Saturday 8 August 2009

Fazeley Junction to Curdworth. 11 Locks and 1 tunnel.



On the move again in the sunshine....hoooooooray.

Made a fairly early start today as I had to reverse Ubique back out onto the Birmingham & Fazeley and up to the BW yard, you don't want loads of boats around when you do something like this.

No boats came past during the morning hours ritual of getting up and eating etc, until, that is, we let the ropes go! three boats came from what seemed to be nowhere so we had to hang on for all we were worth as they charged by.

Off we went only to be met by another two boats coming at us as we emerged from under the bridge, Narrowboat dodgems in reverse this time, the bowthruster proved its worth today.



Isn't this picture the epitome of the worst family snaps.


Right,

You stand by that sign and look natural, Ill take the picture.........say cheeeeese.


Now this is a bit more like it.

The gate has only been closed a little bit and you can see how much that bridge intrudes into the lock. Both chimneys had to come down just to get Ubique in, it was the same story for the next ten.

This small flight was a delight to work through, it had highly kept grass and a planted flower box at each lock. The two and a bit hours it took us to get to the top went in the blink of an eye and we were both a bit surprised when we reached the summit.

Such is the speed of life on the canals.



This is a tunnel, allegedly, oh no it isn't says I, that's a small obstacle.

It was surprisingly tight in there though and there was a huge gouge in the brickwork at the other end where the roof came in very tightly indeed.




This style of Narrowboat always amuses as it looks to me like a cardboard box stuck onto a plank.

The freeboard of the hull is practically non existent and would worry me intensely if I had to get on it.

Plan "C"

We have now decided to go and visit Birmingham's city centre via the Gas Street Basin as we have arrived here far too early for our guests and have got a whole week to kill.

The journey in should take a day or so, give or take the odd day or so....ish.

Until tomorrow....................................







2 comments:

Adam said...

I love Birmingham by canal. The Farmer's Bridge flight is one of my favourites as every lock is in a different setting. Our favoured mooring in the centre is at the end of the Oozels Street loop. It's quiet as it's a bit off the beaten track.

Chris and Debbie, said...

Hi Adam,

By total coincidence we spoke to another boater yesterday as he went past and he recommended the self same site.
We were not sure we had heard the name correctly but obviously we had as it turns out.

Thanks for that and we will be looking out for those moorings.

Regards Chris & Debbie.