We are now on the Birmingham canals level. You may know that there are more canals in Birmingham than in Venice but may not know that Birmingham is on a plateau. All canals leading to the city have to climb at least 20 locks to get there no matter which direction they approach from.
We motored along the 13 miles of the Worcester and Birmingham canal, through 3 tunnels, one nearly 2 miles long to the junction with the North Stratford canal at Kings Norton Junction only 5-1/2 miles from the city centre
The area is a bit run down and for the first 5 miles of the north Stratford canal you certainly don’t want to think of stopping anywhere.
We kept going until the graffiti under the bridges stopped, things floating in the cut stopped and we found a place with a shop which by the time we got there it was 18.00 and 10 miles away from the junction.
As we now had bread we lit the BBQ and enjoyed Sue’s hoe made beefburgers, sausages, chicken etc. Oh and a few beers.
The W&B cuts through tunnels
We motored along the 13 miles of the Worcester and Birmingham canal, through 3 tunnels, one nearly 2 miles long to the junction with the North Stratford canal at Kings Norton Junction only 5-1/2 miles from the city centre
The area is a bit run down and for the first 5 miles of the north Stratford canal you certainly don’t want to think of stopping anywhere.
We kept going until the graffiti under the bridges stopped, things floating in the cut stopped and we found a place with a shop which by the time we got there it was 18.00 and 10 miles away from the junction.
As we now had bread we lit the BBQ and enjoyed Sue’s hoe made beefburgers, sausages, chicken etc. Oh and a few beers.
The W&B cuts through tunnels
Nice new housing facing the canal
The canal passes over the top of a reservoir dam wall
Nice country side only 7 miles from the centre of Birmingham
The W & B canal company toll house at Kings Norton Junction
The unused stop lock on the North Stratford canal with unique guillotine gates still in place. Note the graffiti typical of the area
Even the tunnel portal had a plaque showing old Will Shakespeare
BW at work -“this bit fits here mate” 3 men for one bolt.
Helpingf hand with the bridge from the 4th BW man
Nice family the Drawbridges and I know their daughter Shirley well. So do most of the locals I here!!!!!
The Wharf Inn at Hockley heath, our stop for the night.
The scenery improving as you get further south away from the city
Typical Stratford canal lock bridge with horse tow rope slot in the centre to save unhitching.
Rufus makes new friends
The Lapworth lock fight. 19 locks down to the junction with the South Stratford and the Grand Union canals
Typical milepost
Bath time for Rufus
Kingswood Junction. The Grand Union canal is to the left and the south Stratford canal is straight on
First of the barrel roofed cottages typical of the South Stratford canal 
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