NB Swallow, Hockley Heath - Norbury and return, 29th April - 5th May 2005

Crew: Andy Belton, Tommy Belton, Lori Chen and Betsy Alexander

Route: Stratford upon Avon Canal, Northern - Worcester & Birmingham Canal, Gas St Basin, BCN Main line Birmingham Level - Wolverhampton flight - Staffs & Worcs - Shropshire Union. Returning via BCN Wolverhampton Level (Old main Line).

Bridge 27, Stratford Upon Avon Canal. The Home of Swallow Cruisers. [photo: Lori Chen]


Swallow's saloon. [photo: Lori Chen]


Shirley Drawbridge, Stratford Upon Avon Canal. [photo: Lori Chen]


Lock no.1, Stratford Upon Avon Canal. This guillotine gated stop lock is rarely, if ever, closed. [photo: Lori Chen]


Junction Bridge, Kings Norton, Worcester and Birmingham Canal (before the bandits appeared). [photo: Lori Chen]


Worcester Bar Stop lock and footbridge, Gas Street Basin, Birmingham. This is where the Worcester and Birmingham Canal meets the Birmingham Canal Navigations. [photo: Lori Chen]


Broad Street Tunnel, Gas Street Basin, Birmingham Canal Navigations. [photo: Lori Chen]


Brindley Place, near Gas Street Basin, Birmingham Canal Navigations. [photo: Lori Chen]


Brindley Place at night from Old Turn Junction, Birmingham Canal Navigations. [photo: Lori Chen]


Old Turn Junction (or Deep Cuttings Junction), Birmingham Canal Navigations. Swallow can be seen moored just under the bridge on the left. [photo: Lori Chen]


Swallow moored near Old Turn Junction, Birmingham Canal Navigations. [photo: Lori Chen]


Birmingham Level Main Line at the junction with the Icknield Port Loop, to the left, and the Soho Loop, to the right. The central pillar ahead supports neither the Iron bridge in the foreground, nor the brick bridge behind. It is in fact part of a dismantled railway bridge. [photo: Lori Chen]


Birmingham Level Main Line, Birmingham Canal Navigations. [photo: Andrew Belton]


Swallow at Smethwick New Pumping Station, Birmingham Level main line, viewed from Brasshouse Bridge. In the distance is the Galton Tunnel. Above and to the right of Swallow, can be seen the Wolverhmpton Level. [photo: Lori Chen]


Tommy with Swallow at the Pumping station moorings. [photo: Andrew Belton]


Swallow moored opposite Wolverhampton Boat Club, Shropshire Union Canal. [photo: Lori Chen]


Avenue Bridge, Shropshire Union Canal. [photo: Andrew Belton]


Brewood (pronounced Brood) from the Shropshire Union Canal. [photo: Andrew Belton]


Swallow passing Brewood visitor moorings, Shropshire Union Canal. [photo: Lori Chen]


Back in Birmingham on our return journey, we were passed early in the morning by the FMC steamer President and butty Kildare, returning to the Black Country Museum from the Leamington Canal Festival. [photo: Andrew Belton]
 

The Cruise Log

We had engine trouble on the first day. The throttle cable bracket had broken off the engine body. Luckily it happened right opposite Lyons Boat yard, so they welded it back on for us and we were on our way again in a couple of hours. The rest of the journey was mostly trouble free.

Bandits just before Brandwood Tunnel. Kids sitting on a runoff weir were smiling and waving until we drew level with them, Then they starting shooting gooey pellets at us. One hit me on the back side and caused them much amusement. More bandits on the bridge at Kings Norton Junction. Foul mouthed children throwing stones. This time they were rotten shots and nothing made contact.

Gas Street Basin and Broad Street were buzzing with activity on Saturday night. We were moored between Old Turn Junction and Cambrian Wharf, next to the NIA. Close enough to enjoy the night life but far enough away for it not to keep us awake. In the morning we discovered someone had tried to walk off with one of the flower boxes, but found it too heavy. They had abandoned it a short way down the path. On our return stop, we moved them all to the offside of the boat, out of easy reach.

We were asked by the woman living at the top of the Wolverhampton locks to complete the flight of 21 locks before stopping for the night. We eventually stopped at a rural spot opposite the Wolverhampton Boat Club, on the Shroppie. The next day we met many boats returning from the Norbury Festival, especially around Wheaton Aston, before stopping for the night at Norbury Junction. We continued up through the Grub St cutting before winding and starting our return journey.

While passing Oxley Marine on the Staffs and Worcs early on Wednesday morning, we hailed the proprietor as he was opening up and by the time we had pulled alongside, he had a bottle of gas waiting to pass over to us. We swapped bottles, paid and were on our way again in less than 30 seconds. How's that for service.

At the water point in Wolverhampton, we acquired a pallet from a friendly BW man at the yard. We found that by laying this on the floor of the stern deck, it gives a more comfortable level of floor to steer from and for sitting on the side benches.

On Thursday Morning, we picked up a knotted plastic bag on the prop at Bournville. Bargee Bill's Prop Cleaning tool was a godsend. Whoever suggested investing in one of those, deserves a medal.

No bandits coming back through Kings Norton this time. The little b****rds were all at school.

Filled up with diesel and pumped out the loos at Swallow Cruisers. At 43p a litre, they're not the cheapest on the cut, but they only charged for 1 pump out since there was so little in the broom cupboard loo.

By 5pm on Thursday, we had packed up, mopped down the sides, polished the mushrooms and locked up the boat.

Andy Belton