OFF TO BRUM

Perry Barr Locks

Week One, Coventry to Birmingham, a journey of 54 miles, 48 locks and 6 different canals.

We set off on a bright Tuesday afternoon, and after only a short cruise we stopped and moored up near the Greyhound at Hawksbury Junction, and of course we had to try the pub. It’s one of our favourites on the system and always has Theakstons Mild on for the Captain, and a good choice of lagers for me. Today he had a choice as they also had Old Peculiar on. Lucky him.

https://www.thegreyhoundlongford.co.uk/

On our way to the junction we passed 4 boats going down to the basin, which was great to see as Coventry is often missed by passing boats, and its well worth a visit.

Mooring was a bit tight as the git gappers were out in force, these are boaters who don’t think about how much room they leave between them and the boat in front or behind, so leaving gaps to small to fit an average size boat in, but if they would just move up you could get a couple of boats in the space made. Rant over.

Wednesday, and after a lie in the canal suddenly got busy, so we decided we better be making a move. On our cruise to a spot known to us as the ‘Telegraph Pole’ we saw our first ducklings. Everybody say AHHHHHHH.

 After a night in the middle of nowhere we set off for Atherstone, when disaster struck, and the Captain came down with some type of lurgy. He felt so bad that I had to take over the steering for the last mile or so of the journey. Now as you know I am not fond of steering and can panic. But I held my nerve and was very pleased with my effort. After mooring us up the Captain took to his bed for the rest of the day. I pottered about and whilst on the towpath was approached by a lady who had found a debit card on the towpath, she gave it to me with the thought if someone came back to look for it I might see them. As it was I was able to track the owner down using facebook (had an unusual name) and was able to return it to them next day.

We stayed in Atherstone the next day as we had arranged to go for a pint in the Angel Ale House, and then a curry at the Raj Mahal with our boater mates Col and Mags. The Captain was still feeling a little under the weather but enjoyed meeting up with our friends, and the pint and curry went down a treat.

https://www.facebook.com/theangelinnrealalehouseatherstone/?locale=en_GB

Next day and the hard work began in earnest for me as we tackled the 11 locks at Atherstone, they were extremely busy, with us being the 4th in the queue to go down, and with other boats coming up. I jumped off and went to help the volunteer lockees get the boats in front down the first lock, and found the crew of the first 2 boats to be quite rude and unhelpful. The lady crew off the 3^rd boat Charlie-May was lovely though, and we had quite a chat, they were heading up north to do the Huddersfield broad and narrow canals and the Standedge tunnel, an area we haven’t done yet.

At one of the locks a huge crow decided to join the Captain on the boat, before hopping down into the grass, it picked a lump of dried grass which I thought was for its nest but discard it to one side, it then started to peck at something that had been hidden beneath, unfortunately it turned out to be a duckling, but it did seem to me that it was a snack that the crow had hidden. Interesting if a bit gruesome.

https://canalplan.uk/feature/69

We made it all the way to Polesworth before mooring up for the night.

Fazeley was the aim for the next day, with an ulterior motive. Fazeley has one of the best chippies on the canal and we were forgoing our Sunday lunch for fish and chips for the Captain and a kebab for me.

https://www.facebook.com/Fazeleyfishbarfazeley/

There are only 2 lock on this stretch at Glascote, and we met up with Charlie-May again, but in the pouring rain this time. I don’t know why, but the rain always seems to wait until I am doing locks.

After mooring up and drying out we headed to the 3 Tuns, it’s undergone major refurbishment since the last time we were here, they have moved the bar back, and opened up the seating area which makes it much better. Unfortunately there were no dark ales on for the Captain and he had to make do with Doombar, but he said it was a reasonable pint. The chippie didn’t disappoint either.

https://www.threetunsfazeley.co.uk/

11 locks at Curdsworth and Minworth next day, with the only thing to write home about was a rather rude boater on NB Owzat, who banged on his window to indicate we were going to fast past his boat, as we glided serenely by on tickover. I think we could have stopped and he still wouldn’t have been happy.

https://canalplan.uk/feature/120

https://canalplan.uk/feature/120

The next day and the locks kept coming hard and fast, 16 locks in 8 miles today at Perry Bar. The final 7 locks are a flight, which means there is only short distances between each lock, and as we were going up, it also meant that once I had open the paddles to let the water in, I could leave the Captain to sort the rest out and head to the next lock to set it ready for him to glide into. About 4 locks from the end we started to chat with 2 very nice ladies Debbie and Janet. Janet explained that she had at one point thought about living on a boat, and done quite a bit of research on the matter, she wasn’t sure if being on her own would be the right thing for her, and after watching me doing the lock if she would actually manage to sail as a single hander.

We invited them on board and they accepted very willingly. The Captain took them through the first lock and then some how, and I am not sure how, I ended up on the tiller chatting to them, and the Captain was working the locks. I usually don’t like taking the boat into the narrow locks, but I managed it without even bashing the boat as it went in. I was very proud of myself as we came out of the last lock and I jumped off and pulled the boat into the side for the ladies to disembark. It was a great way to finish a long day.

https://canalrivertrust.org.uk/news-and-views/media-centre/filming-and-photography/our-filming-and-photography-locations/perry-barr

But it wasn’t over yet, and next day we had the 8 locks at Ryder Green to contend with. The first couple of these were hard, and there was a lot of rubbish in the canal, which meant the Captain had to go down the weed hatch to clear the prop. They did get easier thank god, but I had had enough by the time we reached the top. We were now on the final run into Birmingham and I took over steering for a while as the Captain got some lunch.

https://canalplan.uk/feature/108

We were moored up in central Birmingham by teatime, and of course had to go and have a pint. I was lucky enough to find the Craven Arms, which is owned by Black Country Brewery, and is a very good real ale pub winning silver in the Birmingham Camra pub of the year awards 2023. Even better they had Creme Bearlee by Beartown Brewery, which is one of the Captains favourites. So happy days.

https://www.blackcountryales.co.uk/pubs/the-craven-arms

The Craven Arms

Nature Watch, on our journey we have seen, ducklings and moorhen chicks. Loads of Canada geese on their nests. One stretch was heron central, with 3 sat together in a row on the side of the canal.

We are now in Birmingham for a few days with family visiting for the Captains birthday.

That’s all for now folks.

THE FACTS AND MORE

Just a recap on our journey last year, we travelled 641 miles, we did 513 locks and moved in various ways 59 bridges, we were underground in tunnels for 12,982yrds or 7.4 miles. The weather was stunning and the views spectacular.

HIGHLIGHTS 

It is really difficult to pick the outstanding highlights of last year as there have been so many. We loved the K&A with its beautiful picture box villages and quaint pubs. (Not so much the price). Bath was stunning, the weather was more than kind. OK we have had more hold ups on this journey than any others, but did it matter, not at all we just took it in our stride. It has meant some places we would have liked to visit had to be missed, like London. We did however take a bus and tube into London from Brentford, where we were stuck, to view the flowers laid out in the parks after the Queen passed away. It was quite moving.

 The Captains highlights included the wonderful bird life we have seen, especially the plethora of Kingfishers and Red Kites. 

The most fun thing, not mentioned in the blog until now, was a group of kids in boats made from cardboard boxes, seeing how long they could stay afloat and have just the best time. 

The months on the wharf have been quiet, we reinstated date night, and Keith organised a great Christmas outing for the moorers which was well attended. I celebrated my 60th birthday in March with a party for family and friends, and I am going to be a grandmother for the first time, Adam and Julie are expecting a baby boy in September. Exciting times. 

Work has been different and I have moved from project to project depending on were I was needed. This included processing nearly 80,000 Top Gun Maverick DVDs and blueray for its launch on SKY in October, and putting screen protectors, backs and sim cards in 30,000 phones for the Met Police. So very varied. 

 Our plan for this years cruise is, for the first 2 months south, Birmingham, Warwick, Worcester Gloucester and maybe as far as Sharpness. Then we are off to Croatia for 2 weeks in June. When we come back we are heading north east, Nottingham, Newark, Lincoln, Boston, Sheffield, York and hopefully as far as Ripon on this trip. 

 So hopefully there will be plenty to share with you all.

HOMEWARD BOUND AND APOLOGIES

 

My 60th the Birthday Party

I have to apologise for neglecting my blog and readers, its just during the winter months there isn’t a lot to write about and going back to work means I don’t have as much spare time.

So here is the last instalment from our 2022 cruise.

The get together with the Captains relatives John, Fliss and their son David from South Africa went brilliantly. Hosted by his sister Ann and her husband Chris, we were all made very welcome and very well fed. There were so many things to discuss we didn’t really have enough time, and it would have been lovely to spend more time with them. All to soon they were heading off to catch their flight home. We stayed for a while looking through old photo’s whilst Ann and the Captain reminisced before Chris very kindly drove us back to the boat. It was a lovely day.

Next day and we headed off out of Milton Keynes, on the way we passed NB Roosters Rest owned by Lavinia and Mark, we don’t actually know them, but we have mutual friends in Pam and Barry Nix. Pam writes about them a lot in her Pam’s Spam on Facebook. I waved but I don’t think they saw us.

We moored at Wolverton and headed off to the pub, The Galleon, which the last time we were here was closed for refurbishment. We were looking for a quiet pint, but it was not to be, as the other patrons only seemed to be able to talk to each other by shouting, and their kids were just running wild, screaming at the top of their lungs. We understand that pubs can get noisy, but this was at a whole new level from anything we had encountered before, so it was just the one.

A windy and damp day, with only one lock for me to do the following day. When we moored up the Captain performed a temporary repair on our damaged cratch cover, and he made a very neat job of it I most say. He is a very talented fellow.

The 7 Stoke Bruerne locks and Blisworth tunnel next day, the locks were quite busy, with boats travelling in both directions, but the tunnel was empty much to the relief of the Captain, who doesn’t really like passing other boats in tunnels.

https://www.northamptonchron.co.uk/lifestyle/outdoors/top-of-the-locks-stoke-bruerne-celebrated-as-ten-new-marvels-of-the-modern-waterways-are-revealed-3761776

We moored at Blisworth for the night and took a walk to the Royal Oak, a much nicer experience than the Galleon, thank god.

http://www.royaloakblisworth.com/

There are quite a few decent pubs on this route, and our next port of call was Weedon Bec and the Heart of England, the Captain was very happy to see they had Hobgoblin on, a popular go to pint for him when there are no dark ales on. There is also a Tesco Express close by.

https://www.heartofenglandpub.co.uk/

The 7 locks of the Whilton or Buckby flight next day, we were joined by a new electric boat called Nautilus on one side and Enterprise on the other. We made good time with Captain Pete (yes another Pete) and his crew, whose name I never got. At one of the locks as we emptied it, the rush of water caused the good ship Avalon Two, who was waiting on the lock landing to go in, to tip quite dramatically, we lost a pan of baked beans which were meant to be for dinner, but an open draw saved my bottle of wine from hitting the floor, Phew.

We decided to moor before the 7^th lock as we had booked to go to the New Inn for tea. I helped Nautilus through the last lock and said a final farewell to its crew.

The food at the pub was excellent as always.

https://www.newinnbuckbywharf.co.uk/

Although there aren’t as many locks on the next stretch of our journey, I still had the 7 at Braunston to tackle the next day, and before them the Braunston tunnel. On this occasion the Captains luck didn’t hold out and we met 3 boats coming towards us. As most tunnels are approximately 16ft wide, and 2 narrowboats are 14ft, this doesn’t leave a lot of wriggle room when passing. Add to this travelling in near pitch black, with only a small tunnel light on most boats, it makes it really difficult to judge how near, or far, the boat coming towards you is. Some just stop and wait for you, but this means they can lose steerage, adding another problem to the mix. The Captain just cuts his speed right back and inches pass the oncoming boat, but usually there is a bump or 2 on the way. But no damage done.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Braunston_Tunnel

The locks were quite busy once again and we managed to pair up with NB Gerald, which was great. At the last lock the heavens opened, so we moored up as soon as possible. That was us for the day, no pub.

We could have done with a fire to cheer us up, but as you know we still hadn’t sorted the stove situation out, that was on the agenda for the next day. The Captain had decided to bite the bullet and get one from Midland Chandlers at Braunston, they have a reputation for being a little pricey, but the Captain had done his research, and the price of their stoves was pretty much in line with other places.

https://www.midlandchandlers.co.uk/

We moved round the corner and moored outside. In the chandlery they had a choice of 3 stoves, and one was just right for our needs. Then an opportune meeting with a friend, who moors with us at Swan Lane, led to us putting off our purchase, well just for a couple of days. They told us that they had a contact that had an account with MC, and we may be able to get a little discount. We decided that we could wait, and that we would return to Swan Lane and fetch the new stove in the car. The lady at the chandlery agreed to hold the stove for us to pick up and pay for on the Monday.

So a couple of days to get back to our wharf, and only 4 locks to do. The 3 at Hilmorton, where we met a very inexperienced hire boat crew and a very helpful lockee, and the stop lock at Hawksbury Junction.

We stopped the night at Rugby before heading for Hawksbury and the Greyhound Inn, where we had arranged to meet our very good friends, and fellow boaters, Col and Mags for a pint or 2. It was great to catch up.

https://www.thegreyhoundlongford.co.uk/

Home next day and off we set in the car to fetch our stove, but not before I had made arrangements to meet up with Pam and Barry Nix at Long Buckby. They were heading home to Oregon, and it would be their last year cruising the canals as they had taken the decision to sell their boat Brandy Girl. I have chatted with Pam for the last few years but never met, so it was great to be able to meet up eventually.

When we got to Long Buckby we were surprised to see Steam Boat Adamant, with Chris and Phil onboard. They were waiting for some celebrities, John Sargent was one name mentioned, to come along for a ride for some new TV programme about steam and the canals being made, will have to keep an eye out for it.

http://www.steamershistorical.co.uk/steamers_adamant.htm

We had a lovely time visiting with Pam and Barry, and we have been invited to visit them in Oregon, so we will see.

As you know when we return to Swan Lane I start looking for a job. I had spoken to the agency, and Rich my team leader last year, and was told there was nothing on the AM (6am til 2.30pm) shift at the moment. But I was willing to wait but it didn’t last long. When I went in on Tuesday to sign up I was asked to start next day and of course I agreed.

What a shock to the system.

Our cruise is over for this year, we have had great adventures, seen some spectacular sights, met wonderful people, drunk great beer and eaten fantastic food.

And we will do it all again next year.