BRIAN AND SUES UK CANAL TOUR

The Last but Not Least Leg Back to Our Huddersfield

2008-09-23T20:41:00.006+01:00

After 2 days at Slawit for rest and laundry we set of down the last 23 locks to Huddersfield.

These locks and canl pounds are about the worst on the system. We always have problems with very stiff paddle gear, missing or not working paddles, low water, silted up canal beds and other sundry problems.

The fact is that we have no option but to approach Huddersfield from this direction as Invicta is too long for the Huddersfield Broad and Calder and Hebble canals.

The little used sanity station in Slaithwaite at lock 21E in the centre of the village

Approaching lock 12E we found a large crew of builders and equipment.

They had to move their work boat from the lock so we could get in.

They were installing the controversial and utterly useless new bollards that are appearing all around the canal system. The money would be better spent elsewhere on the Huddersfield canal.

Passing Milnsbridge by the side of the Four Horseshoes pub.

We actually met 2 boats today. This one at lock 4E Longroyd Bridge was a hire boat and the crew told us of problems down in the tunnels where they had been held up for hours. They said that there was no water in the canal.

The first of the 2 new tunnels that goes under Sellers engineering works. There are plans to open this tunnel up and create a marina but nothing seems to happening at the moment.

At the second tunnel below lock 2E we found an extremely low water level. We had no choice but to let the water through from the pound above and advise BW what we had done otherwise we would have been stuck.

Passing through the Huddersfield University campus very near to home

The final few yards with the old converted warehouse and crane to the left. The bridge carries the main Wakefield road out of Huddersfield.

A few yards later and we are back on our home mooring.

The totals for our 4 month tour are as follows:-

Mileage 576.5

No of Locks 652

Cruising Hours 318

Average Speed MPH 1.81

Since we have owned Invicta we have travelled just under 8000 miles, passed through just under 6000 locks

Thanks for looking at our blog. We hope you have enjoyed following our adventures around the canal system. Perhaps it will make someone want to try out canal boating for themselves or to visit some of the places we have been too.

So its a final goodbye from Brian and Sue.

A Long Way Down to Slaithwaite (Known Locally as Slawit)

2008-09-23T17:48:00.005+01:00

Most of the following photos were taken by Claire. She really has a good eye for a photo.

An early morning start from Marsden with the sun breaking through the mist and reflection on the roofs on the other side of the valley.

Leaking lock gates.

Early morning sun and silhouettes

Making our way down the locks

His boots are there but where’s the BW man to repair lock 38 where we were stuck.

He’s in the water putting stop planks across the lock head to prevent water wastage while repairs to a broken paddle are made

The top paddle had fallen off and stopping the lock from emptying

Brian the BW repairman squeezes into the paddle recess

Brian tells the tales to the following boater

Idyllic scenery at West Slaithwaite

Our usual mooring at Slawit alongside “Moonraker” owned by our friend Val. Note the bottle of rum which is now a tradition as we pass by.

Steam boat Emily Ann takes on special welsh steam coal that had been delivered from Clitheroe Lancashire over 50 miles away

Post Trip Clean Up and Breifing

2008-09-23T12:48:00.005+01:00

Whilst Brian and Sue set about cleaning the tunnel debris from Invicta Claire was taking photographs

Fred and Brian relate the trip details to British Waterways manger James Dean.

Fred, Brian Sue

Sue not falling in

The main tcovoy catches us up#

Busy at Tunnel End

Cleaning

More cleaning

Invicta Enters the History Books

2008-09-23T12:24:00.009+01:00

Following contacts with British Waterways we got permission to take Invicta through Standedge tunnel under our own power.

This was part of BW’s trials being carried out to establish the effects of fume build ups in the tunnel. They had been trialling various modern craft with low level exhausts but were now ready for testing a boat with a vintage engine with roof mounted vertical exhaust.

Invicta fitted the bill nicely as so we became the first boat of its type to pass through the tunnel under power.

The intention was that the BW pilot would steer the boat and the owner travel on the electric tug or in the boat cabin under “house arrest” so not to present a safety problem if they came out on the deck.

As the controls were unique to Invicta the BW pilot agreed for Brian to be on the boat to advise and attend to the engine during the trip.

Claire was allowed to stay in the cabin but Sue had to take Rufus over the top of the hill as pets are not allowed in the tunnel.

Shortly after setting of it became apparent that it was better that Brian steer to boat and the BW pilot advising the best speed and positioning within the tunnel. By combining or relevant skills we had a pleasurable trip.

Unfortunately we became wedged in the last narrow pinch point just before we reached Marsden. After backing up and retrying 3 times and still not getting through we reversed to an adit where the assistant BW man went to summon the control centre.

They advised that the level was 3-1/2 inches below normal and we shouldn’t be having trouble. Brian reckoned it was at least 5 to 6 inches below normal by looking at the tide mark on the tunnel wall and the levels observed at lock 32W where Rufus had been playing (see previous blog post).

We returned to the pinch point and tried again but became stuck again. Fred Carter the BW pilot suggested we “legged” Invicta through we agreed that it was the action of the propeller that was causing the boat to be lower in the water that if it was being towed or legged.

With the three of us using boat poles and hands on the tunnel roof and walls Invicta edged her way forward as if the obstruction was not there.

Ten minutes later, we emerged at them Marsden portal thus completing the first ever trip by a vintage engined boat.

Brian also went into the history books as being the first private boat owner to steer a boat through the tunnel since 1944 when the canal was abandoned.

As the exhaust pipe was removed which is designed to split the flow of gases to each side the force of the exhaust hitting the tunnel brought down a lot of shale and debris which covered both of us and the back end of Invicta’s roof and sides.

The tug convoy arrived about an hour later as we travelled much faster than they did.

Brian wrote a full formal and report of the trip and sent it to British Waterways, The Huddersfield Canal Society and Waterways World Magazine to record the event and gain publicity for the canal.

For the technically minded the full report is set out in the next blog.

The "Invicta" Standedge Tunnel Report

2008-09-23T12:21:00.004+01:00

Report of Self Propelled Passage
of the Traditional Narrowboat
“Invicta” Equipped with
Vintage Engine with
Exhaust through
Standedge Tunnel
19th September 2008

Brian Badminton
September 2008

Introduction

The author approached British Waterways who have been undertaking trials passages through Standedge tunnel to offer to take through “Invicta” to establish potential fumes problems that could occur with a vintage engine craft fitted with a roof mounted vertical orientated exhaust.

Details of “Invicta”

“Invicta” was built in 1979 as 40ft (later extended to 60ft) long traditional style steel hulled canal narrowboat having an approximate water draught of 2ft 6in. The 2 cylinder 3 litre low speed 22HP Kelvin engine model J2 was manufactured in 1946 and overhauled in 2004 having run approximately 1000 hours since.

The engine emits typical levels of exhaust fumes and smoke consistent with similar engines of this type and age that in a good condition.

The Author

The author Brian Badminton has 30 years experience of canal boating and has owned “Invicta” since 1990. Under the present ownership it has travelled approximately 8000 miles and passed through 6000 locks. Hence the author is extremely familiar with the responses and handling of the boat, a point which became very apparent in the trial. (See below).

The BW Pilot

The BW pilot assigned to the take “Invicta” through the tunnel was Fred Carter, a long standing employee of 40 years with BW, very experienced in piloting the tunnel tugs, and very familiar with the layout and obstructions within the tunnel.

To assist Fred was a second BW employee called Dave

Pre Passage Briefing

A detailed briefing of the various engine and gearbox controls were given by the author to the BW pilot as these are a one off design unique to Invicta. Forward and reverse being controlled by a “speedwheel” with locking hook and engine speed by a separate single level.

There is no stop or start buttons as these functions are carried out directly on the engine and are complicated and unique to the Kelvin design. Also there are five manual oiling points that require attention every hour whilst the engine is operating.

With this in mind the author was asked to stay on the boat and additional safety equipment was brought on board in the event that the author would be required to take the controls.

The author’s daughter also remained on the boat in the cabin throughout the passage

The Passage

BW provided an addition light source of a wide spread beam light mounted on the cabin roof facing upwards to illuminate the front to give a clear view of the tunnel

“Invicta” entered the Diggle portal with Fred steering, Dave was on the front well deck, and the author in the back cabin in communication with Fred.

At the very allow initial speed setting there was little steerage available and Fred was unable to maintain a straight line of travel. Increasing the speed slightly gave a lot better boat position control but was a lot faster than that which Fred was used to in the electric tug.

Also the 60 ft length of the boat and the unfamiliar rear steering position when compared to that of the BW tug was concerning Fred. He expressed his worry that the boat may be damaged in the extreme confines of the tunnel. Needless to say the author was also concerned about the possibility of damage to “Invicta”.

It was then mutually agreed that the author take over the steering of the boat with Fred by his side giving constant detailed information and advice of where the boat should be positioned in readiness for the obstructions ahead.

This combination of skills and familiarity of the tunnel and boat by the BW pilot and the author became immediately apparent and the passage continued without any cause for concern by either party.

We were learning from each other how to get the boat through the tunnel without mishap or worry and the journey became very easy and enjoyable.

At the communication points the author was able to stop the boat precisely where Dave could alight to contact the control centre. At the second point we were requested to slow down as we were getting too far in front of the following tug convoy. The author advised this was not preferable as steerage would suffer greatly (as outlined above). Fred concurred with this and we continued the same safe and comfortable speed, adjusting up or down as advised by Fred in readiness for obstructions that he knew about but the author could not even see.

At the third control point we advised the above situation and it was agreed that we should continue as we felt best.

The lowest point of the tunnel gave no problems and the exhaust pipe that spit the exhaust flow to the sides could have been left on. As it was the vertical exhaust flow was bringing considerable amounts of debris down form the tunnel roof and covering the roof of the boat. At some points it became uncomfortable with dust flying in both the author’s and Fred’s eyes.

At no point were the exhaust fumes a problem, despite on several occasions where it was advised safe to do so, the author increased the boat speed to cause increased emissions. Also deliberate fast stopping using reverse gears and high engine revs at the control points to increase the fume level caused no problems.

Nearing the Marsden end of the tunnel Fred had advised that there were several pinch points in the tunnel in what appeared to the author otherwise good lined sections. The boat was felt to slow down and drag as we passed through the first few but at the last the boat was brought to sudden halt. “Invicta” was being caught at the front of the hull under the water level at the lowest draught point and not at the back where the hull draught is deepest. At water level there was at least and inch each side of space between the hull and the tunnel wall.

We reversed and the boat moved back with no problem. We tried a slow forward setting but we were halted once more. We tired rocking the boat but it there was no movement. Dave explored with the boat pole but there was no obstruction evident.

A third attempt at reversing and approaching slowly again failed

Concerned that the boat may get jammed, Fred requested the author to reverse back to nearest side addict to enable control to be contacted.

This was done with no trouble. Control advised that the tunnel level was minus 3.5 inches and that no problems should be being experienced. Control halted the tug convoy.

Fred decided that we should return to the area and both he and Dave should be at the front to investigate the problem. Exploring with boat poles only indicated that there was a small ledge below the water that “Invicta” may be catching on.

The author advised that the tidemark on the tunnel walls indicated between 5 to 6 inches of height above the water level. The author also advised that when reaching lock 32W the pound water level was low by about 6 inches. It was noted that our dog was able to walk into the canal at the lock bywash on the exposed mud and we have a photograph that confirms this. We were the second of 5 boats ascending the Diggle flight and therefore the pound would be lowered even more. (Other boaters independently confirmed they had observed similar water levels of 6 inches below normal).

We concluded that the action of the rotating propeller albeit very slow was causing a localised lowering of the tunnel water level. This is a well known fact about propeller driven craft as propellers have to “suck” as hard as they “blow” in order to move a boat through the water. Also a tight confine of the tunnel when water cannot be drawn into the propeller along the sides of the boats as dictated by conventional narrowboat hull design, water in then drawn from underneath the boat, thus causing the boat to settle down into the water. This effect can readily be seen when passing over aqueducts or narrow sections of canal such as the Whiteland’s “tunnel” above lock 1W

Following this discussion Fred suggested that we “leg” the boat through the obstruction. With a combination of boat poles and hands on the tunnel roof we “legged” Invicta” through the pinch point as if there was no problem at all. We all waited for the boat to get jammed again but it just kept moving.

Once we knew we were clear the author reengaged propeller drive and we continued at a good speed to the Marsden portal with no further problems.

It should be noted that in the tug convoy there was steam powered boat with a 2ft 9 ins draught which passed through the pinch point shortly after “Invicta2 and experience no difficulties. This bears out our theory that the problem was associated with the powered movement of the “Invicta”

Gas Monitoring

At all times The BW pilot carried a gas detector. At regular intervals we checked the readings and found only a minimal detection level. The levels did not increase after the deliberate engine speed.

No one on board felt any discomfort with regard to fumes form the roof mounted exhaust and the general levels were lower than that which the author has experienced in many other tunnels.

In fact depending on prevailing weather conditions at the time higher irritation levels have been experienced by the author when locking up or down long flights of locks in quick succession such as Tardebigge.

The author spoke to several boaters that were on the tug module. Some could smell that there had been diesel fumes but no one complained or commented about the fume levels.

Fred asked the tug pilot who confirmed the above and that his gas detector was not showing any significant increase in gas levels.

Tunnel control advised that the gas levels in the tunnel were not a problem throughout “Invicta’s” passage.

The author is not aware of the precise gases and levels of PPM (parts per Million) that are acceptable by BW but would expect that the relevant data will be analysed by those concerned.

Post Passage

The rear areas of the roof and cabin sides were completely covered in light flaky debris from the tunnel roof. Both the BW pilot and the author were somewhat similar in appearance.

Invicta had not suffered any damage whatsoever.

A BW manager James Dean was present (although on officially on holiday) and the opportunity was taken by both the BW pilot and the author to relate the details of the passage.

The author knew that Fred was concerned about his decision to authorise the author to steer for most of passage as this was not the BW understanding of how the tunnel pilot system would operate.

The reasons were explained fully and made it clear that the author had been equally instrumental in the decision making.

In the author’s opinion it makes a lot lore sense to have the combined skills and knowledge of a boat steerer fully familiar with his boat and the BW pilot fully familiar with the subtleties of the interior of tunnel.

This is the method for seagoing vessel in difficult waters and harbours. The local pilot advises and the ships crew and captain and they follow his advice

This is also the best method when dealing with boats with non standard controls and systems unlike the “Morse” type single throttle/gear lever and key start/stop of most modern privately owned/hire boats where it could be argued that a BW pilot could be reasonably expected to steer the boat if the owner should wish him to do so.

James Dean confirmed that he was very pleased that Fred has taken the decision he did and adopted the method of pilot advising the steerer, and commented that this was most the “way forward”. The author agreed with and was pleased with his comment and undertook to write a report that could help record the events for future reference, commit, and action by BW senior management.

Conclusions

It was perhaps a good thing that we had problems on our trip as this highlighted the potential situation of a self steerer being stranded in the tunnel with the need to summon assistance.

Although the author has travelled through Standedge tunnel six times previously to the above trip it would have been daunting to go through alone. Now having the experience of this trip it would not present a problem in the future to undertake a self steer passage.

On such a passage “Invicta’s” headlamp would need to be changed from the flat beam unit that prevents blinding ass oncoming boat in a two way tunnel, to a large beam type similar to car’s headlight in order to better illuminate the way ahead. This would greatly assist the positioning of the boat in readiness for the obstructions without the guidance of a BW pilot.

Although not essential, an exhaust splitter should be used in order to prevent the debris from the roof falling onto the boat and steerer. In “Invicta’s” case the exhaust pipe would have been able to remain in situ as even the low point of the tunnel has clearance in the centre of the tunnel. As most traditional boats have the vertical exhaust in the centre it should be possible for most boats to leave the exhaust pipe in situ.

It should however be noted that the lower than ideal water levels would have created more than usual clearance on our trip. Having said that, the space would have been sufficient in “Invicta’s” case.

As there was a discrepancy between the boaters observed water levels and the official control reading the author would suggest that this be investigated as this was instrumental in the difficulties at the pinch point.

At the next opportunity the tunnel walls should be examined and if possible any protrusions removed in order to eliminate or reduce the pinch point problem.

If this cannot be achieved then the self propelled passage of deeper draughted boats would have to be prevented if the tunnel water level is not at its highest.

On our passage there was the expertise of the BW pilot and the back up man was able to walk up the disused railway tunnel to contact the control centre when we had a problem. Unaccompanied boaters could not be expected to take the same courses of action as we did and could have become totally jammed and unable to move to get help. It could be very frightening for people in such circumstances.

Before allowing self steer passages monitoring systems should be investigated that allow a self steer boater in trouble to contact the tunnel control should be investigated. Methods that come to the authors mind would be as follows:-
A TV type infrared handset that communicates with receivers positioned at intervals along the tunnel.
A radio transmitter generally working the same as above.
Closed circuit cameras positioned so that all the tunnel can be monitored
A mechanical strip or closely positioned alarm buttons

On our trip the author’s daughter was confined to the boat cabin. This was disappointing for her as had she travelled on the tug convoy she would be allowed out onto the forward and rear open decks to enjoy the sights of the tunnel, wearing a hard hat of course. On future piloted or self steer passages a similar situation should be adopted for the passengers on the boat.

The Way Forward

Piloted (subject to the above comments) or self steered tunnel passages are definitely the way forward for all concerned.

By allowing piloted or self steer passages it will greatly reduce the pressure of water supply on the on the Diggle and Marsden flights when up to four boats are ascending the flights all at one time.

If a passage of the tunnel can be made on any or a number of designated days in a week and the lock flights left open during the day boaters can arrive at relatively random times.

They can enjoy the villages of Marsden and Diggle more and bring more income to those communities (especially Diggle where they arrive at 12.00 noon and have to descend the locks at 13.00

It was also greatly reduce the financial expenditure of BW compared with the present method of tunnel passages.

It would improve the image of the Huddersfield Narrow Canal and hopefully attract more boats to use it.

Offer of Return for More Trials

Circumstances at the tunnel with staff levels and planned work prevented the author from remaining at the tunnel and undertaking more trial passages as per the author’s offer to BW.

This was a pity as with a higher water level in the tunnel we could have retested the pinch point situation. Also with more than one passage in close succession the effects of gas build up with closely spaced passages could have been assessed.

With this mind and as “Invicta’s” home mooring is at Aspley Basin Huddersfield “only” 8 miles and 42 locks away, the authors would be prepared to return at a mutually agreed time over the winter months to carry out these further trials.

The only slight caveat (and not a condition of returning), would be that a senior member of BW management and his/hers partner be our guests on “Invicta” in order that they experience first hand the joys and difficulties of ascending the canal from Huddersfield to Marsden in order to more fully understand at first hand why the canal has a bad reputation.

We see many boaters returning to Aspley after 7 or 8 locks saying it was too difficult and that they will never return again!

To the Highest Point on the English UK Canal System at 642 ft above Sea Level

2008-09-23T11:00:00.003+01:00

Ascending the Diggle Flight

Geoffrey Dickens Lock (32W) is one of the 2 highest locks in the country. The other one is at the other end of the tunnel in Marsden (lock 42E)

Rufus plays in the low kevel of the summit by the lock bywash. This was to become significant for the tunnel trip (see next blog post)

Approaching the Diggle End tunnel portal

Waiting for the off

The BW staff gathers.

Have a smoke and a natter

Measuring up and putting a rubber sheet on the front of the boat. They used to cover the entire boat but the rubber sheets have been lost in the tunnel and budget constraints do not apparently allow for new ones to be bought. Meanwhile boats are more likely to be damaged in the tunnel as they do not fend the boats off the walls anymore due to Health and safety reasons

Uppermill

2008-09-23T10:35:00.004+01:00

We always enjoy passing through Dungebooth lock (lock 22W) in Uppermill as it was here about 25 years ago that we spent a long time hauling out the infill of rocks and concrete in what was then the first physical restoration carried out on the canal by The Huddersfield Canal Society.

We only stopped going when the depth became so great that we could no longer keep an eye on the kids who were very small then.

Dungebooth lock also has the distinction of being the narrowest lock on the canal. If you can get through it you will fit the tunnel width wise at least.

Approaching the lock

This is the first time Sue has been inside the lock in 25 years. In previous years she has worked the lock but we have Claire to do it this trip.

The railway viaduct towers above the canal and Lime Kiln lock (23W)

In the foreground there is the aqueduct over the river, then immediately the lock, and the railway above the both of them.

Woolroad warehouse where once the canal terminated and goods were carted over Standedge hill before the tunnel was completed. Now the building is the headquarters office of the Huddersfield Canal Society

The steam boat Emily Ann waits at the bottom of the Diggle flight for the tunnel passage.

The coal boiler and steam engine.

The 2 cylinder compound engine was built in 1990 especially for the boat.

The entire superstructure has to be removed for the tunnel trip

With a blast of the steam whistle Emily Ann moves off towards the lock.

Up to Uppermill

2008-09-17T12:20:00.009+01:00

A very early start today, ropes of at 07.00am to make the trip through Ashton and Stalybridge and up the Huddersfield Narrow Canal to a safe overnight mooring location.

Far too early start to the day for Claire and Rufus who stayed in bed whist we travelled. Sue had taken Rufus fort walkies at 07.00am but he went back to bed when he got back on the boat!!!

An office building at the side of the canal which is trying have an upmarket address by calling itself “Riverside” instead of “canal”. Don’t they know where they are????

Cabin cruiser for sale-1 careful owner, slight water damage.

This view is within a few hundred yards of the centre of Ashton under Lyme, belying the town’s true nature.

Approaching the end of the Peak Forest Canal

Portland Street Basin with the museum ahead, and the wooden boat trust’s collection of slowly decaying boats.

One hopes that they will be restored one day but it will be an immense task. Thanks Chris for casting us adrift 2 years ago. (see Watewrways World letter page October 2006)

Underneath ASDA’s supermarket.

The inauspicious start of the Huddersfield Narrow Canal

The terrible hydraulic lock gate and paddle gear at lock 1W.

It was here on the first official trip back in the 1980’s that the hydraulics failed with the official party of dignitaries of board. What a shame!!!!. They should have used proper manual operated gear. Much safer and easier to use (if kept in good repair).

Aircraft pass overhead every minute or so on their final approach to Manchester Airport. You first notice them on the Macclesfield canal.

The centre of Stalybridge. A fine place in the day but not recommended for overnight moorings due to the local yobs. We have heard from boaters who had stayed there about calling the police out and being cast adrift. Pity because otherwise it would be a great place to stay.

Associations with Armentieres are clearly evident.

A burnt out narrowboat is still lying just above Lock 7W at Stalybridge. Note how the fire has badly distorted the steel cabin sides.

Scout Tunnel - The “other tunnel” on the Huddersfield Narrow.

Although only a short tunnel the interior is a foretaste of what is to come in Standedge with a mixture of natural stone and brick roof and walls. Note the towpath that is still in use.

This bridge plaque looks like it has been there for a long time.

In fact it was screwed into place by these BW guys 2 minutes ago. We had to wait for them to finish their work before entering the lock.

Not much progress at the Frenches Marina development since we passed in June

We continued up to Uppermill and moored by the museum and trip boat. 18 miles, 21 locks, and 9 hours after setting of at the bottom of the Marple locks. We immediately set out to celebrate our arrival at the Grandy Arms, Wagon and Horses, and Commercial pubs (we somehow missed the Hare and Hounds) before heading for the chip shop and collapsing back at the boat

On the Peak

2008-09-15T20:20:00.005+01:00

We’re back at Marple on the Upper Peak Forest canal at the northern end of the Macclesfield and stayed for a couple of days.

Only 28 miles and 90 locks away from Huddersfield.

Sunset over Marple.

On the way to Bugsworth we found another working boat selling diesel. It was just as well as the large marina at Furnace Vales no longer sells it for some reason. It’s getting ludicrous now getting hold of diesel since the price rocketed. We would have been struggling getting home had we not found the boat. Long may these guys on the boats prosper. When red diesel disappears in November they say it’s going to get even harder to get it. And a lot more expensive!!!! Thanks EU for telling us in the UK what to do and thanks UK government for allowing them to rule us once again.

The middle basin at Bugsworth

The upper basin at Bugsworth

The Navigation pub at Bugsworth is once more to let, and is definitely going downhill again!

Ominous skies at Bugsworth

Claire and Paul (and Rufus came to see us again for a game of dice.

Rufus getting comfy on top of Claire

Claire and Rufus are staying for the rest of the trip back to Huddersfield. Claire taking the strain at a lift bridge taking the load of Sue.

Leaking lock walls down the Marple lock flight

With Claire helping we can lockwheel. Here Sue has the next lock already ready. We took 1h 55 mins to go down the 16 locks instead of the usual 3 hours. We were the only boat on the locks which helped.

A full lock wall of vegetation drips a curtain of water.

The Day the Black Hole Came and Went

2008-09-10T20:20:00.006+01:00

We moored up at the Gurnett aqueduct for 2 days so we could revisit Ye Olde King’s Head pub that we had called at back in June. The landlord had given us a lift to another pub as he had no beer or food having literally just taken over the place 2 hours before we walked in. In the 3 months since we were last here he has done up the place so it now looks immaculate. He has just started doing food again as it took that long to sort out the kitchen.

We had a quick drink on the Monday to check out the situation but returned on the Tuesday for a meal. Good value simple no frills food was on offer and 3 good well kept real ales were available to wash it down.

Marcus, the landlord told us that the pub had been good a few years ago then went downhill under poor management before closing for 2 months. There is a lot of rebuilding of trade to do and we wish him well.

Sue retired early but Brian played the guitar for a select few after lock up and somehow managed not to get back to the boat until 1am. Marcus presented us with a commemorative beer class.

The next day the weather was kinder so we headed of on the day the world was supposed to end as predicted by some due to the CERN Big Bang experiment firing up for the first time to simulate the first billionth of a second after the universe began.

What better place to end it all than in Macclesfield

As all matter including light is pulled into a black hole we expected to see some temporal distortion in the direction of France. For a short time the canal went wobbly and it was very lucky to get 2 photos of the phenomenon in a billionth of a second. Fast film and reactions helped.

We survived but it had a funny affect on the windows of one boat.

At one house they had a helicopter in the garden just in case they needed a quick getaway.

We also had a passenger for a short time.

Past Higher Poynton where the gear linkage failed on the outward trip. Dick Goble supplied a brand new chain and fitted it at Harcastle tunnel so that problem has now gone

Up the Macc Again

2008-09-09T12:31:00.007+01:00

Our first stop was the Rising sun Pub at Scholar Green again. Brian played guitar once again on the Friday night but this time with the amplifier to save his voice. The pub was busy as usual, drinks were coming from everywhere and both of us became a “little” worse for wear. We left at just before 3 in the morning!!!!

Needless to say we didn’t move on the Saturday. If fact Sue refused to cook so we went back to the pub for a meal and a few drinks but had an early night.

Sunday was bad weather so Brian watched the F1 motor racing on the TV.

Monday dawned a little better, so we cast of and headed north. Approaching Congleton the turnover bridge looks impressive

But Congleton ignores the canal, or does the canal ignore Congleton as it makes a wide detour to the east to avoid it. This is the closest view of Congleton by the railway station (off the left of the photo.

Soon past, the valley opens out to good scenery once again.

At the bottom of Bosley locks we met Shepherd’s Rest that had a broken engine. The 1940 Lister CE2 broke the crankshaft but they had to bowl haul it to the top of the lock flight to turn around and then bow haul it all the way down the 12 locks again.

A friend was waiting with a tug boat to tow him back to Stafford for repairs. He reckons a £7000.00 bill to put it right, IF he can find a new crank!!!! Hisa hom,e moorimng is Glouster which is a very long away. Lets hope he gets it sorted.

Entering Bosley bottom lock with the huge stone blocks.

Someone’s put bubble bath in the lock here!!!!

The Macclesfield Canal mile posts are like headstones, but most have now eroded so bad they are unreadable

Here’s one you can just make out.

Top of Bosley Locks with BW services was reached in 1hour 45 minutes from the bottom lock. We’re now on the upper Macc that is level all the way to Marple

Completing the Circle

2008-09-09T12:06:00.004+01:00

From the map you can see that we have now completed the circle and returned to the south end of the Macclesfield Canal

To get this far we have now passed through 549 locks, and travelled 506 miles at an average speed of 1.87 MPH since leaving Huddersfield in May.

We still have 103 locks and 71 miles to get back to base.

Harcastle tunnel is the only one on the UK canal system that has forced ventilation. You can see the 3 domes of the extraction fans above the tunnel entrance. Once you are in they close the doors and start the fans up. It makes it very noisy at first and there is a draught all the way through the tunnel. If another boat comes into the tunnel after you are in they stop the fan, let it in and restart the fan. This causes the air to condense into a fog for a few seconds and makes it very spooky indeed.

To the left of the photo you can see the smaller white arch of the old tunnel that had to be abandoned due to severe subsidence.

The point of light in the centre of the photo is about 1-1/2 miles away and the roof gets very low in the middle of the tunnel due to subsidence

The north portal of the tunnel with the water now turned red due to iron deposits. You can see the old tunnel mouth to the right of the photo

The very small old tunnel north entrance

Information board

Looking north towards Hardings Wood Junction

Hardings Wood junction in the distance under the bridge

Completing the circle we turned left into the Macclesfield canal once again

To Stoke on Trent

2008-09-04T17:08:00.006+01:00

From Great Haywood the canal heads north towards Stone and Stoke on Trent

Just below Stone the lock has a very small building presumably for canal workers in the past. It stands by a redundant side pound for water saving.

There was an artist with quite good paintings for sale. He lived on an old boat nearby and remembered Invicta from 1973 when he had a ride on it as a young boy. Unfortunately we have no room for any more paintings so we bade him farewell.

The Star Inn at Stone is a canal landmark. It was in Stone at the George Hotel that the first meeting took place to proposed building the Trent and Mersey canal. Josiah Wedgwood was one of the first supporters of the canal as it would serve to bring coal and clay to his factory and would make shipping the finished pots safer than on the old rutted roads of the time

The Star Inn still sports original canal bars, but when we went back there for a lunchtime drink the next day we were the only ones in the place. Still the beer was nice after a visit to the local dentist for more antibiotics for my gum which was starting to hurt once again. The doctors would help this time so I had to pay the dentist examination fee!!!

No moorings as usual were to be had in Stone so we passed through and moored above the top lock.

Passing the “new” Wedgwood Pottery factory at Barlaston. This factory was built in the 1930 to replace the original factory at Etruria which had subsided and was continually flooding.

Stoke on Trent ignores the canal and has old dilapidated building lining a lot of the canal banks.

The second lock up the Stoke flight with very little headroom under the railway bridge.

Further up the lock flight there are now new apartments built on the site of the old Tywfords pottery (sinks and toilets fame). Note the old bottle kilns have been retained as a reminder of bygone great days of industry

Etruria flint mill at lock 5 of the flight

Etruria top lock with adjacent BW yard

We came up the lock to the right of the photo.

In the centre is the old gauging lock that used to be under cover. Gauging locks were used to check the loading levels of the boats and establish the height of the gunnel above the waterline. This data was kept for reference by anyone who needed to know what the tonnage of the load was in a boat to establish the tolls due to the canal company where the boat wished to pass on their canal.

To the left is the entrance to the Caldon canal that goes to Leek and formally Uttoxeter. A very popular and pretty canal once you leave the city, we went up it a few years ago.

Through he bushes you can just make out the top of the roundhouse which was one of 2 that were part of the original Wedgewood works. Originally the factory was at canal level but over the years it sank about 15 feet below the level of the canal and caused flooding. Hence the move to the new factory at Barleston. The site is now occupied by the Stoke on Trent the Sentinel newspaper.

Middleport pottery is one of a few that still operates. The factory has been preserved with many interesting original features.

Another surviving bottle kiln at Longport.

Near Miss at Great Haywood

2008-09-02T17:11:00.005+01:00

Moving north past the boring Rugeley section, a town famous for ignoring the canal and a mass murdering doctor in Victorian times way before Dr Shipman, we came to Colwich lock. Normally there has been 6 or 8 boats waiting here but today in the rain we only had 1 in front of us.

A view across to Shugborough Hall where in the summer they hold open air concerts and you can’t get a mooring for love or money for the free show.

Above the lock is the short stretch to Great Haywood. It was here last year that there was nearly a very serious incident. As we pass today there is only the stump of the tree part way across the cut but last year it was a different story

At 04.10 am a large tree suddenly fell and by a miracle just missed a small fibreglass cabin cruiser with an elderly couple on board. Amazingly it fell between 2 boats but a side branch hit ther criusre. If it had been moored 6 ft further up the cut they would have certainly been killed.

It took BW staff until 14.00 to cut back the tree having had to bring the work boat 3 hours up the cut first.

The work was extremely hard and they made a great job of clearing the canal for traffic again. We did note that the old couple had turned around and gone back the way they came before the work was complete, probably a bit shaken up by the experience.

As we passed the area this year it was good to see that they now have also felled the other trees that were leaning over at a dangerous angle

Approaching Great Haywood Junction. Straight on for Stone and Stoke on Trent and turn left for the Staffs and Worcester canal to Stourport. We turned left for a short trip to Tixall Wide for a couple of nights

Above Great Haywood lock with the tea rooms to the left.

A small former toll house put to a new use.

Reflections at Tixall

Sunset over Tixall

To the Trent and Mersey Again

2008-08-31T10:34:00.004+01:00

Once leaving Fazeley junction the Coventry canal is actually the Birmingham and Fazeley canal as far as Huddlesford when they had to pay for the construction when the Coventry canal went bust. Here the former and now redundant Wyrely and Essington Canal left to join the Staffs and Worcester canal at Calf Heath. Plans are in hand to restore the canal with the Actor David Suchet (Poroit)being a prominent member. The new Birmingham toll road had an aqueduct built over it in readiness for the canal to pass over in future years.

From Huddlesford the canal again becomes the Coventry canal as by that time they found some more money to complete the intended line to Fradley Junction. Here the canal joins the Trent and Mersey Canal.

At Streethay Wharf they specialise in stretching boats. We got a quote before we started but did not use them.

The unusual paint scheme on this boat is actually the mud from the River Avon. We first saw this boat in Stratford on Avon when it had gone over a wier in the floods and became stuck with the back end on the bank and the front under water. It appears to have been towed all the way to Lichfield after recovery.

If you look just in front of the chimney you can just make out the A38 which is actually the roman road Rykneld Street. It was here in 1939 that Tom Rolt in his book Narrowboat commented on the fact that “the drivers adjacent on Rykneld Street stove at all cost to maintain their 50 mph” It’s more like 90 now!!!!

Approaching the junction at Fradley with the Swan Inn.

Looking east towards Burton on Trent down the Trent and Mersey

Leaving Fradley at Shadehouse Lock with it’s very small bridge

Bogs for the Blog. 100's of them at the ideal Standard works at Armitage

Armitage “tunnel” now opened out except for a wide modern road bridge

Spode Hall used to be the headquarters of the Spode pottery. It was derelict for a long time and is now a conference/business centre and part of a golf course

The Coventry Canal

2008-08-28T16:28:00.006+01:00

Heading north from Sutton’s the first thing you see at Bedworth is a fine boatyard of the old tradition.

It full of “work in progress” and has been ever since we first saw it in 1990!!!

It now has the added bonus of some manikins to brighten the place up.

The next thing is Marston Junction where the Ashby Canal branches of on it 20 mile lock way to Ashby Del a Zouch. Well no: it never actually got there, it only got as far as Moira, but nowadays it terminates at Snareston but there are plans to extend it further north again.

The BW maintenance yard at Hartshill

The clever canoeists use the next bridge!!!!!!

We met “Gosty Hill” the working boat o a tight bend and after both of us reversed and did some tricky manoeuvring we filled up with diesel at a “bargain” price. It’s still cheaper than the boatyards charge though. Note the guy’s dreadlocks, although he is white and not a rasterman.

Approaching the top lock of the 11 at Atherstone at 15.59pm

Down the top lock at just a few minutes after. We reached the bottom lock at 17.24pm.
We therefore did the flight in 1hour 25 minutes, and on a bank holiday Monday. Incredibly all the locks were with us and we were not delayed at all. Last year we did the same locks in 5-1/2 hours!!!!!!

A fine manor house in Polesworth near Tamworth. We like this little village as there is a one of the best butcher shops we know, (just been on the TV apparently), and one of the best fish and chip shops of all time. The Royal Oak is a friendly pub and there are some fine old buildings.

By contrast the new Samuel Barlow pub at Alvercote marina. Never been in!!!!!!

All the Canaltime hire boats ready to go out and cause mayhem on the canal.

Top lock at Glascote.

The new houses in the background are built on the site of the Reliant 3 wheeler car factory. When we first came through here the air reeked of fibreglass fumes. Sad to see it go, they were fine little vehicles even if they were a bit quirky!!!!

Fazeley Junction. This view is of the Birmingham and Fazeley canal heading towards Birmingham. We first came down here in 1984 when my brother bought the boat.

Signposts abound

The Three Tuns pub by the junction

Who’s a nice boater then.

The posh new BW offices at Fazeley. When we first brought Invicta down here in 1990 there was just a bit of spare land here. We had all the bags packed up waiting for John Woods to come and pick us up, ands were talking to another boater when either Claire or paul fell in the canal. Out with all the bags, a dry off and dry clothes. Having just done that and continued talking to the other boater the other child fell in the canal. Out with all the towels again and dry clothes. We still see John, the guy on narrowboat “Beckwood” from time to time (including this trip) and we always remember the occasion

A Short (and Stretched) History of Invicta

2008-08-25T10:54:00.027+01:00

Invicta was built at Les Allen’s yard in Oldbury West Midlands in 1979. It was then 40 ft long with a composite construction cabin side and roof. The sides were pine planks covered with aluminium faced plywood sheets. The top was pine planks covered with fibreglass.

Apparently the intended owner who ordered it never returned and it was taken over by Jim Horton and completed by him and his brother John who worked at the boatyard and a painter and boat fitter.

Jim once told us that they turned the Kelvin engine with an electric motor for a day and half before they got it started for the first time!!!

Invicta got it's name due to someone "acquiring" the brass plate from an Aveling and Porter steam roller. It is reputed the the owner was best pleased when he found the plaque had gone missing. If you think you have seen the plaque before it is the same as the ones on the front of the late great Fred Dibnah's steam engines.The plaque is a collector's item now.

Jim sold Invicta to my brother John in 1984 and he brought it back to Mirfield in Yorkshire. I helped him part of the way. My brother used it for a while and did engineering improvements but it then stood largely unused for several years before we bought Invicta of him in July 1990 with our friends John and Marion Woods.
We took it back down to the midlands and moored at Long Buckby. Firstly in Weltonfield marina, then at the canal side by the New Inn pub.

We used Invicta extensively over the next 10 years having many holidays and weekends on it. Sharing worked well and we got to see a lot more of the canals than we would have done if we alone had owned it.

In 1999 we decided it was too small for our growing families. John and Marion’s daughter Robyn being confined to wheelchair made life very difficult for them on such a small boat.

We brought the boat back up to Dewsbury where it would made into a 60 ft boat. This is known as stretching.

As usual the anticipated costs escalated by double (at least) and the anticipated time to complete of 1 year went on to nearly 3 years!!!!!!.

Here are the photos form the refit works to give you an idea of what we went through. Apologies for the poor quality but they were grabbed from a video recorder

23rd October 2000. The last view at 40 ft

28th October 2000. The interior has been stripped out.

4th November 2000. No going back now. It's in 2 pieces!!!

15th November 2000. We kept the roof frame in situ to set out the new steel top so it looked exactly the same profile.

23rd November 2000. The new hull sections of steel are put in place

28th Novemeber 2000. The new steel top starts to take shape

18th Decemeber 2000. The new sides are nearly complete.

21st December 2000 The new roof starts to take shape.

12th Januray 2001. The new steelwork is clearly visible.

Thanks to Gordon Lambert of Calder Valley Cruisers Dewsbury for all your hard work with the steel

1st February 2001. The 5-1/2 tons of steel ballast has been hauled into the boat, scraped, painted and sorted out to fit the floor frame. What a job that was in the freezing cold weather!!!!!!

17th February 2001. The new steelwork has been painted with primer.

28th February 2001. The insulation is started to be installed.

1st April 2001. The insulation is completed.

1st April 2001. As above.

4th May 2001. The electrical wiring being installed.

9th June 2001. The galley and bathroom area floor tiles have been installed

16th July. Wiring and other interior work underway.

1st September 2001. First coat of top paint is applied.

28th April. Normal state of disarray inside as fit out continues in such a small confined space.

8th December 2002. Signwriting completed.

13th December 2002. Final clearout before soft furnishings are installed

18th Janury 2003. Interior is comnpleted.

7th march 2003. Invicta on the truck for it's journey south. We had made it longer than the local canal locks so we could not sail it away!!!!

7th march 2003. Leaving Dewbury boatyard at last!!!!

7th March 2003. Heading down the M1. This is the fastest speed that Invicta will ever travel at!!!!

7th March 2003. What a surprise, there are roadworks on the M1!!

7th March. Our truck driver Eric (also a loacl boat owner) was magnificent in getting the truck through the tight entrance to Calcutt Marina. Rear wheel steering helped.

7th March 2003. The homemade boat hoist at Calcutt worked well. The weather was terrible througout the procedure

7th March 2003. It floats!!!!! I have to confess of being thoroughly p*%$£"ed off with the thing at this stage. After sailing it to Long Buckby the next day I told John I didn't want to see the boat for at leasat 2 months.

If anyone asks me if I would do anotherI would have no hesitation in telling them to P*&! off

Following the refit we and the Woods family used the boat for a couple years but we eventually agreed that we would buy the wood’s out and they ordered a specially adapted new boat for themselves.

Hence we became the sole owners of Invicta

North Oxford Canal

2008-08-24T21:33:00.004+01:00

Back in Braunston the North Oxford canal branches of to the north and heads towards Coventry.

This section of the Oxford canal was straightened drastically in the mid 1800’s to reduce the mileage by almost half. It saved an amazing 13 miles in 26 miles. It was done to quicken the journey from London to Birmingham when the newer Grand Union canal was built and took away trade from the older Oxford canal.

The 3 locks at Hillmorton (the only locks on the canal) were duplicated to speed up traffic.

No longer a rambling contour canal the North Oxford canal makes use of cuttings and embankments that are just not evident on the South Oxford canal.

Every so often there are ornate original bridges that used to cross the main line but now only take the new towpath over what have become redundant side arms.

Even the tunnel at Newbold is a later one and the old one was sold a few years ago to a private buyer and is about ¼ mile away and ran at 90 degrees to the current tunnel.

Old canal wharf at Barby near Rugby

Hungry Horse Pub at Barby

Former canal arm to the right is now used as a boatyard 2 locks down at Hillmorton

Approaching Newbold Tunnel South portal. Can you sot the eerie lights inside. Someone’s idea on how best to spend our money uselessly

It’s like a disco inside the tunnel

The new line passes under the brick bridge. The cast iron ornate bridge spans what was the old line of the canal.

Stretton Stop where the Fosse Way, the old roman road crosses the canal.

Approaching the 6 inch high stop lock at Hawkesbury Junction near Coventry, also known as Sutton’s Stop after the name of a long serving lock keeper that once lived here.

The Greyhound Pub at the junction. There is another pub called the Boat Inn that was once at the side of the canal before they changed the line, but it now about 1/4 mikle from the canal and trapped in by new housing

The final cast iron bridge at the end of the Oxford canal

Looking towards the centre of Coventry down the Coventry Canal

Looking towards Nuneaton on the Coventry canal

The preserved pump house that is now surrounded by modern housing

Dead Centre of England

2008-08-23T20:49:00.006+01:00

We left Stoke Bruerne the next morning with a little bit of headaches from the night before.

Approaching the south portal of Blisworth tunnel

Section of the new part of the tunnel. It seems much smaller than when you are travelling through the tunnel

We stopped for the night at Weedon.which has the distinction of being the dead centre of England. That is the farthest away from the coast in any direction It is mentioned in the doomsday book and pre dates the canal by about 700 years as can be seen by the Tudor building in then old village.

We went to see the barracks which were built to house the cavalry during the Napoleonic wars in the mid 1800s

The barracks were served by the canal and are still in water and were once guarded by a canal portcullis.

The branch of the canal used to leave the main line at the boatyard that used to operated by Concoform hire boats

There are 8 barrack blocks which once housed the gun carriages on the ground floor and the soldiers on the floor above

All supplies were brought in by the then new canal and there were gunpowder stores and many other buildings associated with an army set to make it last stand to defend England in the event of invasion by Napoleon.

The bascule bridge at the centre of the canal is still evident but missing the water vessel that made it lift.

A truly fascinating and historic place that has disappeared from English awareness. A factory and railway line will prevent restoration of a canal destination but oh what a place it would be should it ever be restored to it’s past glory. It is reputed to house a vast store antiques these days.

We went to the Plume of Feathers pub in the old village and took part in the quiz. Last year Sue and I won a Madeira cake as third price but this year with the help of Doreen and Andrew we won second prize of a bottle of wine. That was on top of the 2 small bottles of wine and 10 pounds we won at the Five Bells pub at Bugbrooke on the way to Stoke Bruerne.

Doreen and Andrew left us at Long Buckby and we were again on our own

Visit to Stoke Bruerne

2008-08-22T16:26:00.014+01:00

Our Son had visited on the Saturday/Sunday and took Rufus away from his canal holiday.

Just after he left our friends Doreen and Andrew arrived to join us for a few days.

Just after they arrived the Woods family that we used to share Invicta with arrived at their home mooring on their new boat Silver Lining so we had a short get together on the towpath and caught up with past times.

On the Monday we set of down the Grand Union past our old “local” The new Inn by Buckby top lock.

The weather was not too kind and we made a quick stop at Gayton Junction for Elsan duties. Here the Northampton arm heads of to the right in the photo down through 12 locks to the River Nene at Northampton

Converted mill is now modern apartments at Blisworth

Approaching the north portal of Blisworth tunnel

Timber planks with chains are fitted on one side of all BW canal tunnels for escape if you fall in. That’s if a boat doesn’t crush you before you get out”!!!!

Our favourite place on the canal system Stoke Bruerne

Buckby cans on a working boat moored by the museum

Exhibits in the museum

An old sign from the Huddersfield Narrow Canal

View of the historic Boat Inn

You can just make out Invicta in the distance

It was a hard life for the canal workers

This diving suit was from Marsden on the Huddersfield Canal

The museum from the top lock

The Boat Inn

We went for an early evening drink, note the time on the clock!!!!

We had a game of Northamptonshire cheese and skittles and had some beer/wine

Doreen got in the swing of things

We got some more drinks

We looked at the old wall paintings and had some more beer/wine

Doreen couldn’t quite reach the skittles at the far end of the table

We talked to the local canal enthusiasts, and had some more beer/wine

We sat where many old canal folk had done before us, and had some more beer/wine

We left very late: closing time actually!!!!! and somewhat inebriated. Oh well the planned BBQ will keep until tomorrow!!!!

Back to Our Old Mooring

2008-08-16T12:01:00.008+01:00

We are now back on the Grand Union canal approaching our old mooring where we kept the boat for about 14 years when we shared it with John and Marion.

Early morning mist on the water.

Incey Wincey Spider has been busy overnight

Braunston in the distance

Approaching Braunston Junction. To the left the North oxford goes to Coventry. To the right the Grand Union continues towards London

An early form of dual carriageway bridge

Old Showman’s Van and Tractor parked up in Braunston marina

Moored up for laundry duty. Just as we set off Rufus jumped off the boat. When we changed gear to back for him the gear linkage broke again. This time it was a broken bolt that needed welding. After dismantling the thing once again Brian took it to the local boat builder Dave Thomas. He was an old school guy who just let us use his grinder and welder to repair it and wouldn’t take anything for his trouble. What a helpful and honest guy. Makes a change these days!!!!!

Normal chaos at Braunston bottom lock

Little shop by the bottom lock

West entrance to Braunston’s 2 mile long tunnel complete with last years landslide still blocking half of the canal

Norton Junction where the Grand Union’s Leicester branch heads off to the left

Invicta on her mooring of 14 years. John and Marion are away on their boat

Our old “local” The New Inn pub is just out of view on the right of the photo. The bridge carries the old roman road Watling Street, now the A5

South Oxford Canal Part 2

2008-08-14T15:28:00.008+01:00

As far as you can go on the oxford canal. Isis lock that goes to the Thames. The city centre is just a short walk from here

There is a campaign to save the boatyard from the developers.

So they don't put some more building like this!!!!!

The totally useless lock bollards being installed all over the canal system. Apparently they are due to a Eurpoean Directive. The workmen installing them are fed up with comments from boaters on what a waste of money they are. Didn't anyone in BW think to tell the Europeans to get stuffed and let them spend BW's money on more important things? The bollards will NEVER be used!!!!!

The equally superflous signs for the cill locations. More money watsed.

As we had to queue at every lock it gave Rufus time to swim in the adjacent reiver Cherwell

The bigger the stick the better according to Rufus

Shaking off the water

Getting dry

Athletic training

One of the many lift bridges on the Soth Oxford. Moast are left in the up postion. At one, a boater closed the bridge when we were just 50 yards away and walked away. Nice people here on the Oxford!!!!!!!

Well kept boatyard

Very heavy rain. We got soaked yet again!!!!

Typical queue for a lock. We really got fed up of queing and taking twice to three times as long to get through a lock. Out of all the 80 locks or so we only got 2 or 3 without a queue

This used to be tunnel at Fenny Compton.

Interesting old saggy footbridge near Wormleighton

Nice sunny view of Napton on the Hill from up the locks. You can make out the windmill on top of the hill on the left.

Napton bottom lock at last and the end of our trip on the South Oxford. We may return but it will be a long time off and it will be out of season when it's quieter

The Folly Inn by the bottom lock. This pub used to be called the Bull and Biutcher and featrured in Tom Rolt's book narrowboat when he travelled the canal in 1939

South Oxford Canal Part 1

2008-08-09T13:27:00.010+01:00

Because the weather was atrocious, Brian was ill, and there is a lot of canal to cover we will split the canal into part southwards passage and part 2 northwards passage.

We started in heavy rain that lasted all day. We got soaked and frustrated at following a single handed hippy boat up the Napton locks, a hire boat that almost stopped on the bendy section of canal at every bend, (we forced our way past him), and queuing at the locks down the Claydon flight.

We would not have normally travelling in such bad weather but we had a deadline to be in Oxford by Friday to meet Claire and so we had to keep going.

And we needed to get to a doctor to get antibiotics for Brian’s gums that had swollen due to an infection, and was in agony (and a bad mood). It’s not easy getting to a doctor when you are travelling on a boat and spend long periods away from “civilisation”.

Progress was very slow all the way due to queuing at the locks, inept, ignorant and once abusive hire and private boaters. I pity anyone who had come on the canals for the first time this week; they would have gone away with completely the wrong impression of canalling!!! All very frustrating! It is an extremely pretty canal but we vowed to come back out of hire boat season if we ever do this canal again to avoid the congestion.

Very wet at Napton bottom lock

An old wartime bunker 4 locks up just in case the Germans invade by narrowboat!!!

It’s still raining at the Claydon flight. (Now thoroughly wet through). The water proof gloves and hat weren’t, and Brian’s feet had turned black form the shoes and socks dye.

An old horse boat left to rot near Cropredy. One careful previous owner, the other 20 were mad b”*!*^s. We threaded our way through 2 miles of moored boats that had gathered for the annual Fairport Convention (who?????) music festival.

The modernised insanity of the centre of Banbury. The canal goes through the middle of a shopping centre!!!

The historic Tooley’s boatyard is preserved in aspic after much protest when the scheme was planned. It is the boatyard where Tom Rolt prepared the narrowboat “Cressy” for his pioneering tour of the canals in 1939 that started the movement for canal preservation for leisure use.

The contrast between the new motorway bridge shadowing the old lift bridge from another era is clear

The Shipton wier lock where the river Cherwell crosses the canal. No one is sure why the lock is diamond shaped but it could be due to balancing the amount of water with the other much deeper normal locks.

The river crossing just above the lock

These posts marked “DIS” are a bit of mystery. They are clearly not mileage markers and research on the web indicated that they were used by horse boaters to claim the lock ahead by cracking their whips when they passed them to signal other boats approaching from the opposite direction. Later horns were used. Try doing it these days and the other boat will just ignore you and take the lock from you anyway and waste water in the process.

Ayno wharf, our halt for the second night on the South Oxford. Several beers at the Great Western pub helped Brian gum pain but the prices were very high and food even more costly. The pub really supports the nearby railway in style rather than the canal.

Somerton deep lock purported to be the deepest narrow lock in the country at 12 ft 2ins. We'll have to check the Huddersfield canal locks to see if they are the deepest
which we suspect is the case.

We found an adrift hire boat at Lower Heyford. We had to nudge it out of the way further into the bushed to get past. The hirers returned while we still in view and we could see them wondering how to get to back? Perhaps they will moor it up more carefully next time.

How’s this for a veranda? Is the “craft licensed??

Canal side cottages in the local stone at Thrupp.

A boater with a political paint scheme

The Dukes cut leads to the River Thames above Oxford.

Pathetic moorings at the canal terminus in the centre of Oxford. The banks are broken away; there is no depth to get into the bank. It has been like since we came here first in the early 1990s. Why doesn’t BW do something about it instead of wasting money putting useless bollards at all the locks and signs on the lock gates warning about the top gate cills when we have all managed for countless years without them? It is as if Oxford doesn’t want visiting boaters!!!!

Oh yes we did get there in time to meet Claire, she got the wrong train and arrived an hour late!! Brian did find a doctor nearby and got the antibiotics which regrettably preclude the intake of alcohol for a week: bugger!!!!!!

The Grand Union Canal Continued

2008-08-04T17:41:00.010+01:00

We left The Cape of Good after 2 days. Brian played guitar on Saturday night using the Fender PA system which sounded great for such a small unit. It’s only the second time we have used it, the first being at a friend’s house.

Rufus did not want to leave as he had got used to playing with the other dogs there and bumming crisps of the customers and from the bar staff.

After a brief stop at Tesco’s we continued through Warwick/Leamington Spa.
The 2 towns are close to each to each other and do nothing to acknowledge the presence of the canal. Some new yuppie apartments are new to us and have removed the only good part for mooring in the place that we can remember.

The canal crosses the River Avon. It’s only a few miles by river to Stratford on Avon but 3 days by canal

We worked up the wide locks alone. You can see the swirling water at the side of the boat. By using the top paddle on the same side of the boat the water pins the boat t0o the lock and no ropes are needed. Easy when you know how!!!.

We met the steam power working boat President and it's butty Kildare at Welsh Road lock.

We met a freind Sue Day who was crewing and looking fine in her flat hat. (See blog post in June on Horse Boating on the Huddersfield Narrow)

Next up the hill is the Bascote flight where the top 2 locks are a staircase

Note that each bottom gate of a wide lock weighs 3330Kgs (that’s 3 and 1/3rds ton in proper measurement)

Good boater pub at Long Itchington. (Original type old pub)

Bad boater pub at Long Itchington. (New style yuppie pub)

Working boats at Warwickshire Fly Boat Co yard

Breasting up with Rosella up the 8 locks of the Stockton flight

Rescuing a hire boat from the mud bank, twice, once towing the back and he was still stuck, and once towing the bow and he was still stuck but we left him to it as he did not have a clue what the hell was going on. There’s only so much you can do for some people.

Moorings at Cacutt. Note the yellow lifting frame in the centre distance. Invicta was lifted into the canal after the extension to 60 ft on this frame on March 7th 2003

Approaching the junction with the South Oxford canal that goes to the right under the bridge

The Grand Union and Oxford canals share the same 5 miles of water as far as Braunston

The Grand Union Canal

2008-08-02T13:59:00.007+01:00

We returned to Kingswood junction and took the short connecting canal to join the Grand Union Canal which runs from Birmingham to London.

We have just come through the canal on the left. The branch to the right has a lock and is the route to join the North Stratford canal.

The wall has suffered from boaters not making the turn

The bridge in front is on the Grand Union canal

Looking up the Grand Union towards Birmingham

Approaching Shrewley tunnel

This tunnel is unique in that it has a separate small tunnel to take the horses through in the days of horse drawn boats

It’s dark in the tunnel

And sue has a go at steering

The Grand Union canal was upgraded in the 1930’s. Evidence of the new canal banks is visible here.

Approaching the top lock of the mighty Hatton flight of 21 broad locks. These locks were built in the 1930’s to speed up the traffic by allowing the motor boat and towed boat (called a butty) to use the same lock.

We met up with “talisman” and crew from Stoke on Trent. The best way to use the wide locks is to rope the boats together (called breasting up).

Our additional crew lock wheeling

The paddle gear is unique to the Grand Union canal

It fills up the locks extremely fast

BW maintenance yard part way down the flight complete with period van

The classic view down the locks with Warwick in the distance

Hitch hiker in the lock

Looking back up the flight. We completed the flight in just under 2-1/2 hours and met only 2 other boats coming up.

Our goal for the day The Cape of Good Hope pub.

Note the long walk we have from the boat to bar. We were pleased to see that it had not changed in the 17 years since we last here

Rufus is the start guest

Unfortunately Rufus couldn’t take his beer and collapsed under the table

The Life Cycle of Narrowboat Ballast

2008-07-31T16:36:00.007+01:00

We have back tracked up the South Stratford canal today so no new photos as you already saw them going down.

Instead here is a short technical paper on a little known but very important aspect of narrowboating on the canals

As we all know ballast is required to weigh a boat down and make it sit in the water correctly.

The majority of ballast is steel plates under the floor installed when we built the boat and is quite frankly, boring. So we will pass over this

But an important part is the ballast required in order to trim the boat under varying loads...

This ballast takes the form of a temporary installation and is regularly renewed and moved around the boat tin what we call “ THE LIFE CYCLE OF NARROWBOAT BALLAST “

The ballast can be obtained from various retailers. Here is just one example of a load being delivered to our boat in Stratford

The ballast is available in various brands and comes in a convenient packaging. Here is one example. Note: “lite” beer is no good as it is not as heavy!!!!

The initial location is forward in the boat under the entrance steps to help keep the bow down in the water.

The next location is in the chiller section if the fridge where it gains density and prepares it for the next stage of it life cycle.

The next stage is to transfer the ballast to a moveable receptacle in order that it can be moved easily around the boat. The most preferable location is shown here.

These come in all shapes and sizes. A larger one of course holds more ballast then a slim one. Note: women can and have been known to take part in this stage of the life cycle of ballast, but usually with smaller impact on the weight distribution!!!!

After a while when the temporary receptacle becomes full some ballast has to be ejected, sometimes quite often when undertaking an intensive ballast distribution session. A quick easy method is direct into nature. Note this option is better suited to the males on board and best carried out at night or when no non boating public are around.

In the event of the above option not being available we have to undergo 2 further stages of the life cycle as we have to store the ballast in a special bulk receptacle located amidships.

Note: Stay aboard guests are encouraged to join in the program of cycling ballast (and also to bring their own ballast when visiting), and for their convenience we provide their own bulk storage receptacle in the guest cabin en suite facility.

The final stage in the life cycle of narrowboat ballast is to eject the spent ballast (along with other solids, by discharging the bulk storage receptacle in facilities provided by British Waterways at various locations throughout the canal network. This stage is known as “bucket and chuck it”

The cycle then restarts and should be repeated as regularly as possible.

Canal Tour Statistics So far

2008-07-30T10:43:00.006+01:00

We have now reached approx half way on our summer tour.

Total Miles 264

Total Number of Locks 343

Total Hours Cruised (Approx) 152

The South Stratford Canal

2008-07-29T12:32:00.010+01:00

Unlike the north section this part of the canal was abandoned and then restored by the National Trust under the guidance of David Hutchings. They didn’t know about canals at the time and begged borrowed and obtained equipment from wherever they could find it.

Once the canal was completed by the national Trust operated it but again they were out of their depth. Finally British waterways took over the canal but the locks and other infrastructures are a legacy of what was done by the National Trust and are a hotch potch of styles and functionality.

The original barrel roofed lock keepers cottages survive although some have been extended out of all recognition presumably in the days when you could avoid the planning departments.

Most split bridges survive but horse boats no longer make use of the tow rope split

The Fleur De Lys pub at Lowensford has still got the upmarket food that Brian refused to eat 17 years ago when we last stopped here. This we found something he could eat albeit at a high price

The canal has 3 aqueducts all made from cast iron with a tow path trough below the level of the boat.

The first and smallest is the Yaringale aqueduct over a small river below

The next is the Wootton Wawen aqueduct over a busy road (look though the window of the boat to see the road below)

The last is the magnificent Edstone aqueduct which passes over both a railway and road below.

The weather became untypically English hot and sunny with temperatures above the South of France and comparable to those in St Kitts, so we holed up under the trees in the middle of nowhere for a few days before setting of again. Sue does not like locking in very hot sun.

The Wilmcote flight has locks that will catch out the unwary. Poor restoration by the National Trust has left dangerous projections in the locks to hang up boats

Stratford is in the distance. Nearly there

Evidence of the National Trust legacy

Just a few locks to go down

Crazy short angled lock beam due to road widening

The last lock

The final bend

The last low bridge

Et Voila, Bancroft Basin right in the heart of Stratford upon Avon

The welcoming committee helps us moor up

Unfortunately the area has building work due to the revamping of the gardens and the Shakespeare theatre.

For soothe it is verily noble that the good ship Invicta doth reach the fine waters of Will’s home. Is it the slings and windlasses that I see before me, or the canneth of Boddingtons?

Drink, for we will be merry this eve!!!!
Brian Badminton 2008

Into Shakespeare Territory

2008-07-24T17:16:00.006+01:00

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

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

Tardebigge the Longest Lock Flight in the UK

2008-07-22T17:34:00.005+01:00

We left lock 17 after 2 days rest to go about 11 locks up in readiness for the big push up the Tardebigge locks.

Pretty lock side cottage is at Atwood flight.

BW “carnt” spell.

Stoke Prior with village facing the canal

Look at all these hire boats at Stoke prior waiting for their temporary rookie crews to go out and cause mayhem on the cut. Bless em!!!!!

The Queens Head pub near the bottom lock of the big flight.

The bottom lock No 29

On our way up

They don't come much smaller than this boat. We think it was the slow mover culprit that held everybody up for the first hour up the locks.

We didn’t know there was a canal arm up this flight. Still we would have never had known they were cutting the grass around us if they hadn’t put up the sign. Jobsworth BW management!!!!!!

Still on our way up

Deserted pub near the top, so no quick beer.

At last the top lock. Note the old telephone cable brackets under the bridge

The top lock is double the depth of all the others. It was originally a strange hydraulic caisson affair but it only lasted 2 years before it was replaced with a normal lock

The top lock No 58 and 5 hours later. It was slow at first but things got moving once the slow coach pulled in for lunch.

The plaque commemorating the birth of the IWA at the top of Tardebigge

The plaque commemorating the plaque above and correcting the date of the first meeting.

Pleasant moorings at Tardebigge.

Leaving Worcester

2008-07-20T14:57:00.004+01:00

The first narrow lock is right in the city centre by the Commendatory Museum but the traffic does not even know it is there.

The city is soon left behind and the countryside starts to take over once again.

We stopped for the night at Tibberton where a friend who was on business in the area came to stay the night. A meal was had in the Speed the Plough Inn with another drink in the Bridge Inn. It was nice to see Pete again after all these years and thanks for the occasional comment on the blog posts

The canal can be very narrow with overgrown reeds at both sides.

There are pretty cottages

We only went on the level pound through Dunhampton and it’s tunnel the next day passing Hanbury where there are plenty of moored boats and a boatyard that are close to the junction with the derelict Droitwich canal.

This canal is being restored and one day will provide an alternative route to the river Severn that by- passes Worcester.

We moored below lock 17 for a couple of days to recover and catch up with the blog and laundry, before tackling the next 42 locks to the top of the canal.

The Anchor Inn Diglis Basin Worcester

2008-07-20T14:04:00.005+01:00

Every so often we come a across a traditional canal pub that has not been changed and modernised.

Such a pub is the Anchor Inn at Diglis Basin Worcester.

By road it is down a side road and nothing exceptional but as a friendly pub with a great atmosphere it would be hard to beat.

Norma runs it with the help of Paul and they are without doubt the most welkc9omming landlords we have ever met. So friendly we stayed an extra day.

Despite by now being surrounded by yuppie apartments the pub has retained all it’s canal atmosphere. The rooms are just has they have been for many years by the look of them save for sympathetic redecoration.

The regulars are also so friendly that you find it hared to leave.

As soon as we went in at tea time we could see this was a good place, so I asked if I could play guitar later on that night.

Sue was not feeling too well so stayed on the boat.

After talking to a fellow Harley rider and his wife I started playing at 9.30 and only finished at 1 in the morning.

They were whooping and clapping, dancing and singing like I never seen before.
Needless to say the beer kept coming from all directions (mostly Norma) and it was nearly 2 in the morning when I staggered the few yards back to the boat.

Paul even gave me a bottle for Sue as she was not there and also a staff shirt in honour of the occasion.

We were invited back for a free breakfast in the morning (well early afternoon by the time I surfaced).

Paul does breakfasts for the construction workers and they are enormous and very cheap for what you get. We could only manage small portions and coffees but it was very good.

That evening we returned to watch the Appalachian Step dancers do their thing which was very unusual and interesting. Norma was still buying me drinks but we had to leave at a reasonable time of midnight as we were suffering from over indulgence.

The pub also has a Worcestershire skittle alley in a building across the garden area. We had not seen game this before being familiar with Northamptonshire skittles which is played with cheeses and a small table.

This alley was like a miniature ten pin bowling alley only with 9 pins and all manual pin re-setting. For league matches they employ youngsters as “putter-upper-ers” to replace the pins and send the wooden balls back down the chute.

Each of the 12 players in a team gets 3 balls to knock as many pins down as they can. The top score is 27 but that has never been done. If you knock all the poins over with 1 ball it is called a flop (not a strike)

If you are in the area it is well worth a visit to the Anchor Inn at Diglis Basin.

We were sorry to leave

Diglis Canal Basin Worcester

2008-07-20T13:50:00.002+01:00

Although the basin is being regenerated with yuppie apartments surrounding the boat moorings it is sad to know that it is at the expense of the once great Royal Worcester Porcelain factory that stood here.

The factory is long gone and has been replaced by modern buildings that have no canal heritage.

The work is still ongoing and the whole area is a building site.

We moored on the visitor moorings that have just been reopened after 2 years.

The basin is close to the city centre and we took a day of to take Rufus on a tour of the downtown lampposts. He enjoyed it and we found some comfortable outdoor folding chairs at long last.

The basin has a hidden jewel in the crown---The Anchor Inn (see next blog for details)

The River Severn

2008-07-20T13:28:00.005+01:00

We were going downstream so the current helped us but fortunately the river levels had fallen since the weekend when it was closed to navigation.

As we left Stourport basin behind the river is in complete contrast to the canal.

It is very wide and deep and has a current.

A good speed could be had at little effort form the engine and soon we were approaching our first of 3 large automated locks each of which is down a side channel with the weir protected by a barrier to stop the unwary going over it.

We passed boatyards with river craft much larger then those of the canal world.

Some were strange though. Look carefully and the boat will look back at you with hundreds of eyes!!!!!

We passed chocolate box style cottages

Under cast iron bridges

And approached Worcester

Finally making a 180 degree turn into Diglis basin bottom lock.

With its marker post indicating Birmingham

The 2 large barge locks were very hard work to operate but we arrived about 3 hours, 3 locks and 13 miles after setting off from Stourport. It’s a lot quicker on the river!!!

Stourport

2008-07-17T18:41:00.007+01:00

The terminus (or start) of the Staffs and Worcester canal was made at a small village of Lower Mitton which was at the side of the river Severn. This then grew as a direct result of having an important canal and became Stourport

The various basins contained warehouse and transhipment depots between river and canal traffic.

The 100 room Tontine hotel built at same time as the canal was. This is being converted to apartments as part of the general upgrade of the area.

Construction has slowed down as the UK building trade has suffered as a consequence of the downturn in house prices

Today the clock warehouse is owned by the yacht club and a formerly filled in basin has been re-excavated for new yuppie housing currently under construction.

There is a choice of wide or narrow locks to go down to the river. The wide locks are single and the narrow locks are 2 staircase locks.

We stayed for 2 days to do the laundry and clean up the boat. There were machines in the sanitary station but BW laundry cards are rare as rocking horse proverbial, so we used a laundrette in the town

Brian was ill for 1 day with the deli belly (unknown cause as we ate the same things the previous day).

While we were there we had a visit from a local called Brian Boomer who recognised Invicta as he knew it in 1979, (even after it has been stretched to 60 ft from 40 ft). He had bought the Kelvin engine in pieces for it from Barry Island in Wales for £50.00 in 1973,rebuilt it and fitted it in the boat when it was built in Les Allen’s yard in Oldbury. He had had to return to Barry Island to find the missing flywheel which the seller had lent to a friend a weigh a tarpaulin down

The entrance lock from the canal

The top basin, chandlery and sanitary station on left

The row of original canal houses

The top basin and clock warehouse

The “new” basin with yuppie flats being built

Sign post in top basin

Approaching the top staircase lock

The lower staircase with dry dock to the right

The dry dock

The names of the boats that have been worked on in the dry dock

Side of Tontine

Front of Tontine facing the river Severn

Leaving the bottom staircase lock into the river

The Angel Pub

To Kidderminster and Stourport

2008-07-16T19:26:00.010+01:00

The canal after Kinver becomes quite dramatic in places as it passes through deep cuttings with sheer stone cliffs to one side.

A very nice chocolate box cottage deep in the country

A blind corner with stone cliff

Where the posh Brummies have their chalet homes

The main street of Cookley is above the canal

Fancy having a canal tunnel directly under your house!!!!

Debdale lock has it’s own cave!

At Wolverly there are plenty of gongoozerlers in the adjacent Lock Pub

The nearby village centre of Wolverly is very old and historic

It’s nice to see that the new housing approaching Kidderminster faces the canal instead of turning it’s back on it

We met Jeremy and Dorothy on Unicorn. We had spent and evening with them 2 years ago at Trevor on the Llangollen canal. Jeremy has written a book of a rooky American canal boater from Massachusetts in the late 60’s They operated the boat as a hotel boat for 28 years. Dorothy comes from an old canal family on the Stratford canal and had been involved in canals all her life. The

book is called “innocents afloat by Jeremy Scanlon and is recommended.

A British Waterways Historic Working Boat with volunteer crew

Approaching Kidderminster town centre lock.

Kidderminster town centre

We had just shopped at Sainsbury’s at the side of the canal hen found Tesco’s just down the cut. You are spoilt for choice in Kidderminster.

A fine canalside inn in Kidderminster

Approaching Stourport

To Kinver

2008-07-13T10:45:00.005+01:00

The Navigation pub at Greenforge was a disappointment as it was empty with no landlord present. A phone call indicated he could come back about 19.30 to start food. A boater had also advised the place had gone downhill.

Needless to say we ate on board and stayed in.

A very nice garden next to the canal

Was this lock named after a rock star?

No, just the rocks

The junction with the Stourbridge canal that leads up to Birmingham.

It is reputed that the name Stewponey came from Estepona in Spain. The toll house has been preserved and the adjacent buildings look well cared for.

Approaching Kinver lock

We ate at the Vine. A nice restaurant and friendly folk.

Mooring at Kinver

Not all boats on the cut are well cared for. We don’t know how this old wreck is still floating. We found out in the pub that a family of 3 lives on it locally and all the cost are paid for by social services department!!!!.

Wolverhampton and Beyond

2008-07-11T16:36:00.009+01:00

Brewood is on the northern outskirts of Wolverhampton 5 miles from the southern end of the Shroppie canal at Authersley Junction where it meets the Staffs and Worcester Canal.

The Staffs and Worcester is a much older canal and has never been modernised. It retains all the original features and charm of an early canal following the contours of the land.

The Bridge Inn at Brewood at the top of the cutting.

The Wolverhampton Boat Club about a mile north of the end of the Shroppie

The stop lock at the end of the canal with a 6 inch rise/fall.

Note the Shropshire canal Companies old offices in the background.

You can see the former toll office now boarded up

The first/last milepost n the unique Shroppie style

Authersley junction looking back up the Staffs and Worcester canal with the Shroppie entering under the bridge

Aldersley Junction where the Wolverhampton locks rise up to the city and the Birmingham canal navigations (BCN).The junction are only half mile apart and when the canals were owned by separate companies the Staffs and Worcester charged exorbitant tolls for boats to use the short section as they had no option

Leaving the lock at Compton

Rufus Enjoying the fresh air

Waiting at Bratch Locks.

Bratch locks are unique as they appear to be a 3 rise staircase but are in fact individual locks with just a few feet separating the lock gates. Side ponds take the excess water and operation is difficult. The lock keeper is on duty in the summer to assist.

The octagonal lockkeepers look out tower

Part way down the flight

At the bottom

Looking back

The delightfully named Bumblehole lock

A typical Staffs and Worcester canal circular by wash

Botterham locks are a proper 2 rise staircase lock where the bottom gate of the top lock is also the top gate of the bottom lock.

From above it looks like a normal lock

Leaving the top lock chamber you go directly into the bottom lock chamber

It makes the middle gate extremely high and forbidding.

Quaint cottage just below the staircase lock

A heron just taking off

The Southern Shroppie

2008-07-08T16:24:00.008+01:00

Leaving the Anchor behind we set off south towards Norbury Junction.

Sue and Claire did doggy walking whilst Brian Steered Invicta

It’s amazing what you see in the undergrowth. It’s a Daimler DB18 with a drop head Barker body circa 1948. I know because we have a 1939 Daimler DB18-1 saloon which I restored from 1984 to 1988. It’s still in the garage ready to drive when I get round to it

The Shroppie doesn’t follow the contours of the land; it goes through it in deep cuttings and over it on high embankments as straight as it can go. Thomas Telford designed; it was one of the last canals to be built and rivalled the much older Trent and Mersey canal for trade to and from Birmingham.

Norbury junction is where the derelict Newport Canal joined the Shroppie.

The first 100 yards of the canal is now moorings and a dry dock, but there are plans to restore the canal in the future right through to Newport.

Today the junction is a busy BW ssantory services, marina and hire boat centre with the Junction pub by the canal.

After we stopped for the night at Gnosall Claire and Sue set of for a girlie day out shopping in Stafford as it was her birthday. When they returned Sue presented her with a cake.

Breathe in

Blow!!!!! (Candles were kept to minimum to prevent a fire hazard)

After Claire had gone back to London we set of the next day heading again south.

We fuelled up at Wheaton Aston which is always the cheapest place on the cut to buy diesel. Even they are charging 73.9p/litre which is a lot better than 90 we paid at Middlewich.

The last proper lock on the canal at Wheaton Ashton

A working boatyard near Brewood (pronounced brood).

The aqueduct at Stretton just north of our overnight’s stop at Brewood (Brood)

The Anchor at High Offley

2008-07-07T16:53:00.005+01:00

The Anchor pub has been a canal institution for many many years. It is unique in these modern times has it has never been modernised inside.

The 2 very small bars are served from a small hatch from Olive’s (the landlady’s) sitting room set into the doorway

Until this year she has been fetching the beer from the cellar in jugs and pouring it into the glasses. She now has a beer pump but uses it to fill the jug up from which she then pours your beer into the glass.

The seating in the tap room is old church pews which are not the most comfortable.

There were not many people in on the Friday and Sue had left to go back to boat. I was just about to leave when the locals came in and wondered what a guitar case was doing there.

So I played until 12.00 midnight to a small but appreciative audience.

On the Saturday the kids came round as it is Claire’s birthday on Monday 7th July.
It’s scary about dates as Sue and I met on 8th of the 8th , Claire was born on 7th of the 7th, and I was born on 6th of the 6th

Paul brought Rufus with him as usual.

After a meal at the Wharf Inn about a mile away up the cut, (Claire’s hire car came in useful), we returned to the Anchor to find it very busy with caravanners and campers as well as boaters.

We met with another guitarist called Mal Edwards MBE (rope fender maker) of narrowboat Becky who we knew from previous trips, had arrived back from Scotland and we shared the guitar playing until 12.00 midnight. Very sore fingers in the morning!!!!!

We would reckoned the Anchor Pub as a completely different canal side pub experience in these modern times.

Market Drayton

2008-07-04T17:37:00.006+01:00

Not a lot to say about Market Drayton as the canal passes by about a mile away from the town centre.

There are quite a few shops in the town centre and the nearest supermarket Netto’s is quite a walk back with groceries. Unfortunately there isn’t a Somerfield who would delivery it for you.

There are signs of past industrial canal side warehouses that are now converted to offices and a marina with new canalside housing.

Note the wartime pill box that must have been erected in case the Germans invaded by canal.

A BW man pointing the brigge. he will need a longer ladder when he gets over the water!!!

Just south of the town the flight of 5 Tyrley locks raise the canal in a cutting with trees that have rots that look like they are about to fall over at any time.

At the top the lock house still display their feelings for the common market, (quite right too!!!!!).

Soon after the locks there is a steep sided cutting with warning signs about falling rocks. It goes on for over a mile and if you meet a boat it can be a tight squeeze passing.

It’s a dog’s life on the cut!!!!

At Knighton there is the preserv3ed wharf that was once used by Cadbury’s to move milk products to Bourneville. There is still a creamery behind the wharf in working order.

Our mooring for the night was at the Anchor Pub High Offley

The ducks are a bit bold here!!!!

We went for a walk to the village but there were only a couple of farms and a church.

The view of the village from the boat

The view of the boat from the village. You can make out the boat in the centre of the picture if you look carefully.

Audlem

2008-07-01T20:47:00.011+01:00

A fine rural village steeped in canal history.

The Shroppie Fly pub is the accepted centre of canal social life. It used to be a warehouse until 1974 when it was converted to a pub. There is the Bridge pub but latterly this has gone downhill and we have never visited it.

We stayed in the village from Saturday afternoon to Tuesday morning as we had friends calling and the music night on Monday at the Fly to attend.

A bonus was a firework display on the Saturday night following a marching band concert in the local park. At £15.00 per head we felt it was not worth going but we heard them anyway from the canal, and got a better view of the fireworks as they were set of from a field next to the canal.

As the weather was reasonable Brian got the chance to use the hammock. The only thing missing from it is the view over the St Kitts golf course to the Atlantic Ocean. Still we do have some Caribbean rum if we need it.

On Sunday we had a visit from our old bike club Rainy City Harley Davidson, who had arranged their weekly ride out to come and see us. It was great to see our friends and their bikes once again. I demo’d starting the Kelvin engine three times to the bikers who were impressed by the complexity of the procedure. If Harley had made boat engines that ours would be a contender.

For more info on Rainy City go to http://www.rainycityhdc.com/

On Monday the weekly folk music night meets in the Shroppie Fly. We have been before and although Brian doesn’t play deeply traditional English folk music we were accepted as usual. The performer’s instruments were a varied collection of old English types some of which we had never seen before.

On Tuesday we left Audlem to climb the 15 locks on our journey south down the Shropshire Union canal.

The Fairly Secret Nuclear Bunker

2008-06-27T18:13:00.006+01:00

Near to Hack Green locks there is a secret atomic bunker which is very well signposted for all spies to find easily. After all you can’t have spies wandering around rural England getting lost.

The secret sign on the canal.

The even bigger secret sign near the farm

High security fencing near the open gate.

Good advice if the bombs drops whilst you are eating your egg and chips (fries for our US friends)

An actual atomic bomb.

An actual atomic warhead

An actual Polaris Atomic warhead

Terry Wogan’s studio (sorry a radar room)

Sue in the bunker shelter waiting for the bomb to go off. Note the high tech bog for catching fallout: of the human variety)

It didn’t even wake her up!!!!!!

The control office.

Lots of knobs to turn to keep your mind of the atomic blast

The early warning map.

Profound statement

They didn’t have the last words of the mayor of Hiroshima, which we all know were “what the *!#?@* was that?

We didn’t get a picture of the top secret broom handle with bread knife taped to it. They must be hiding it from the Russians!!!!!!!

The Middlewich Branch

2008-06-26T15:28:00.004+01:00

A canal of 2 record breaking events.

Our longest ever queue at a lock and the most debris removed from the propeller.

This canal runs through very pleasant countryside and while it can take only 1 day to cover the whole length we did it three!!.

Oooohh a newly born calf says hello.

The first lock after Middlewich is usually busy and we had a short queue of 2 boats and it didn’t take too long to get through.

Look you boy, you can tell we getting near to Welsh Wales as the signs are bilingual

We stopped shortly after in order to wash and scrub the bedroom carpet that was soaked in the hot water cylinder incident and give it time to dry out. We also had a pleasant BBQ just before the rain started.

The following morning we set of late as loads of boats had passed and we knew that the next lock would be a hold up.

We didn’t anticipate that there would be 10 boats in the queue ahead of us.

The reason for the huge delay was due to one of top paddles not working and it was taking for ever to fill the lock.

BW had attended to the problem and fitted the customary plastic back and red and white tape so that’s alright.

It took 3 hours to get up the lock, a record waiting time!!!!!!

It’s going to get a lot worse when the new marina holding 147 boats is completed. You can make out the brown earthworks from the bridge where we started queuing.

By complete contrast the next lock called Cholmondeston, but pronounced Chumley where the largest hold ups occur due to the adjacent large Venetian Marina; we sailed straight in.

We moored up at the top and completed the carpet drying process and relaxed for the evening.

The next morning the weather had turned worse and the short run to the junction with the Shropshire Union Canal was made with the storm clouds threatening.

The old gas lamps at the side of the canal point to busier commercial days gone past

To the north the canal runs up to Chester and Ellesmere Port.

To the south a short distance away the Llangollen canal starts it’s 47 miles climb to Wales.

This is a very popular holiday canal and we did it 2 years ago and spent a good 3 weeks up it.

Further south is Nantwich where the old Chester wide beam canal joins end on end with the Shropshire Union canal.

This is where we stopped for service and for Sue to do the laundry at the marina.

The rain was coming down in heavy showers before we found a mooring for the night. This was wetting the horse sculpture by our mooring.

For the last few days we had noticed a knocking sound under the back of the boat so we thought we had better check the propeller. We found the largest amount of rope and cloth we had ever had around the prop. It had become well tangled and had to cut using a hacksaw.

It’s a wonder we went along at all. Usually the Kelvin engine lets us know the prop is fouled but this time it fooled us.

The Wardle Canal

2008-06-23T18:22:00.005+01:00

We learnt something today.

We always knew that the first lock on the Middlewich Branch Canal was called the Wardle lock but we didn’t know that the Wardle canal is a canal in it’s own right.

It is the shortest canal in the UK at only 154 ft long and came about due to an argument between the Shropshire Union and Trent and Mersey canal companies when the Shropshire union canal wanted to join up with the Trent and Mersey canal at Middlewich.

All this information came from Maureen the unofficial lock keeper at Wardle lock.

She has been on the canal most of her life originally around Birmingham and is a real character.

Just a few yards along we moored up and went shopping in Middlewich a short walk away.

Somerfield’s offer a delivery serviced t0o your boat and sure enough the man turned up with baskets and a trolley with not only our groceries but another boat’s as well.

We gave him a hand lifting the boxes over the bridge and down the steps but it beat the you know what of carrying it all back from the shop.

We shall be using their services again without a doubt.

We had a mini Kelvin rally as Arkstone pulled in and we heard the distinctive sounds of a Kelvin engine. It was K2 type which is double the size of ours and enormous. It spent it early life powering a lighthouse generator inn Scotland.