Black Country Ring - anticlockwise

 
Swallow on the Trent & Mersey. The cratch cover was safely stored inside.

Sat 28/6/08      Great Haywood to Penkridge

We left Great Haywood at about 12:30, for a steady journey down the Staffs & Worcs to Penkridge and an overnight stop just beyond the Cross Keys, followed by a pleasant evening outside the pub. The weather was overcast with just a light shower whilst we had a late lunch stop.

 
Aldersley Junction

Sun 29/6/08  Penkridge to Aldersley Junction

The original plan called for us to complete the Wolverhampton 21 this afternoon and stop at Broad St Basin for the night. A boater coming down the flight today warned of local drunks congregating under the bridges and we decided to stop short and tackle the locks tomorrow.

A pleasant evening at Aldersley Junction

After a spell of persistent rain we moored up in very pleasant surroundings at Aldersley Junction for a sunny evening ‘gardening’ and walking the towpath with Alfie.

Bev doing a spot of gardening, refreshing our flower boxes 

Monday morning in the Wolverhampton 21

Mon 30/6/08        Aldersley Junction to Old Turn Junction 

The Wolverhampton flight was surprisingly rural and remained pleasant to the top. Although factories were evident nearby they weren’t intrusive. There were no drunks in evidence at all and it seems a passage through on Monday morning is much more preferable to Sunday evening. There was a steady but light wind all day and prolonged sunny spells – resulting in some sunburn!
 

It has to be said that the BCN – at least the part of it we saw – has little, if anything, to recommend it. Smelly, almost derelict factories interspersed with wasteland surrounded the canal, which was itself full of floating weed and rubbish. True to form we collected a prop-full, though a quick burst in reverse cleared most of it. We followed the new line and whilst the scenery improved a bit we wouldn’t have felt comfortable stopping anywhere. We realised we’d been fortunate not to stop near Broad Street Basin as Aldersley Junction had proved to be much more pleasant.

Taking on water in Broad Street Basin

After a long - and in places depressing - day we moored at Sheepcote Street, just a few yards short of Old Turn Junction in Birmingham city centre, surrounded by a redeveloped canalside featuring smart looking blocks of flats and offices, with a good choice of hostelries. Although it was a city centre stop we felt secure. The towpath on both sides of the canal was lined with narrowboats and the few non-boaters using the towpath weren’t threatening in any way.

 
Old Turn Junction – a roundabout in the canal

Tues 1/7/08  Old Turn Junction to Dog & Doublet 

The Farmers Bridge locks started pleasantly enough, but as we got to the bottom of the flight the surroundings had deteriorated significantly and desperately need some of the ‘touch’ the local Council applied to the city centre.

By the Aston flight a steady cross-wind was making life ‘interesting’ even if the canal’s surroundings were less than impressive. The scenery stayed the same through Salford Junction (better known as Spaghetti Junction to motorists) and it wasn’t until we got beyond the Minworth flight that the Birmingham & Fazeley became more rural. We’d left Birmingham and the BCN behind at last - probably never to return as we’re not impressed with urban canals - and continued through to our planned mooring at the Dog & Doublet. Unfortunately the weather worsened through the day and by evening we were into some prolonged heavy rain, scotching any idea of spending the evening outside the pub. Fifty nine locks in two days is too many, and we’d been looking forward to a pint or two!!

 
“You two can come out now. I can’t see any more locks.”

Wed 2/7/08      Dog & Doublet to Fradley Junction 

After two long days we were back in the sort of pleasant rural surroundings we enjoy, and for the morning at least the weather held for us. The canal was almost clear of other boats, which were only in evidence near the curiously styled Drayton Foot Bridge, and by Fazeley Junction. The steady drizzle of the afternoon cleared to give another pleasant evening as we moored just short of Fradley Junction.

 
A view of the tranquil stretch of the Birmingham & Fazeley

Thu 3/7/08            Fradley Junction to Great Haywood 

After a leisurely start and a trip to the canalside shop we turned left at the junction - which was made particularly tight by someone mooring in the junction so he stuck out into the channel at the turn - then waited in a short queue for the Middle Lock. As we were negotiating the lock the heavens opened and neither Bev or I were able to get to our coats, nor to get Alfie into the dry. We got drenched! Heavy clouds and sunny spells seemed the order of the day and by the time we’d reached the next lock the warm sun had just about dried everything.

 
Alfie in his usual place navigating

The last two days of the trip were almost lock free, and we knew that the rest of today would be on the level until we reached Little Haywood. The Coventry Canal (or is it still the Birmingham & Fazeley after Fazeley Junction?) had been very pleasant and the Trent & Mersey did not disappoint either, with today being probably the most relaxing of the week. Alfie and Bev spent much of the time walking the towpath and a slow pace forced on us by plenty of moored craft was most welcome and easily accommodated in our, by now, relaxed schedule. 

We reached Great Haywood early in the evening and spent some time housekeeping, inside and out, at our berth in the marina before retiring. The following morning saw us completing the tasks needed to leave the boat ready for her next owners, and we left for home late in the morning.

 
Back home at Great Haywood

This had been Bev and Alfie’s first time aboard a narrowboat, although not mine. In retrospect perhaps committing ourselves to do a ‘ring’ was a bit ambitious since it forced a certain pace on us and an ‘out and back’ itinerary might have been the safer bet allowing us to decide how far and for how long we travel each day. However, everyone had enjoyed it and we’re already planning our next trip - quite possibly a look at the Caldon Canal.