Holiday 1982 page 1

1. - Penkridge, Staffs and Worcs Canal, BCN to Wolverhampton, BCN New Main Line to Birmingham, Grand Union Canal out of Birmingham.

Sunday 19th September to Saturday 2nd October. The crew consisted of Neil, Linda, Julian E and Jackie. Julian's wife Jackie's first canal holiday. It was a good start for the sun loving Jackie, for it rained every day! This was our first time hiring from Teddesley Boat Co. at Penkridge. Evelyn proved to be a competent little 43ft cruiser sterned narrowboat. We can't remember any thing about the engine, which is normally a good sign! There is no sign of a large air intake hole, so we surmise it was not a Lister, but probably a BMC 1.5. The hull we have subsequently appreciated was of quite nice lines. Teddesley boats of this period had hulls of Les Allen origins. They were just replacing their fibreglass topped narrowboats. We were to hire Evelyn again in 1984, when the firm's colour scheme changed to the still current grey, red and yellow. Julian and Jackie went on to hire another two Teddesley boats. Fortunately in spite of all the rain, the Severn, Avon and the Churnet section of the Caldon Canal remained open!

Sunday19th September - This boat was an early Sunday start, late Saturday finish, which really meant, if you were keen, another day's cruising! We left home at 6.10 after Julian and Jackie had dropped in from their flat in Turnham Green. We then travelled up in convoy, arriving at Teddesley at 8.45. By 9.20 we were off. We travelled south along the Staffs and Worcs Canal, then turned off left at Aldersley Junction and went up to Wolverhampton on the Wolverhampton 21 locks. Although getting late we carried on along the Main Line and got to Deepfields (near Anchor Bridge), quite late and in the dark. Neil had steered the last bit and we just basically stopped when the evening meal was ready!

Monday 20th September - We left early at 6.30 and motored solidly until 20.00, when we stopped at Kingswood Junction. The morning was terrible weather. While passing down Factory Locks we thought that it was getting dark again! The route through to Birmingham was straight along the New Main Line. We came out via the Birmingham and Fazeley Canal - Farmers Bridge 13 Locks, then Ashted Locks to Bordesley. From here onwards it was the grand Union Canal. We can not remember if the Camp Hill Locks had Lock No 54 on it's new alignment due to road improvements. I can't imagine that it was, as we would have taken a picture of the new lock. Around dinner time the rain stopped to be replaced by even more wind. We started Knowle Flight at 18.00 in all this wind. Julian was steering and had a fine time getting the boat into the locks. There was dinner on the boat as soon as we stopped and then we went to the Navigation pub.

* Waiting below Longford Lock No 39. Staffs and Worcs Canal.	Waiting below Penkridge Lock No 38. Staffs and Worcs Canal.

Penkridge Lock No 38. Staffs and Worcs Canal.	The Croda Inks factory opposite Calf Heath Wood. Staffs and Worcs Canal.

The overgrown Aldersley Junction. We are just about to turn left onto the BCN and go up the Wolverhampton 21 Locks. Staffs and Worcs Canal.	Wolverhampton Bottom Lock No 21. BCN.

Wolverhampton 21 Flight, Lock No 20. The odd one with a single bottom gate. BCN.	* The bottom gate of Lock No 20. Wolverhampton 21 Flight. BCN.

Wolverhampton 21 Flight. Above Lock No 19, beside the Racecourse. BCN.	Approaching Lock No 17, Wolverhampton 21 Flight. BCN.

In Lock No 13, looking up at railway bridges and Lock No 11. Wolverhampton 21 Flight. BCN.	Looking back down from Lock No 13. Wolverhampton 21 Flight. BCN.

Lock No 11 Wolverhampton 21 Flight. BCN.	Lock No 10, Incinerator beside lock. Linda believes it is a summer holiday! Wolverhampton 21Flight. BCN.

The old M&B Springfield Brewery. Wolverhampton 21 Flight. BCN.	Lock No 4. Wolverhampton 21 Flight. BCN.

Wolverhampton Basin and Top Lock No1. BCN.	Wolverhampton Basin. BCN.

* Top Lock, Factory Locks. New Main Line, Tipton. BCN.	Factory Locks. New Main Line, Tipton. Yes! it really was that foul - the weather - not the BCN.

View from Top Lock, Factory Locks. New Main Line, Tipton. BCN.	* Grrr! Jackie has got into the swing of things!, Factory Locks. New Main Line, Tipton. BCN.

* Middle Lock, Factory Locks. New Main Line, Tipton. BCN.	Factory Locks, when it still had a factory. Same graffiti as in 1979! New Main Line, Tipton. BCN.

Leaving Bottom Lock, Factory Locks. New Main Line, Tipton. BCN.	Bromford Junction. Spon Lane Locks are another way back up to Old Main Line. BCN.

* M5 from Bromford Junction. BCN.	* Julian staring ahead in the driving rain! BCN.

Mr and Mrs E. BCN.	The Long Boat pub on Cambrian Wharf, top of Farmer's Bridge 13 Locks. This is now called the Flapper and Firkin. BCN.

* Farmer's Bridge 13 Flight, Birmingham and Fazeley Canal. BCN.	Farmer's Bridge 13 Flight, Birmingham and Fazeley Canal. BCN.

* Farmer's Bridge 13 Flight, Birmingham and Fazeley Canal. BCN.	Farmer's Bridge 13 Flight, Birmingham and Fazeley Canal. BCN.

Looking back up the Farmer's Bridge 13 Flight, Birmingham and Fazeley Canal. BCN.	Looking back up the Farmer's Bridge 13 Flight, Birmingham and Fazeley Canal. BCN.

Farmer's Bridge 13 Flight, Birmingham and Fazeley Canal. BCN.	Grand Union Canal, coming out of Brum. Neil steers with bum while grasping a stubby in the pouring rain.

* Denotes a scanned Edgington print. Other's are scanned from Neil's faded Agfa slides. (probably a more accurate representation of grot weather on this Holiday!)