TNC On Tour 2004 Page 6

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The Tuesday Night Club on Tour

Tour 2004

6 - Birmingham to Rugeley, Birmingham and Fazeley Canal, Digbeth Branch, Digbeth Basins, Grand Union Canal, Birmingham and Warwick Junction Canal, Birmingham and Fazeley Canal, Coventry Canal. Trent and Mersey Canal.

Friday 26th March 2004

Having missed the cheap diesel at Oldbury we reversed back to the far Oozell's Street Loop and crept into Sherborne Street Wharf for 120L of diesel. We were out of loop at 09:05 and headed down Farmer's Bridge Flight at 09:15. Many changes down there, the "hole" created by knocking down a burnt out warehouse was now filled with towering apartment blocks, in the later stages of completion.
Kevin Maslin was picked up around Snow Hill Bridge and after bunging his bag on board was soon helping up down the flight. Bottom Farmer's Bridge 10:25, 10:35 Aston Junction, here we carried on down Ashted Locks and then into Bordesley "Ty-Phoo" Basins for a quick play. Out of Basins at 11:30, carry out on Grand Union, then right down Birmingham and Warwick Junction Canal at 11:50. No problems down Garrison...........we actually passed a Napton Narrowboats hire boat!!! Rather stupid floating pontoon Visitor Mooring for "Star City"...........but fenced in with apparently no way out!
Salford Junction at 12:55, then back out on Birmingham and Fazeley Canal., rather in need of dredging all the way to Minworth. We arrived at Bodymoor Heath and the Dog-In-The-Doublet pub at 16:50. We moored in the short, still low pub pound, spacing boat out on floaty tyre fenders. We were late into pub, but managed a table after 5 minutes. Martin Wilson turned up late at 22:00, having already eaten. Back on Earnest the TNC Islay Single malt collection got a hammering, then we retired somewhat late after a rather knackering day. Neil introduced the crew to the albums Charango and Big Calm by Morcheeba.

Saturday 27th March 2004

We left Bodymoor Heath at 08:40, arriving at Fazeley Junction at 10:20. Here we stopped for the (SLOW!) water point. Kevin left us and Martin Wilson legged it to ASDA for the rest of the ingredients for his, now legendary home made Spag Bol.
We were off at 11:20. 14:50 Turned left at Fradley Junction. There was an incident entering Armitage Tunnel.........boat already in it going the other way. Rather embarrassing as we caught an anorak round the prop and sailed on regardless. Frantic shouts from Martin Clark got the other boat to stop just in time.
After roping out and clearing prop soon on our way to the now customary deserted Trent & Mersey Canal. We carried on in the half light, stopping at the well piled Visitor Mooring before Wolseley Bridge No 70. We ate in with another of Martin Wilson's totally from scratch spag bols. TNC whiskey collection raided with after dinner coffee. Neil continued to brainwash crew with Morcheeba - Charango.

Looking back, we have just entered the Oozell's Street Loop.

Oozell's Street Loop. Sherborne Wharf in the distance.

Oozell's Street Loop. Sherborne Wharf

Oozell's Street Loop, Sheepcote Street Bridge. Sherborne Wharf

About to exit Oozell's Street Loop. The moorings on the left are visitor moorings. Sherborne Wharf

We have exited Oozell's Street Loop. Deserted NIA visitor moorings on the BCN Main Line.

Deep Cuttings Junction, AKA as Old Turn Junction, We are about to turn left down the Farmers Bridge Flight of the Birmingham and Fazeley Canal.

Cambrian Wharf. Farmers Bridge Top Lock. Birmingham and Fazeley Canal.

Farmers Bridge Top Lock. Birmingham and Fazeley Canal.

Farmers Bridge 13 Locks. Birmingham and Fazeley Canal.

Farmers Bridge 13 Locks. The controversial footbridge and the intense development over the side pounds comes into view. Birmingham and Fazeley Canal.

Farmers Bridge 13 Locks. The controversial footbridge. Birmingham and Fazeley Canal.

Farmers Bridge 13 Locks. Birmingham and Fazeley Canal.

Barker Bridge. Birmingham and Fazeley Canal.

The Birmingham and Fazeley Canal carries on down the Aston locks, we turn right on the Digbeth Branch.

Digbeth Branch.

New pontoon visitor moorings. Digbeth Branch.

Ashted Top Lock. Digbeth Branch.

Exiting Ashted Tunnel. Digbeth Branch.

Looking back at Ashted Tunnel. Ashted locks, Digbeth Branch.

Ashted locks, Digbeth Branch.

Ashted locks, Digbeth Branch. Surviving tow rope roller.

Ashted locks, Digbeth Branch.

Digbeth Branch.

Ashted Bottom Lock. Digbeth Branch.

Digbeth Branch.

Digbeth Junction. The Grand Union Canal starts round the corner to the left, at Warwick Bar. Digbeth "Ty-Phoo" Basins straight on. Digbeth Branch.

We carry on into Digbeth Basins. Digbeth Branch.

Digbeth Basins. Digbeth Branch.

We exit Digbeth Basins and are about to turn right onto the Grand Union Canal.. Digbeth Branch.

Warwick Bar - replacement stop gates have recently been fitted. Grand Union Canal.

Looking back at Warwick Bar and Digbeth Junction. Grand Union Canal.

Looking back at the River Rea Aqueduct and Warwick Bar. Grand Union Canal.

The exit from Birmingham on the Grand Union Canal.

Grand Union Canal.

Bordesley Junction Grand Union Canal. The Camp Hill Flight start to the right, we are turning left onto the Birmingham and Warwick Junction Canal.

Birmingham and Warwick Junction Canal.

Garrison Top Lock. Birmingham and Warwick Junction Canal.

Garrison Top Lock. Kevin Maslin has come out to help us for the day. Birmingham and Warwick Junction Canal.

Garrison Locks. Birmingham and Warwick Junction Canal.

Garrison Bottom Lock. Birmingham and Warwick Junction Canal.

Birmingham and Warwick Junction Canal.

Star City Casino. UGH! Birmingham and Warwick Junction Canal.

The floating pontoon visitor mooring for Star City Casino. Birmingham and Warwick Junction Canal.

Nechells Stop Lock, now gate less. Birmingham and Warwick Junction Canal.

Salford Junction, we turn right onto the Birmingham and Fazeley Canal. Birmingham and Warwick Junction Canal.

Characteristic little lock hut on the Curdworth Flight. Birmingham and Fazeley Canal.

Fazeley Junction. Birmingham and Fazeley Canal.

Fazeley Junction. Coventry Canal.

Fazeley BW Office. Coventry Canal.

Armitage railway bridge. Trent and Mersey Canal.

Armitage sanitary ware factory. Trent and Mersey Canal.

Bridge No 60, Armitage. Trent and Mersey Canal.

Armitage. Trent and Mersey Canal.

Armitage. Armitage "tunnel" in the distance. Trent and Mersey Canal.

We have just exited Armitage Tunnel. Trent and Mersey Canal.

Looking back at Armitage Tunnel. Trent and Mersey Canal.

Rugeley. Trent and Mersey Canal.

Bridge No 65. Rugeley. Trent and Mersey Canal.

Railway bridges at Rugeley. Trent and Mersey Canal.

Bridge No 67, Rugeley. Trent and Mersey Canal.

River Trent Aqueduct. Trent and Mersey Canal.

Looking back at Rugeley. Trent and Mersey Canal.

The Tour Continues...

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