Kingsbury Water Park to Fazeley

After the gorgeous weather on Good Friday the rest of the Easter weekend was usual Bank Holiday rain and along with it wind, another named storm, this time Katie, had hit. In between the showers we got the occasional bit of sun and did manage some nice walks around the nature reserve.

On Tuesday we moved off, passing a field of swans and then made our way through Drayton Manor Footbridge before stopping briefly for supplies at Fazeley Mill Marina. We arrived there at 1:30pm and according to their sign they are closed between 1pm and 2pm for lunch so we expected to wait, which wasn't a problem, but the lady there soon appeared and went about getting us a couple of bags of coal and gas whilst leaving us sorting the diesel. They always seem friendly and helpful whenever we have stopped there.

We were soon on our way again turning left at Fazeley Junction and onto the Coventry Canal, stopping opposite Peel's Wharf.

LJ taken from outside the CRT office at Peel's Wharf

From the towpath with Peel's Wharf behind

3 miles and 0 locks

TOTAL 92 miles and 123 locks

Minworth to Kingsbury Water Park

Good Friday was a gorgeous sunny day when we left Minworth we briefly stopped at the Curdworth top lock and enjoyed some hot cross buns before making our way down the Curdworth Locks.

Approaching Curdworth Top Lock

All was going well, the lock side were very well maintained and looked lovely in the sunny weather, there were no other boats around, in fact we hadn't seen another moving boat for days.

Until we got to lock 6, both off side paddles were out of use so it took ages to fill, the pound below was very low, it must have been around a foot down. James left the lock and started to make his way slowly to the next lock but got totally grounded, I had to start letting water down and eventually he managed to scrape his way to lock 7. 

Grounded - they're not going anywhere!

This next pound was slightly down but luckily we could get through and more water wasn't needed. 

Such a shame, it's going right across the nature reserve too

At the Dog and Doublet we met a hire boat coming up the lock and as we approached the next one a boat was just leaving we also now had one behind us as well. The boat leaving the lock happened to be Ian and Irene on Freespirit unfortunately this pound was quite low as well and some of the permanent moorers were sat on the bottom. We said a quick hello to Ian on the tow path and then Irene on the boat, the boat behind us didn't move over for Freespirit to get by and she was forced right over towards the moored boats, some people are just so thoughtless. After a bit of manoeuvring by Irene she was on her way again.

We continued down the flight and moored on the stretch by Canal Pool at Kingsbury Water Park, a lovely spot to spend Easter.

Outside the cottages at the bottom lock, I could just squeeze through

4.5 miles and 11 locks 

TOTAL 88 miles and 123 locks

Star City to Minworth

After our overnight stop at Star City we set off around 8am we were soon going over the aqueduct above the River Tame and under the M6 near Spaghetti Junction. At Salford Junction it was a very tight left turn onto the Birmingham and Fazeley Canal and all very familiar as we have been through here a few times now. 

Te River Tame with M6 above

Under a large warehouse built over the canal

We stopped near Erdington and James went off to post his latest commission pen and also pick up a few bits from Lidl to keep us going over Easter.

We were soon on our way again and down the three locks at Minworth and stopped for the day outside The Boat Inn.

4.5 miles and 3 locks

TOTAL 83.5 miles and 112 locks

Update - Part 2

Fazeley to Huddlesford

7 miles

We spent a couple of days in Fazeley before heading off to see the historic boats and traders at the Huddlesford Festival. We weren't sure how far out we would have to moor as we hadn't booked for this one as it was really a last minute decision to go, but as we were heading upto Birmingham afterwards along the Birmingham and Fazeley canal we decided to go right to Huddlesford Junction, wind and then we would be able to moor up facing the right way. On the way up we passed Keri walking George, they had just arrived after picking up their new (well old - but new to them) butty Lyra from Gloucester.

Butty Lyra

We managed to moor up not far out of Huddlesford and in a nice open spot, we then had a wander back up to say hello to Keri and Dan and we saw Barry too on the Home Brew Boat. The time flew by and before we knew it, it had got quite late and we were discussing what to eat, it ended up with Keri and Dan coming back to LJ and James knocking up a nice risotto. It gave us a chance to try out our new seating arrangement which worked very well.

Saturday morning we had a wander round, there were trade boats, historic boats, stalls were set up in the field with displays of classic cars and a few Romany caravans. At lunchtime we said our goodbyes and headed back to LJ where we decided to move on again.

Huddlesford to Fazeley

7 miles

We enjoyed a nice journey back to Fazeley, James wanted to get a few pens prepared for turning as he had some commission to do, so I took over steering whilst he was busy inside. At Hopwas we said a quick hello to Yvonne and Roger on Fizzical Attraction as we passed by. At Fazeley we continued onto the junction, turned right and moored outside the Mill.

On Sunday we popped in to the Mill where the two remaining business' there were packing up as their leases had come to an end. Apparently they had all been given notice in June, after they had sold a lot of stock off cheaply in closing down sales the landlords then decided that they could stay another two years, I don't think anyone took them up on this offer. It seems the Mill is going to be converted to flats but now sounds like that won't be happening for a couple of years.

Fazeley to Bottom of Curdworth Locks

3 miles

We wanted to stop again by the water park, I think it's a great place to stop and I had a lovely walk with Dudley round the various lakes. On Monday it was pouring with rain we so hibernated for a while, a few familiar boats and faces passed by, Adam on Adrian on Briar Rose said a quick hello after they had come down the flight and then a few of the traders on their way up to Birmingham for the floating market.

The ornate Drayton foot bridge

Moored at the bottom of Curdworth Locks

One of the many lakes

Curdworth Locks

2.5 miles and 11 locks

In the afternoon the sun came out so we made our way up the locks, we started off as usual with James steering and me working the locks, after a couple we swapped and I steered and James worked the locks, then we swapped back for the top couple. I much prefer working the locks to steering, I'm quite slow getting into the locks but I suppose that's down to practice and I don't particularly like being down in the lock, its not too bad coming up though. We stopped at the top where we were going to spend a couple of days so James could get on with the turning but when morning came it was a bit damp and forecast rain later so we decided to push on into Birmingham and he could catch up on the turning once we were there and the weather better.

Curdworth Top Lock to Birmingham

9.5 miles and 27 locks

Tuesday we headed off first it was through Curdworth Tunnel and then onto the Minworth Locks. At the middle lock I dashed into the cafe, got a couple of bacon sarnies and caught up with James again at the top lock. This one is a bit of a pain as you have to leave it empty otherwise the lock cottage gets flooded. As James carried on with LJ I walked along with Dudley for a while, after we jumped back on I got some dough ready for proving, before I knew it we were at Salford Junction turning left staying on the Birmingham and Fazeley Canal. Just as we approached the bottom lock of Aston it poured down, under the shelter of the railway bridge James dashed inside to get his waterproofs on as I got the lock ready, by the time we were out of the lock the rain had eased a bit and then stopped altogether. We continued up the flight passing a couple of boats coming down so the remaining locks were all in our favour.

At Aston Junction we turned right keeping on the Birmingham and Fazeley and after half a mile or so we were starting up the Farmer's Bridge Locks. These were all full so a boat must have been ahead of us, after a couple a CRT volunteer came our way and was getting the locks ready for us, he was emptying them and opening the gate of the next one as I closed the gate of the one LJ left, by the time I got up he was closing the gate and going on forward as I opened the paddles to raise LJ. We continued this way up the rest of the flight and made good time into Birmingham.

Keri and Dan were following on a couple of days behind us with their boat and butty and were due in Birmingham on Wednesday, we said we would help them up the Farmers Bridge flight so wandered down and waited for a while at Aston Junction, no sign of them so we continued onto Digbeth Junction and waited, still no sign so off to Bordesley, we finally caught up with them half way up the Garrison flight.

We were making good progress getting the two through and started the Farmer's Bridge Flight just as dusk was setting in. We got the motor through the bottom lock and just resetting it for the butty when Barry on the Home Brew boat joined the queue, Sandra was away so he was single handing. After we got the butty through I turned the lock and opened the gates for Barry then went up to join the others. A few of the other traders had turned up to help so I continued to help Barry up. As we all continued up the flight in the dark more people were joining the party, by the time we all arrived at the top, at gone 9pm, there were nine of us helping the two boats and butty through. So not content with doing our own 38 locks over the last two days we did another 20 today.

We were pleased we took Dudley with us as we had left at 1:30pm and it would have been too long to leave him. He was a very tired boy though as we had done about 8 miles in the 7.5 hours we had been out.

This hotel was just being refurbished last time we came this way

I am now up to date again and we are getting ready for a great weekend in Birmingham with loads going on.

TOTAL

563.5 miles and 464 locks

Locks and Junctions into Birmingham

Last night we ventured into Star City, it was heaving I reckon the whole of Birmingham was there. Its a shame you couldn't actually see anything unless taking part, I'm thinking the mini golf in particular it was a bit like a shop front and once you paid you went through to the back. Unless you are going to actually take part in an activity there wasn't much to see. There was a visiting funfair outside and also a Circus. We thought we'd go to the Harvester and try their takeaway taking it back to the boat, just a stroll away, watch a film on telly and veg out in front of the fire, but the waiting time was over half an hour so we settled for KFC instead.

This morning we were up with the lark, actually, not sure about the lark bit but it was early, James had some porridge on the go by the time I had eased myself out of bed and we were off before sunrise enjoying the porridge before the first lock of the day. We didn't actually see the sun rise, it was too cloudy and it wasn't long before the rain came and stayed with us throughout the whole journey.

The first lock of Garrison was in our favour, but then thinking about it a boat had arrived at Star City Moorings well after dark, it had gone 6pm so hopefully if the gates didn't leak too much they would all be with us. As it turned out the bottom gates on the others were left open. I know it shouldn't be done but it did help our progress quite a bit. Again there was loads of rubbish and particularly worrying a lot of plastic bags just asking to be wrapped around the prop. I fished the few I could reach out as the locks were filling then I remembered we had a grabber so armed with my windlass, grabber and black bag up the locks we went catching all the plastic bags I could get my hands on and some bottles if I had time before the lock was full. If I collected all the rubbish on the way up it would have taken hours more.

After the five Garrison locks I jumped back on for the short distance to Bordesley Junction where we turned right onto the Digbeth branch of the Birmingham and Fazeley, then another right turn, turning left here takes you to Typhoo Basin, then the Ashted flight of six locks led us to Aston Junction. This time a left turn and back onto familiar waters and the 13 locks of Farmers Bridge. 

Bordesley Junction

Looking towards Typhoo Basin

All the gates were closed on this flight and all but two were in our favour. There was hardly any rubbish around either so I left the grabber and full black bag back with James. We had been looking out for the BT tower and it wasn't until we got closer that we realised we hadn't been able to see it further back as the top was in mist. At the top lock we had a cheery wave and quick hello from Peter on Blackberry Way. James then reversed LJ onto one of the pontoons at Cambrian Wharf and we were tied up by 12:30.

The rain had leaked through my waterproofs and I was literally soaked to the skin, so a nice hot shower for me whilst James got on with cooking lunch.

We didn't see another moving boat at all and not many people either. Despite the weather it was an enjoyable trip and great to be back in Birmingham again, I think James is looking forward to spending some time in the library next week while I'm out working.

4.5 miles and 24 locks

Total 16 miles and 38 locks

Minworth to Star City

After yesterday poor LJ's weed hatch needed a little attention, this morning James removed the old seal around the top, sanded it down and put on a new one. It had been a job on his winter to do list when I'm out working but needed to be bought forward because when we replaced the weed hatch yesterday it was with a bit of luck it didn't leak. So with James outside I set to and gave the inside a much needed thorough clean, it is amazing how dusty the stove makes everything.

Our Minworth mooring in daylight

It was a lovely sunny morning and nice and bright when we set off for the three Minworth locks, the wind had died down from yesterday but it still felt quite chilly. The locks were actually in our favour today which really does make a difference, all three had an amazing amount of rubbish collected at the top gates funneled down by the wind. James was just leaving the first lock when he felt the prop slow down and stop again, straight away it was into neutral and again we pulled LJ back into the lock and down the weed hatch again, this time a hugh amount of heavy duty plastic but luckily as James had stopped as soon as he felt resistance it wasn't wound tightly round and I managed to just pull it off.

Onto the second lock and a CRT empty barge was stopped at the top lock landing, I say stopped and not moored as it was only held to the bank by one thin piece of rope at the back with the rest drifting across the lock opening. The other end had a length of electrical wire hanging off it and another piece over a bollard, as it is plastic and stretchy it obviously just snapped with the weight of the barge.

Possible/potential breach??

James using our pole to get the work barge back to the side

At the third lock the same an empty CRT barge on the top lock landing with one thin rope holding it in place. There was a sign on this lock to leave it empty, I remember when we passed through a couple of years ago the guy in the old lock cottage came out and asked if I would empty it as when left full it flooded his cellar. James carried on slowly whilst I emptied the lock again then caught him up.

We carried onto Salford Junction, under the M6 and took the first turning left onto the Grand Union Canal and new water for us, we had just made the turning when another boat emerged from the Birmingham and Fazeley Canal the other way so that was good timing. Its been the only boat we've seen moving since Drayton Park. Salford Junction reminds me of a poem James wrote when we came this way in September 2012 Click here for the link to it we carried on the Birmingham and Fazeley that time.

Warehouse over the canal

Approaching Salford Junction under the motorway

And onto the Grand Union under the original canal bridge

Our intention was to stop at Star City moorings which we've never been to, but I remembered reading about it on Nick and Emma's blog Marpessa, I had a quick look back last night and saw we needed to look out for a floating pontoon. We soon spotted it and moored up with the sun still shining brightly, thanks Emma for your detailed description we would have probably gone the other way again.

Long straight 

And the floating pontoon

It's been a lovely sunny day, but still very chilly

5 miles and 3 locks

Total 11.5 miles and 14 locks

We'll be heading into civilisation tonight, it seems quite an interesting place, this what what Wikipedia says about it:-

Star City is a family leisure and entertainment complex in Birmingham, England. It is located in the north east of the city very close to Junction 6 of the M6 motorway (Spaghetti Junction), and Aston railway station.

This former derelict industrial land was developed as part of a regeneration scheme for the Heartlands area and to change Birmingham's image for the 21st century. Its centrepiece is the 25-screen Vue cinema, at the time the largest cinema in Europe. The construction was carried out by Wolverhampton based firm Carillion.The complex was formally opened in July 2000 by actorsGeorge Clooney and Mark Wahlberg to coincide with the UK premier of The Perfect Storm. With some 392,000 square feet (36,400 m2) of leisure space, it is one of the largest leisure complexes in the United Kingdom.

A 22-lane Megabowl bowling alley was revealed when Star City opened and has remained since - however, this has now been re-branded as Tenpin. By the end of 2003, it was the largest leisure park in the country ahead of The Printworks in Manchester and The Mailbox in Birmingham city centre.

A Goals soccer centre opened in 2007 with fourteen floodlit pitches situated on the roof. Goals also incorporates a Sports Bar which shows year round sporting events on both Sky and Terrestrial TV.

The centre underwent a major redevelopment in 2008. England's first indoor 36 hole adventure mini golf course, 'Adventure Island Mini Golf', opened on 11 June 2008.