Another Bank Holiday Weekend Day - And More Queues.

(Boat Chalice - posted by Alan)



We were now very much on one of our standard runs for Chalice's home moorings.  Braunston is an obvious stopover, and typically we will then stop at Blisworth or Stoke Bruerne the next day, with our final on-board night being somewhere like Fenny Stratford or Stoke Hammond.

The second time we have passed "Dorado" on our trip.

To get from Braunston to Stoke Bruerne in a day is relatively easy if there are no hold-ups, but this was a Bank Holiday Monday, and we made a very relaxed start from Braunston.  After the procession of boats past ours before we moved, we were not surprised to find several boats stacked up waiting passage through the bottom lock of the Braunston flight.



Whilst we were waiting we were treated to the sight of some young men on a pair of "Saisons" hire boats using their pole to push forcefully of the wooden cabins of some moored boats, with obvious damage being done.  We looked at their smashed off tunnel light to, and wondered how they would be tackling the tunnel ahead.  Curiously they asked if they would be able to get their boats in the locks together - this seemed a bit odd, as they must have already come through the 13 locks they were about to tackle in the other direction.  For some reason the two boats stopped sharing locks at one point, and we ended up in a lock with them - an arrangement that fortunately didn't last long when a boat ahead saw us coming, and re-opened bottom gates to let us in!



We see some highly skilled hire boaters very regularly on our travels, but occasionally you get a set that are an accident waiting to happen.  This lot were in the latter category.

These fenders struggle to fit anywhere at all.

At Long Buckby we were queing again.  One of the boats in front was sporting the most oversized set of fenders we have yet seen on a narrow boat.  These visibly were starting to jam it in the lock with a second boat as they descended, and we advised both boats it looked dodgy to proceed with these fenders down.  By the next lock they were parked on the roof.

Out of harm's way!

In fact by a few locks we were sharing with this boat, owned by a delightful couple who had literally just bought it, and starting to take it home.  Apparently they also sail, and assumed that similar fenders were sensible on a canal boat.  The husband was very enthusiastic and keen to learn, but his wife was clearly finding lock work very taxing, and didn't want to handle the boat.  They said they only needed to be at Apsley by the end of Friday - I wish them well, but think they may need a lot of assistance to meet that target, knowing just how many locks there are once past Leighton Buzzard.

Blisworth tunnel - nearly out.

By now we were looking at a late a arrival at Stoke Bruerne, and that was before we stopped for fuel at Stowe Hill, and also found a queue there, having to wait whilst two other boats were filled and the paperwork done.  By the time we left, Dominic, the owner, said Stoke Bruerne was an ambitious target before nightfall.  I'm pleased to say we made it easily, greatly helped by a completely clear passage of Blisworth Tunnel.  I have no idea how "about 23 minutes" figures in the tunnel "hall of fame", but given the hot oil smell as we emerged, I don't think I would have liked to have pushed it any faster!



We had vowed that Braunston would be our last meal out, but after arriving as late as we did, Cath said she really didn't fancy cooking, and "the Boat" ended up providing us with some really rather good food.





Braunston to Stoke Bruerne

Miles: 20.6, Locks: 13

Total Miles: 382.3, Total Locks: 363

A Very Busy Day

(Boat Chalice - posted by Alan)



We thought we would rather like to get to Braunston today.  Although we had already been out and celebrated our wedding anniversary early a couple of days ago, we could now do it for real, after the dress rehearsal.



I don't think we were quite prepared for the boating day that followed, and had simply not expected it to be anything like as busy as it turned out.  Two days ago, we had come out of Birmingham to beyond Knowle locks, and literally only passed one moving boat the whole day.  Yesterday was much busier, as we worked down Hatton and through Warwick and Leamington, but I'm not sure we had still woken up to the idea of bank holiday weekend!

"Bottom seriously too close to top" at Bascote.

Our first locks were on our own, and only when we got to the 4 locks at Bascote did things really get going.  We had noticed the occasional slightly low pound up until now, but a distinct lack of water in the short pound below Bascote staircase locks was enough to see the stern of Chalice firmly stuck, whilst the bows drifted aimlessly towards the mudbanks now visible on the right.

Opening move in the "Bascote shuffle"

However, I do think we got through Bascote with far less delays than would have been the case therafter.  We were already setting up the staircase lock to go in at the bottom, when two boats arrived at the top to come down.  "No problem!", we said, "we can do the Bascote shuffle".  The owner boaters on one boat had been unaware it was possible to pass boats within the staircase, whilst the hirers on the second boat just looked totally bemused through what followed.









I'll not go into detail - as there are actually less effort ways of doing it than what those coming down went for, but basically two boats come down the top lock, with the water used to fill the lock Chalice was in coming up.  Once equalised, and the gates are open, you shuffle boats Tetris style until each have changed chamber, then go on your way as normal.

Even amongst weird boats, this one is VERY weird!

We didn't stop around though to find how two boats coming out into the very low pound actually managed to pass the two already coming up from the lock below.  I think it might have been "challenging".  Meanwhile boats were arriving in droves to go down, and a distinctly large queue was forming - out of that one just in time, I think!

Line up of ex working boats at Warwickshire Fly Boat Company.

The Blue Lias.

Sharing at Stockton - another experienced crew eases the work!

We eventually ended up sharing most of the remaining ascent of locks through Stockton with an experienced crew.  With our bike out to lock-wheel ahead, progress was as good as the boats ahead allowed us.

Stockton Locks come thick and fast.

Queuing at Calcutt Bottom Lock

However, at Calcutt locks, (the last 3 locks on the Birmingham main line of the Grand union, heading this way), we hit another queue.  The situation here was further complicated by boats wishing to leave the marina at Calcutt, and work up these locks.  They emerge well beyond the back of the queue.  At first it looked like some queue jumping might occur, but in the end it was all very civilised and British.  We stood around exchanging stories, and comparing dogs, whilst everybody was very careful to go on exactly their turn!





It has to be said the waiting here was unnecessarily long.  Is it beyond the wit of crews going uphill to leave open the gates of the lock they are leaving, to allow a clean exchange with boats nearly ready to leave the lock above coming down ?  It sometimes surprises me that people who clearly own their own boat still have little concept of how to get people through with the least delay at the busiest times.

Braunston Church

Anyway, no real problem.  Braunston was still a realistic target, despite the delays of the day.  The delays were not quite over, though, as a slow boat preceded a line of people behind him who might have preferred to go a bit faster, and did so all the way until nearly Braunston.

Festivities at "Braunston Village Weekend".

Braunston was packed out, with boats moored on every available slot we passed, including out onto the Puddle Banks.  But just as we were about to pass the customer mooring at the Mill House pub, I spotted someone might be leaving.  Yes they were, so we moored up straight outside the pub - we were not going to have to walk far to get to our Wedding anniversary meal, after all!



Above Fosse Locks to Braunston

Miles: 12.5, Locks: 19

Total Miles: 361.7, Total Locks: 350

Hatton - and on past Radford Semele

After the first four lock

(Boat Chalice - posted by Cath)



We left our mooring by the Black Boy at about 9 am, and startedthe run
to Hatton.  Once again the weather has been changeable, sunny one
moment, and a drenching downpour the next - you either spend all your
time changing in  and out of waterproofs, or just decide to keep warm by
working the locks energetically.



The first boat we were working with pulled over after a few locks, but we soon caught up with a keen and experienced crew of hire boaters. The flight was busy, but we made fair time.

I'd love this to go with Sickle!

I wouldn't say no to this either!

Outside the BW yard at Hatton

I was drenched when I took this, the weather was so changeable

Hanging gardens - orange balsam and other plants

Bushes heavy with autumn fruit

 This summer is reported as being the driest since 1976, which has meant restrictions on boat movements on some parts of the system, but also an early autumn.

 The hire crew pulled over at the nearest pub below Hatton, while we pushed on to the Tesco's in Warwick, and then up through Fosse Locks. David went for a walk in the evening, and got very wet, but also took some photos:

Rainbow bridge

Evening sky from the top of Bascote Staircase

Knowle to above Fosse Locks
Miles: 17.2, Locks: 27

Total Miles: 349.2, Total Locks: 331

It's Raining Again

(Boat Chalice - posted by Cath)


We woke up at the usual time, to find that Lincoln had already gone, as had Jan and Dave who had promised to help John and Mary go down the Farmer's Bridge flight of 13.

Passing through Gas Street Basin towards Broad Street tunnel

A quick breakfast and we headed through Gas Street up to the turn off by the NIA. I had sent Jan a text, as they had promised to give us a hand too. Jan met us at the top of the flight at just gone 9 o'clock, Dave was already off setting locks ahead.



It was raining intermittently as we worked down the locks, but with four of us on the task I barely noticed the work.

lock under the buildings in Farmer's Bridge

The Farmer's Bridge flight passes old abandoned factories, modern apartments, under office blocks, and by the base of the Telecom Tower - there is a somewhat surreal feel to it



The locks are so close together that they have the pounds between them extended alongside the locks.



By ten fifteen we were leaving the bottom lock, Jan and Dave had done 26 locks  - they promised to take it easy for the rest of the day.

Raining - looking from Ashtead top lock into Ashtead tunnel

At this point the rain really started, so that going towards the Ashtead locks we were in a downpour.



Ashtead tunnel is immediately below the top lock, with another lock not far below the end of it. It is an extremely narrow tunnel, so it is important to make sure that no one is in the tunnel before you go into the lock - and vice versa in the other direction.













We carried on through the rest of the Ashtead Locks, then up the Camp Hill flight, then miles of suburb until we got to Knowle - the first wide locks for what seemed like weeks. They have very wide pounds between the locks.  We carried on a bit further, then tied up outside the Black Boy, where we decided to celebrate our wedding anniversary a couple of days early, and went to the pub for a meal.

More photos below:

under Broad Street Tunnel - towards the NIA

On the way down Farmer's Bridge

working hard - Cath and Jan

Some of the locks feel almost subterranean

Telecom tower - looking back up the flight

Jan and Dave close the last lock of the day

bottom gate of Ashtead Top Lock, from the tunnel

inside Ashtead Tunnel - trying to hang onto some paintwork

Birmingham to Knowle
Miles: 15.3, Locks: 30


Total Miles: 332.0, Total Locks: 304

A Much Less Hard Work Day.

(Boat Chalice - posted by Alan)

Tardebigge Top - our only lock of the day.

We had hoped throughout the whole of this trip that we might spend at least a night tied up in Birmingham - it has become somewhat of a tradition on our big summer trips.  However, we had already "borrowed" some time, both to visit the Severn valley Railway, then to stop at Droitwich where we had not actually planned to spend the night, until unexpectedly met Dave and Jan.

Inside Tardebigge Tunnel.

We still wanted to go to Birmingham, although were aware that plenty awaits us back home, and we can't e out too much longer.  We decided we would push on from Tardebigge, and make the decision before Kings Norton, where the Northern Stratford canal could have provided a route home that didn't take in Birmingham.

Truly stunningly decorated narrow boat.

"Seaford" - Another Northwich boat in similar colours to "Sickle".

We had just a single lock, (Tardebigge Top), to start the day, if Birmingham was to be the destination.  Almost immediately after that you enter Tardebigge Tunnel.  I had been through this before, but had forgotten how much of it is unlined.  IUt is very uneven, and although it is a tunnel where boats can enter from both ends at the same time, and you can pass, I wasn't really sorry not to have to do so.



The similar length tunnel at Shortwood is a more conventional arrangement, lined throughout.  Again nobody else was about.

The slow moving boats finally exit Wast Hill Tunnel.

The much longer Wast Hill Tunnel, (or is it Wast Hills - both forms are used), proved a different prospect.  We passed several boats coming the other way, which wasn't really the problem, but quickly caught up another boat going slowly and zig-zagging. This boat was in turn queued up eventually behind another.  I hate being forced to travel slowly in the tunnels, but here we often had to take the boat out of gear, when even tick-over meant we were still catching up.







Outside the tunnel the first boat moved over, and waved the followers past - in my view the correct ehaviour if you want to move very slowly, (or your boat has a probblem, and can't move at normal speed).  The boat still in front of us, having passed it, then speeded a little, but was still not travelling at a normal pace.  It seemed that whilst he was happy to pass someone who offered, he did not see the need to offer the same courtesy to others.



Eventually he decided to stop, after which we completed the remaining lockless miles into Birmingham rather more quickly. (You can work out at this stage that we had decided not to forgo a trip into the city after all!).

Moored up in Birmingham.

We moored initially just to discuss intentions with Dave and Jan, but they quickly decided to stop at the same point too, which became our overnight mooring.  They had already decided to meet up with some other members of the Canal World Forum, that they knew, but we had yet to meet.  It was agreed an arrangement would be made for the evening, but that we would do our own things until then.

Not the best employment in the world ?

I'll not go into the mix-up that had Cath setting off to the shops without me, when I thought I was joining her, or the fact she had failed to take a mobile with her to sort it out!  I was truly amazed to find her in Brum with no mental map, but a bookshop is always a good bet, so guess where I found her!



When we got back we went for an early meal with David, who wanted to be free for something else that evening.  We found by then another boat tied up near us, which we knew to be further members of the Canal World Forum.  Although Dave and Jan had helped them tie up, they had not realised this.  They were not there then, but we left a note, before departing for a pub, where Dave and Jan had agreed to meet their friends.  The others turned up too, eventually so we officially declared it a Canal World "Banter".





I was not aware of drinking more than usual that evening, but the following morning my head suggested I may have done.  Cracking good company, anyway!



Top of Tardebigge flight to Birmingham

Miles: 14.5, Locks: 1

Total Miles: 316.7, Total Locks: 274

The Most Locks We Have Ever Done in a Day.

(Boat Chalice - posted by Alan)

There are excellent moorings in Droitwich.

After an excellent night in Droitwich, it was time to press on on the remainder of the restored canals to join the Worcester and Birmingham.  We had arrived yesterday via the Droitwich Barge Canal, with wide locks, that allow you to share with another narrow boat, but were now moving to the Droitwich Junction Canal, where the locks switch to narrow, so we could no longer share locks with our friends, although we had decided to travel with them.

We pass through one of the swing bridges in Droitwich.

Entering the culvert under the M5

It's nothing like as tight as Froghall Tunnel !

However, after a number of swing bridges, one of the first things you encounter is the very restricted tunnel that allows the restored canal to pass under the M5 motorway.  Apparently it was a major coup that when it was first constructed, they were persuaded to make it big enough for boats, (just!), but it is not overly generous.  Even in our shallow draughted boat there did not seem to be much depth of water either, and I can well believe reports of more deeply draughted boats getting grounded in it - based on experiences with Chalice, I'd not be too keen to try with Sickle!

View from the bottom of the new staircase lock

The first locks on this restored section are brand new ones, as a new stretch of canal has replaced the original ones.  They are fairly stark structures, built in concrete, although do have gates and paddle gear that follow tradition.  Certain features could be better thought through - the approaches into the locks are completely square cornered, meaning that if you fail to align perfectly you would strike them, and it is obvious boats are already doing this regularly, (typically older locks have an angled approach that helps "funnel in" anybody who has misjudged their approach).



One of the locks is a two lock staircase, and as we arrived there a hire boat had become firmly jammed as it was completing its ascent of the bottom chamber.  A lot of brute force was being used to "unstick" it.  I arrived too late to be certain, but the cause seemed to be it had jammed under a ledge above a weir at the side of the lock.  Initially this didn't seem likely, but when we subseqiuently ascended the lock, we could see we could ourselves have got jammed, with the boat at a slight angle across the lock.  We later made a BW lock-keeper aware of this problem, and he promised to check it out.

David puts the side ponds to good use.

The final three locks up to the Worcester and Birmingham are deep, and don't have the foibles of the new locks.  Better still the "side ponds" here are fully restored, and, unlike most of the rest of the canals, where they have been abandoned, here you are actively told to use them, supported by a helpful lock-keeper.  These water saving devices can save up to half the water used in working locks, and could have proved their worth elsewhere in the current drought conditions, had they not been deemed redundant some time ago.



We would endorse what we have read elsewhere - the prettiest its of these canals are on the Droitwich Barge Canal, with its reed lined channels and attractive bridges.  The Droitwich Junction Canal is full of interesting features, but less picturesque.

Early in the long ascent on the Worcester & Birmingham.

Once we joined the Worcester and Birmingham at Hanbury Junction, you knew that it is a long hard slog of locks that ultimately take you to the summit at Tardebigge.  There are fourty of them, in fact, and we never thought we had either the time, or the stamina to get anywhere near the top this day.  I did, however, have my doubts about really being able to tie up in the very short pounds in the middle of the 30 lock Tardebigge flight itself.

Climbing the 30 Tardebigge locks.

We were still travelling with our friends Dave and Jan, with their boat following ours.  We got a good run at the Tardebigge flight itself, with locks in our favour, but as David had turned out as a third crew member, we were trying to reverse all the locks as we left them, ready for Dave and Jan to go straight in to follow us

Some very serious radio amateurs live up this flight of locks!

Everybody was tiring, I think, but on several occasions I suggested to our friends they might like to stop, but they said they were still OK to keep going.  Finally Dave said to me "having got this far, lets finish the bloody thing!", and ultimately we did just that.  Well, being completely accurate, we stopped one lock from the very top, as the best moorings are there, and if stopping, it is best to leave the final lock for the following day.

This party of youngsters asked lots of questions!

We have never done this many locks in a single day before, but I must admit that I didn't find it as bad as expected.  Last time we did Tardebigge I had really struggled with top paddles - sometimes I still did this time, but to nothing like the same extent.  I may even be getting a bit fitter!

Getting towards the top of the flight.

There is no pub here to celebrate your hard work, so we agreed to meet later on Dave and Jan's boat for a few beers and maybe a glass of wine or two.  By the morning they were complaining their recycling bins had become over full.

Dave and Jan follow us up the final locks.

Droitwich to top of Tardebigge
Miles: 8.0, Locks: 48

Total Miles: 302.2, Total Locks: 273