Journal

Two long journeys, two short ones and finally at home

Natascha thinks we beat all the boater records in the last two days, ever. Pure sarcasm, of course, but at this point she’s allowed.

The first day on our way to Kingswood Basin we spent some 9 hours cruising. That was already challenging for us, and the cat. Although it was September, the thermometer climbed up and it was rather warm for this time of the year. We found a tremendous spot to moor up for the night, cat went out straight away and we caught the last sun rays. It was a beautiful moment.

Day two of the journey turned out the be a back breaking nightmare. There were many locks to work, 27 in total in one day! It was apocalyptic to cruise through Birmingham from the side we did, we came from the Birmingham & Fazeley Canal section and we had to pass under the spaghetti junction. Heavily industrialized landscape for miles on end and then this junction. We had to turn left into the Grand Union and shortly afterwards was a CRT mooring which we both didn’t approve of to stay overnight, silly as we were. We cruised through Birmingham at night, the canal not looking good at all, cranky old locks to work. And we continued cruising, it was getting later and later, we finally had Birmingham Centre behind us, generally it was really dark along the canal and we could hardly see a thing, apart from a massive incinerator at one point. We didn’t have a clue where we were.

The clock was hitting 11pm and we had to moor up, we have been cruising since 9am! We finally saw a boat and we decided to stay near them for the night. By that time it was already 11.30pm. Quickly something to eat, the cat went out, we were surrounded by forest, or at least it seemed.

The next morning we got up, knackered as hell, the cat nowhere. Great. So, we had to wait, had a coffee outside, it was a lovely day again. Then we discovered the mess on the roof of our boat. Blimey somebody dropped a rather big shit! Was it a pigeon or a squirrel? Quickly, we had to wash the roof, the white paint wasn’t fully dry at this point and we just didn’t wanted to have some weird green colour seeping through. The cat arrived, we grabbed her and off we went.

When we arrived at Knowle Wharf we wanted to fill up our diesel tank. Sorry mates, no diesel here…! We had to go all the way back to Copt Heath Wharf, adding another 40 minutes of extra cruising. We got there, got the diesel and went back. On the way back we saw dark clouds in the distance, it really looked like something was brewing. At the Knowle flight of locks the storm was pretty close. Still we decided to do the locks, those are massive ones, doing them alone and under pressure was hard work. Yet again! Natascha’s biceps were getting bigger by the bloody minute.

We arrived at the bottom and the famous sky opened. It was a beautiful storm, the cat unfortunately managed to get out of the boat and had to endure some serious lightning and thunder. When the storm was over we continued with cruising, thinking we will manage to reach our new home. But we slowed down the boat to the lowest gear and quietly cruised the last stretch of the cut. It was a stunning moment & Natascha didn’t make a single photo… Probably because the scenery was so overwhelmingly beautiful, we were so happy to have made the decision to move to the country side, we were in awe of it all.

Then night fell and we just couldn’t get ourselves to go up the last lock and trying to find our spot and quite possibly disturb the neighbors. So we stayed near the railway bridge for the night and discovered that we had a dead Coventry rat on our boat! Yes, bloody hell, we noticed a strange smell when passing the fridge and we thought it was the cabbage we bought… but no, a dead rat under the fridge! Out we threw it in the bushes, got the anti bacterial cleaning out and whipped everything franticly. Then we prepared supper, not the last one, but the first in our new home.

The next morning we did the last lock, filled up the water tank and moored at Kingswood Basin. It was a glorious moment. No more enforcement team, no more clogged Elsan disposal, decent water pressure. And great neighbors. Heaven.

 

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Log

Journey to Kingswood

Summary

This is a trip of 8 miles, ½ furlongs and 5 locks from Damson Lane Bridge No 78B to Kingswood Railway Bridge No 37.

This will take 3 hours and 24 minutes.

From Damson Lane Bridge No 78B travel south on the Grand Union Canal (Warwick and Birmingham Canal: widened section – Main Line) for 8 miles and 5 locks to Kingswood Junction, then travel northwest on the Stratford Canal (Kingswood Branch) for ½ furlongs to Kingswood Railway Bridge No 37.

Route

Grand Union Canal (Warwick and Birmingham Canal: widened section – Main Line)
From Damson Lane Bridge No 78B (Elmdon Heath. Damson Lane) to:
Henwood Bridge No 77 [see navigational note 1 below] 2 miles, ¼ furlongs, 0 locks
Henwood Mill Winding Hole [see navigational note 2 below] ¼ furlongs, 0 locks
Knowle Top Lock No 51 2 miles, 2½ furlongs, 0 locks
Knowle Bottom Lock No 47 Having passed through Knowle Locks [see navigational note 3 below]. 1¾ furlongs, 4 locks
Kingswood Junction

Junction of Grand Union and Stratford upon Avon Canals
3 miles, 3¼ furlongs, 1 lock
Stratford Canal (Kingswood Branch)
From Kingswood Junction (Junction of Grand Union and Stratford upon Avon Canals) to:
Kingswood Railway Bridge No 37 ½ furlongs, 0 locks

Totals

Total distance is 8 miles, ½ furlongs and 5 locks. There are at least 2 small aqueducts or underbridges.

This is made up of ½ furlongs of narrow canals; 8 miles of broad canals; 5 broad locks.

This will take 3 hours and 24 minutes.

 

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Log

Journey to Solihul

Summary

This is a trip of 28 miles, 6¾ furlongs and 27 locks from Grendon Wharf Long Term Moorings to Damson Lane Bridge No 78B.

This will take 15 hours and 20 minutes which is 2 days, 1 hour and 20 minutes at 7 hours per day.

From Grendon Wharf Long Term Moorings travel west on the Coventry Canal (Main Line – Hawkesbury to Fazeley) for 8 miles, 2¾ furlongs and 2 locks to Fazeley Junction, then travel southwest on the Birmingham Canal Navigations (Birmingham and Fazeley Canal – Main Line) for 11 miles, 5½ furlongs and 14 locks to Salford Junction South, then travel south on the Grand Union Canal (Birmingham and Warwick Junction Canal) for 2 miles, 4¾ furlongs and 5 locks to Bordesley Junction, then travel south on the Grand Union Canal (Warwick and Birmingham Canal) for ¾ furlongs and 6 locks to Camp Hill Top Lock Winding Hole, then travel southeast on the Grand Union Canal (Warwick and Birmingham Canal: widened section – Main Line) for 6 miles, ¾ furlongs to Damson Lane Bridge No 78B.

Route

Coventry Canal (Main Line – Hawkesbury to Fazeley)
From Grendon Wharf Long Term Moorings (Permit holders only. @Green Lane, North Warwickshire, Warwickshire, England, United Kingdom) to:
Bradley Green Bridge No 48

Spon Lane
¾ furlongs, 0 locks
Railway Bridge (Polesworth to Atherstone)

Trent Valley Line
1 mile, 7¼ furlongs, 0 locks
Mill Bridge No 53

Footbridges both sides of bridge. @Fairfields Hill / Market Street, Polesworth, North Warwickshire, Warwickshire, England, United Kingdom
6¾ furlongs, 0 locks
Polesworth Bridge No 54

Footbridges both sides of bridge. B5000. Also known as Bull’s Head Bridge
1¼ furlongs, 0 locks
Pooley Hall

Once the home of the late Edwin Starr, American Soul and Motown Singer.
2¾ furlongs, 0 locks
Motorway Bridge No 55A

M42
3 furlongs, 0 locks
Samuel Barlow Winding Hole 6 furlongs, 0 locks
Alvecote Marina

With towpath basin bridge No 59A. Also known as Dorothy Wharf
¾ furlongs, 0 locks
Glascote Road Co-op (Formerly The Anchor PH)

48 hour moorings
2 miles, 1 furlong, 0 locks
Glascote Top Lock No 12 1¾ furlongs, 0 locks
Glascote Bottom Lock No 13 Having passed through Glascote Locks. ¾ furlongs, 1 lock
Fazeley Junction

Junction of Birmingham and Fazeley and Coventry Canals
1 mile, 2¾ furlongs, 1 lock
Birmingham Canal Navigations (Birmingham and Fazeley Canal – Main Line)
From Fazeley Junction (Junction of Birmingham and Fazeley and Coventry Canals) to:
Drayton Manor Bridges

There are two bridges here, a foot bridge and a swing bridge. These days the swing bridge is usually open
6¾ furlongs, 0 locks
Fishers Mill Aqueduct

Also called Langley Brook
1 mile, 2¾ furlongs, 0 locks
Bodymoor Heath Wharf

Bodymoor Heath Road
1 mile, 5 furlongs, 2 locks
Bodymoor Heath Bridge

Bodymoor Heath Road
¼ furlongs, 0 locks
Curdworth Lock 6 No 33 1 mile, ¾ furlongs, 3 locks
Curdworth Lock 2 No 29 3 furlongs, 4 locks
Dickens Bridge

Minworth. Also known as Minworth

Having passed through Curdworth Locks and through Curdworth Tunnel.

2 miles, 5½ furlongs, 2 locks
Minworth Services

Also known as Minworth Sanitary Station
7½ furlongs, 2 locks
Butler’s Bridge [see navigational note 1 below]

Kingsbury Road (A38)

Having passed through Minworth Locks.

6¾ furlongs, 1 lock
Bromford Bridge No 1 [see navigational note 2 below]

Wheelwright Road (A4040)
7½ furlongs, 0 locks
Salford Junction South Having passed through Factory Tunnel. 1 mile, 0 locks
Grand Union Canal (Birmingham and Warwick Junction Canal)
From Salford Junction South to:
Bordesley Junction 2 miles, 4¾ furlongs, 5 locks
Grand Union Canal (Warwick and Birmingham Canal)
From Bordesley Junction to:
Camp Hill Top Lock No 52

Also known as Bordesley Locks

Having passed through Camp Hill Locks.

¾ furlongs, 5 locks
Camp Hill Top Lock Winding Hole a few yards, 1 lock
Grand Union Canal (Warwick and Birmingham Canal: widened section – Main Line)
From Camp Hill Top Lock Winding Hole to:
Tyseley Wharf 2 miles, 2¾ furlongs, 0 locks
Damson Lane Bridge No 78B

Elmdon Heath. Damson Lane
3 miles, 6 furlongs, 0 locks

Totals

Total distance is 28 miles, 6¾ furlongs and 27 locks. There are at least 1 moveable bridge; 9 small aqueducts or underbridges and 2 tunnels (Curdworth Tunnel and Factory Tunnel. ).

This is made up of 22 miles, 6 furlongs of narrow canals; 6 miles, ¾ furlongs of broad canals; 27 narrow locks.

This will take 15 hours, 20 minutes which is 2 days, 1 hour and 20 minutes at 7 hours per day. For initial calculation purposes (before adjusting for such things as overnight stops) this is taken as 2 days of 7 hours and 40 minutes each.

Overnight stopping places

This is calculated based on 2 full days travelling starting at Grendon Wharf Long Term Moorings.

Each full day will be approximately 7 hours and 40 minutes travelling.

First full day of trip
On the Birmingham Canal Navigations (Birmingham and Fazeley Canal – Main Line), at Winding Hole above Curdworth Top Lock (half way between Curdworth Lock 2 No 29 and Dickens Bridge). This is 14 miles, 2 furlongs and 13 locks of narrow canals and will take 7 hours 40 minutes. Today’s journey involves at least 1 moveable bridge and 4 small aqueducts or underbridges. You will pass through Glascote Locks and through Curdworth Locks.
Last day of trip
On the Grand Union Canal (Warwick and Birmingham Canal: widened section – Main Line), at Damson Lane Bridge No 78B. This is 8 miles, 4 furlongs and 14 locks of narrow canals, and 6 miles, ¾ furlongs of broad canals; a total of 14 miles, 4¾ furlongs and 14 locks and will take 7 hours 40 minutes. Today’s journey involves at least 5 small aqueducts or underbridges and 2 tunnels. You will pass through Curdworth Tunnel, through Minworth Locks, through Factory Tunnel and through Camp Hill Locks.

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Log

Journey to Grendon

Summary

This is a trip of 16 miles, 5¼ furlongs and 11 locks from Stoke Heath Basin to Grendon Wharf Long Term Moorings.

This will take 8 hours and 35 minutes which is 1 day, 1 hour and 35 minutes at 7 hours per day.

From Stoke Heath Basin travel north on the Coventry Canal (Main Line – Coventry to Hawkesbury) for 3 miles, 4 furlongs to Hawkesbury Junction, then travel northwest on the Coventry Canal (Main Line – Hawkesbury to Fazeley) for 13 miles, 1¼ furlongs and 11 locks to Grendon Wharf Long Term Moorings.

Route

Coventry Canal (Main Line – Coventry to Hawkesbury)
From Stoke Heath Basin to:
Exhall Basin [see navigational note 1 below] Having passed through Heath Crescent Tunnel. 3 miles, 2¾ furlongs, 0 locks
Hawkesbury Junction

Junction of the Coventry Canal Main Line with the Oxford Canal Northern Section.
1¼ furlongs, 0 locks
Coventry Canal (Main Line – Hawkesbury to Fazeley)
From Hawkesbury Junction (Junction of the Coventry Canal Main Line with the Oxford Canal Northern Section.) to:
Hawkesbury Engine House

Also known as Hawkesbury Pumping Station
½ furlongs, 0 locks
Bedworth Winding Hole

Site of the junction with the Newdigate Colliery Arm (disused)
6¾ furlongs, 0 locks
Bedworth Hill Bridge No 13

Half a mile walk to Bedworth. @Coalpit Fields Road, Bedworth, Nuneaton and Bedworth, Warwickshire, England, United Kingdom
a few yards, 0 locks
Marston Bridge No 15

Marston Lane
1 mile, 6¾ furlongs, 0 locks
Marston Junction

Junction of Ashby and Coventry Canals
½ furlongs, 0 locks
Nuneaton to Bedworth Railway Bridge 1 mile, 7¾ furlongs, 0 locks
Nuneaton Visitor Moorings ¾ furlongs, 0 locks
Boot Bridge No 20

Nuneaton Town centre northeast from here
¼ furlongs, 0 locks
Wash Lane Winding Hole 6 furlongs, 0 locks
Tuttle Hill Bridge No 23

Nuneaton Town centre south from here. @Tuttle Hill / Midland Road, Nuneaton, Nuneaton and Bedworth, Warwickshire, England, United Kingdom (B4114)
5¼ furlongs, 0 locks
Judds Quarry Railway Bridge (disused)

Connected with Judds Quarry
½ furlongs, 0 locks
Springwood Haven Marina 1 mile, ¾ furlongs, 0 locks
Hartshill Wharf and BW Yard 1 mile, 2¾ furlongs, 0 locks
Mancetter Bridge No 36

Mancetter village half a mile east. Quarry Lane
1 mile, ¾ furlongs, 0 locks
Atherstone Visitor Moorings 7 furlongs, 0 locks
Atherstone Top Lock No 1 1 furlong, 0 locks
Watling Street Bridge No 43

@Merevale Road, Atherstone, North Warwickshire, Warwickshire, England, United Kingdom

Having passed through Atherstone Locks.

2¾ furlongs, 5 locks
A5 (Watling Street) Road Bridge

A5
¾ furlongs, 0 locks
Atherstone Bottom Lock No 11 1 mile, 3¾ furlongs, 5 locks
Grendon Wharf Long Term Moorings

Permit holders only. @Green Lane, North Warwickshire, Warwickshire, England, United Kingdom
3 furlongs, 1 lock

Totals

Total distance is 16 miles, 5¼ furlongs and 11 locks Today’s travel includes at least 1 tunnel (Heath Crescent Tunnel. ).

This is made up of 16 miles, 5¼ furlongs of narrow canals; 11 narrow locks.

This will take 8 hours, 35 minutes which is 1 day, 1 hour and 35 minutes at 7 hours per day. For initial calculation purposes (before adjusting for such things as overnight stops) this is taken as 1 day of 8 hours and 35 minutes.

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