Canal Plan AC (route planning software) said that to get to Birmingham would be a very long day, however, we didn't want to hole up in Wolverhampton, so we got up early, and got going at about 7:30. I walked up to set the lock, and was somewhat surprised to see the solar powered 'obelisk' by the lock, which seems to be for monitoring lock fills.
Fortunately the weather was much nicer than the previous day, and it got quite warm later on.
Chalice crossing the Stretton Aqueduct.
At Autherley Junction there is a stop lock between the Shropshire Union Canal and the Staffs and Worcs. It has a level difference of only a few inches of water. I leapt off the boat to do the work, only to be told by two boys that they would do it. They told me that they do 'all the boats coming through'. I don't know how much they do help, but they were pleasant and polite and I was pleased to see them doing something helpful.
Through the bridge I could see a heron standing on the direction sign.
In the bottom lock of the Wolverhampton 21.
We were following several boats up the Wolverhampton 21, so that most of the locks were 'against us'. The sun was shining by now, and we got 'Margaret', the bicycle, off the boat and took it in turns to work the locks.
During one of my stints of doing the lock wheeling I cycled under a bridge and saw a man coming in the other direction. "That bloke looks just like 'Hairy Neil'," I thought. However, only a day or so earlier I'd seen Neil heading in the other direction on the back of a boat.
"It really does look like Hairy Neil," I thought. At which point Neil said "Hi".
He was walking back to his car having completed his boating, and caught the train back. He does seem to get around.
Hairy Neil talks to Alan.
We decided to stay on the 'old main line' through Birmingham, as we'd come on the 'new main line' in the other direction. The 'old main line' is a Brindley canal, and winds a lot, while the 'new main line', which is the canal equivalent of a motorway, was built by Telford. The 'old' canal is about 20 feet higher up than the 'new' canal, and has a very different feel. One of it's peculiarities is that it passes under the motorway for some distance.
Smethwick pumping station, mosque on the horizon.
Descending from the 'Wolverhampton Level' of the 'old main line'.
Typical Birmingham iron canal bridges - rejoining the 'new main line'
We arrived in Birmingham at about 6:30, by which time all the usual moorings that we have used near the NIA were full. After some messing about we were told about a mooring up near the Mailbox. We were a bit wary that it might be noisy, but it was absolutely fine.
Out for a pizza.
Miles: 25.0, Locks: 26
Total Miles: 285.5 , Total Locks 272
2 comments:
Lovely site you have and a very evocative way of sharing the life on a canal. Much in your debt, Sir.
I don't know about you, but as an Australian meandering (net-wise) around England, as is my want, I found it really unsettling to see your photo of Smethick and to see it entitled "....mosque in background". What, in God's name, are these people doing in England?
I assume by "these people" you mean those that worship at the mosque ?
I'd be very surprised if most of them don't live in this country, and a if a great deal of them were not born here.
Having visited Australia, and found the part I went to to be teaming with people from a very wide range of ethnic backgrounds, I'm struggling to see why an Aussie should have difficulty with the same concept existing in England.
If you continue to meander (net-wise) around out great country, you'll no doubt quickly learn that mosques are not at all an unusual feature.
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