Despite feeling a tad tired we really did want to get to Birmingham today. Oddly, it’s safer right in the centre rather than stopping short and mooring up. So we plodded on – no locks or bridges (the big Shirley drawbridge was bust & left open). So a 14 mile cruise along the North Stratford – twisty and windy, first hour enclosed by trees. Often shallow too. Into King’s Norton junction through Lock No 1 , a huge guillotine stop lock , turn right and on the Worcester & Birmingham canal. Past familiar sites – the Cadbury Bourneville HQ, Selly Oak, Edgbaston and then into Gas Street basin . . . pick up plastic around the prop . . . stop boat on the grockle boat pontoon to remove . . . . then find us a spare mooring near Sheepcote bridge! A long (for us) day of 5.8 engine hours but all tied up by 3 ish.
The original design for this canal was to be a wide beam – hence the large bridges – sadly this was never meant to be!
Very rural for ages and then a big urbanisation – Waterside.
Most of the first hour was almost enclosed by trees
And the magnificent entrance to the tunnel
Nearly at King’s Norton junction when we ran into (almost) some work boats engaged in dredging!
I did wonder why the last lock we did was numbered No2 – the huge stop lock here is No1. They did go to some lengths to separate the canals.
Very narrow and ominous with the huge gate overhead – did Steve flinch then?
Up ahead – the junction:
We turn right for Brum
Between the hedges we spot Cabury’s at Bournville!
Through Edgbaston tunnel – creepy
Not far to go now – edge round the corner, into Gas Street Basin
Past Sea Life and the entrance to the Birmingham & Fazely canal
Moorings are filling up but we find a good one – that’ll do for a few days!
