith who helped us work the locks. Roger spent most of his time talking about anything and everything and we spent our time working around him which was a little worrying!  

Heading down the locks through one of the longer pounds between the locks.  

There is a water tap at the end of the flight, so we stopped to fill up with water and dispose of any rubbish.  Toby took the opportunity to sit in the shade off the boat.

After filling with water we opted to take the left hand lock down onto link with the Grand Union Canal.  However, once in the lock we could see that there was a boat moored opposite the exit from the lock, it is a tight turn anyway, but with a boat in the way I thought it would be impossible. So, I reversed the boat out of the lock and back so we could go down the right hand lock.  The lock keeper who helped us was not very happy with the moored boat as there was a sign clearly saying ‘No Mooring’. 

This is Judith who helped us down the locks, she is wearing a wonderful hat, originally her wedding hat, all the decoration has gradually been replaced with feathers and flowers, she did look amazing!

This is the boat that was moored in the way, no one on board, but definitely not the place to moor!

6 miles, 19 locks, 1 lift bridge, 4hrs 42mins

Tuesday 26th May - Tom o’ the Wood to Radford Semele

Today we made an early start from Tom o’ the Wood as Dave had booked volunteers on the Hatton Flight to help us at 9.30am.  So after a pleasant hours cruise we arrived safely to be met by a team and another boat which we were going to share the locks with.  Nb Justice skippered by Steve Haywood and his partner Moira Haynes.  Steve is an author of canal related books - ‘Tales from the Tillerman’ and ‘Narrowboat Nomads’ just to mention a couple.  I haven’t read any but I might now.  

Leaving the top lock and heading side by side towards the next one, I love working locks in this way, but for some reason this just did not work and after 1 too many bashes I decided to enter the locks after NbJustice.

Here we had to separate as there were 2 boats coming out of the lock ahead of us.  By this time the temperatures were soaring, no breeze and strong sunshine.  We drank so much water I felt sure we would have drunk the tank dry!

Dave looking very happy to have made it to Hatton Middle Lock, 11 of 21,  and yes it is still HOT!

Many thanks go to the wonderful team of volunteers who helped us in the searing heat, this is Richard who brought us down from the top and handed us over to the next team who were going to work us down to the bottom.  He was going to pick up a boat going up the locks and work his way back up!

Once out the bottom we said goodbye to Steve and Moira and continued down the Cape locks and found a mooring just over the aqueduct over the River Avon, in the shade with the sun on the solar panels.  However, the man on the boat in front sat on his roof with a very loud boombox, so we packed up the boat and moved on to Radford Semele, just because we can!

12 miles, 23 locks, 1 tunnel, 6hrs 54mins

Wednesday 27th May - Radford Semele to Long Itchington

After 2 rather long days we are having a much shorter one, the weather is brilliant - warm with a very pleasant breeze which will keep us cool whilst working the locks.  We set off heading for the locks and although we passed several pairs of boats we didn’t have anyone to share the locks with.  Dave and I shared working the locks and it was most enjoyable.

This is the section of the canal that the HS2 goes over.  This time the bridge has been installed but still seems to be missing a part at the end!

When we got to the Bascote Locks we were asked to wait 10 minutes as they were measuring the bottom gate of the staircase lock.  These two, Karl and Andy, do all the measuring for replacement lock gates all over the network.  In 28 years Andy (on the right), has only ever made a mistake on 3 lock gates.  The replacement gate is going to be made at Stanley Ferry in Yorkshire which is the largest workshop.  These gates are too large to be made at the Bradley Workshop we visited last week.

Idyllic conditions for a cruise, and the canal is looking very green at the moment, this weather has been lovely but we really don’t want a repeat of last year!

4.5 miles, 10 locks, 3hrs 48mins

Thursday 28th May - Long Itchington to Nelson’s Wharf

As we were preparing to leave our mooring, a boat passed us heading our way, and after the first lock we caught up with them and shared all the Stockton locks with them.

As we got to the Blue Lias pub we had to pause for a short time whilst the work boat and volunteers worked to clear some vegetation from under the bridge.  One of the volunteers then helped us up the flight of locks.  It was the first time I had seen volunteers on these locks, but it was most welcome!

Going up the locks with the other boat, Dave did the first 4 locks and then we swapped and I did the last 4, it was a very pleasant journey up!

We stopped at Nelson’s Wharf where we have secured a new mooring from September when our contract runs out with Ventnor Marina.  We are able to stay here tonight to see how we like it.  It is very still, quiet and peaceful, I think we are going to love it! This is the arm which has space for 8 boats and was originally the canal access to the cement works that used to be here.

Steve, the owner, has this splendid classic soft top Landrover and behind that is a beautifully restored Austin A35.

On site they also have 3 pods which sleep 4 people each and also have central heating for those colder days.  There is also a well laid out play area for the children and a shepherd’s hut which is going to be an indoor play area for wet weather.

Our mooring is going to be canal side at the far end of the pontoon and whilst we were there Steve measured the boat so that he could add mooring rings at the best places.  Such service!

1.6 miles, 10 locks, 2hrs 10mins

Friday 29th May - Nelson’s Wharf to Ventnor Marina 

No photos, but a very short cruise back to Ventnor Marina where we settled back onto our pontoon, tidied and cleaned the boat, did some washing and shopping before packing up the car and driving home to Worcester.

1.25 miles, 0 locks, 36mins