Monday 10th June - Hopwood to Birmingham, Oozells Loop Visitor Moorings
We left Hopwood bright and early having taken the decision to detour into Birmingham in order to sit out the rain that was forecast.
Soon after leaving Hopwood we entered Wast Tunnel, almost 2.5 km long and takes about 30 minutes to pass through. We were following a boat and in the photo the boat has exited the tunnel but we still had 1km to go.
The northern exit of the tunnel - the canal widens at both ends of the tunnel to allow steam powered and later diesel powered tugs to turn as they were used to haul horse-drawn boats through the tunnel.
Lots of regeneration around the University of Birmingham area including a new Sainsbury's.
It is good to see this area being planted up with trees, the last time we were here it looked a mess with the grass no more than a mud bath.
We moored in the Brindley Place Moorings just on the Oozells Street Loop. Just as the rain began in earnest - good timing!
The Knife Angel sculpture is in Victoria Square. It stands 27ft high and is made up of 100,000 knives which were handed in during a weapons amnesty by police forces across the country. It took four years for artist Alfie Bradley to create the huge sculpture and towns and cities are invited to host it. Liverpool, Coventry and Hull have already hosted the sculpture.
We shall stay here until the worst of the rain has passed and then continue on our way.
9.25 miles, 0 locks, 2 tunnels, 3 hrs 6 mins cruising time.
Tuesday 11th June - Oozell's Loop Visitor Moorings
We are spending the day here on the sheltered moorings with a view towards the Birmingham Arena. Last night the wind was vicious and the flower pots were blown all over the roof.
Tonight we have tickets to go to the Rep Theatre to see Captain Corelli's Mandolin, a book I have read and a film we have seen, so really interested to see the play!
Wednesday 12th June - Oozell's Loop Visitor Moorings to Warings Green Wharf
Today there is a window of dry weather so we have decided to move on from Birmingham. Dave went and stocked up on provisions and we reversed out of our moorings back on to the main canal, turned the boat round and headed back the way we had come.
This narrow part of the canal, Worcester Bar is where the Birmingham Canal Navigations meets the Worcester and Birmingham Canal. The pub seemed to be locked up the whole time we were here.
The Toll House stands at King's Norton Junction where we turn onto the Stratford-Upon-Avon Canal. A fire in February this year caused a lot of damage to this fine building.
This is a lift bridge just outside Shirley - I wonder how this works? I couldn't decide whether I had to lower the barriers manually or whether is was done electronically. I got there in the end!!!
We moored opposite the permanent moorings belonging to Waring's Wharf. By the time we had walked Toby and set up the boat, the rain had set in and we were treated to another afternoon and evening of really heavy rain. Fortunately we had remained dry for the whole time we were cruising, so all in all a good day!
14 miles, 1 lock, 1 lift bridge, 5 hrs 16 minutes cruising time.
Thursday 13th June - Waring's Green Wharf
We have decided to stay here today whilst the rain passes over. A very rural spot in direct contrast to our mooring in Birmingham. This is one of the things I love about the canals.
Friday 14th June - Waring's Green Wharf to Kingswood Junction
We waited until after the rain had passed for the morning and decided to move on down the Lapworth Locks.
A very pretty canal side garden, benefiting from all the rain we are having!
The Lapworth Lock Flight consists of 26 locks in all with locks 6 to 14 immediately next to each other - the locks themselves are single locks with double bottom gates. In between each lock there is a quite large pound of water available for any narrowboats needing to wait their turn. I had to use one of these pounds to pass a 72' working boat - quite a tricky manoeuvre.
At the bottom of the flight we turned left and took the last lock down onto the Grand Union Canal and moored in the short arm between the Stratford-Upon-Avon Canal and the Grand Union Canal.
Behind us you can see the lock on the right of the photo and the bridge on the left. This takes you back onto the Stratford-Upon-Avon Canal and down towards Stratford.
In front of us is the railway bridge and bridge at the junction where we shall turn right to carry on the Grand Union Canal.
We were the only people on the visitor moorings and despite the close proximity of the railway line it was a peaceful mooring for the night.
5 miles, 19 locks, 2 lift bridges, 4 hrs 24 mins cruising time.
Saturday 15th June - Kingswood Junction to Tom o' the Wood Moorings
We have moved the boat today before the rain starts again and so that we can put water on. The rain has started, so we are moored up for the night with a full tank of water and a TV signal!
We called into the pub for an evening drink and appreciated board. Our sort of pub!
0.75 miles, 0 locks, 14 minutes cruising time.
Sunday 16th June - Tom o' the Wood Mooring to Cape of Good Hope Visitor Moorings
As we left our mooring this morning, I saw in the field opposite 2 hares I think. They were much larger than rabbits with large ears, they are in the middle of the photo slightly obscured by the white flowers.
Further along we had to inch our way past a landslip, a tree had collapsed into the canal along with soil and debris, we could feel the bottom of the boat scraping over the stones. All the heavy rain has waterlogged the soil, this was the first of two along this stretch of canal.
Shrewley Tunnel is 433 yards (396 m) long,[built of brick and is wide enough for two narrow boats to pass each other, although it has no towpath inside.
There are actually two tunnels: at the northern portal, the towpath splits off and rises on a ramp and then enters a tunnel of its own, until it reaches the road which crosses the tunnel; having crossed this the path then descends on another ramp to reach the southern portal. The interior of the tunnel is unusually wet and this has led to the creation of flowstone formations.
We approached the Hatton Locks and were happy to accept the help of a Volunteer Lock Keeper. When we got to the second of the 21 locks we buddied with another boat so that we went down the locks together,
It meant that we managed to get through the 21 locks in 2 hours 45 minutes, we were all very pleased with this and the rain held off for us as well!
There was so much water that it was coming over the top of the top gates into the lock as we were trying to empty it. Quite an amazing sight!
At the bottom of the locks we continued onto the Saltisford Arm, to see if there was room to moor at the Saltisford Canal Centre, it was very busy, so we decided to turn round and moor outside on the main canal.
It did look very attractive though, perhaps another time. They have visitor moorings at 6 pounds a night, but these boats are all permanent moored boats.
St Mary's Collegiate Church dominates the overall view of the centre of Warwick with its imposing tower, rebuilt along with much of the church in 1704 by Sir William Wilson after the Great Fire of Warwick. This was taken from Warwick Racecourse, yes Toby thinks he is a racehorse!
7 miles, 21 locks, 5 hours cruising time.
