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The Tuesday Night Club on Tour
Tours 2000, BCN, Severn Estuary, K&A and River Wey
3 - Sunday 2nd July - Bodymoor Heath, Birmingham and Fazeley Canal to Salford Junction. Birmingham and Warwick Junction Canal to Bordesley Junction. Typhoo / Digbeth Basin. Digbeth Branch to Aston Junction. Farmers Bridge Locks to Deep Cuttings Junction. Oozells St Loop. Symphony Court Moorings.
Neil shoved off from Dog & Doublet in Curdworth Flight, B&F at 8.00. Rest of crew were not far behind, but Neil was helped through first two locks (8&7) by friendly boaters out walking their dog. Crew now on line we sped up reaching top lock at 9.35. We arrived at Minworth Bottom Lock at 10:40 totally out of control with plastic advertising hoarding round prop. We just missed the corner of the bridge. People coming down flushed us back from the lock. We ground along in the two intervening pounds between the three locks. We were forced to a stop under Hanson's Bridge expecting a trolley, but it was just bricks. We had to let water down to get over it (pound was not down!). Earnest was now level ballasted (2'9"), god knows how working boats get through here. We get out of Minworth top lock at 11:30 and the depth improves somewhat. We arrived at Salford Junction 13:05 only to find a narrowboat come out, totally out of control! It makes large bang with bank opposite, then grinds along bank. The people pass us and wave as though this was a usual occurrence! Julian E does the tighter turn round to the Birmingham and Warwick Junction Canal in one! We stopped at Nechells Shallow Lock (site of, since our last visit BW have removed the gates) A BW man came out of cottage and was not worried about us mooring in his lock chamber. Neil had a good chat with him. He remarked upon our squat appearance and assured us we would get stuck around the corner!
Julian E guided Gavin's taxi to boat from Birmingham New
Street, by mobile phone link. This proved somewhat complicated and we eventually
picked Gavin up at the next bridge (13:35.) Just ten minutes after this we
got completely stuck under a railway bridge with the prop completely fouled by a
large amount of wire which took 45 mins to remove. But after that we proceeded
slowly through to Garrison Locks (top 15:50) Half way through there was a rather
wet thunder storm. Neil kicked his shoes and socks inside and just got wet! The
Locks were OK, but the pound below the top lock was very down and we had to let
some water down to get into chamber. Not long after this it stopped raining.
Soon there is a new "social housing" development and we got peppered
with stones from a bunch of young kids. After the locks it has been dredged and
we managed a quick get away, reaching Bordesley Junction at 16:05. Turning
north we reached Digbeth Junction with (Digbeth) Typhoo Basin at 16:15. This has
been dredged since our last visit and we were able to get right to the end of
both arms. We proceeded through Ashted Locks/Tunnel to reach Ashted Top at
17:15, and Farmer's Bridge bottom at 17:35. Half way Farmers Bridge Locks
(one of our favourite flights) the heavens opened c/w thunderstorm but undaunted
we carried on dripping wet and got to the top lock at 18:35. After this we went
on to Oozells Street Loop, which is presently not open throughout with a
stoppage at the west (Wolverhampton) end. We got to the scaffold and tarpaulin
dam at 18:55, turned around easily in the boat yard and moored just before
getting back to Deep Cuttings Junction, at 19:05. This was on the three rings
available opposite Symphony Court, but still in the Loop. That night we ate out
at Cafe Rouge in Brindley Place.
 Friendly boater family out for an early morning stroll help the crewless Neil through Curdworth Lock No8. Birmingham and Fazeley Canal. |
 Curdworth Lock No4 and Marston Lane Bridge. Birmingham and Fazeley Canal. |
 Julian E's new T shirt! |
 Curdworth Lock No 2. Wilday's Farm Bridge in distance. Although it looks idyllic, the M42 is in a cutting just to the left. Birmingham and Fazeley Canal. |
 Curdworth Top Lock No 1. Birmingham and Fazeley Canal. |
 Curdworth Top Lock cottages. Birmingham and Fazeley Canal. |
 Leaving Curdworth "tunnel". We did not bother to expose the light! Birmingham and Fazeley Canal. |
 Old entrance to the Mega Minworth sewage works arm. Birmingham and Fazeley Canal. |
 We have just had our fraught arrival at Minworth Bottom Lock. Julian restrains the wayward beast! Birmingham and Fazeley Canal. |
 The reason for our fraught arrival, this advertising banner managed to get round the prop! Birmingham and Fazeley Canal. |
 Hanson's Bridge, Minworth Three Locks. This bridge hole is filled with bricks and gravel, giving 2ft 9ins of draught, that is what we had at the moment! Birmingham and Fazeley Canal. |
 The Cincinnati machine tool company's factory, just before Minworth Top Lock. This used to have beautiful manicured gardens, now somewhat overgrown. Birmingham and Fazeley Canal. |
 Minworth Top Lock and cottages. Birmingham and Fazeley Canal. |
 factory built over canal at Eardington Hall. Birmingham and Fazeley Canal. |
 The National Grid "farm" just before Salford Junction. Birmingham and Fazeley Canal. |
 Salford Junctions. The Tame Valley Canal starts just beyond bridge. The Birmingham and Warwick Junction Canal and Aston Branches go off to the left. Birmingham and Fazeley Canal. |
 Someone makes a pigs ear of turning! Salford Junction. Birmingham and Fazeley Canal. |
 Salford Junction BCN sign post. Birmingham and Fazeley Canal. |
 We have just started up the Birmingham and Warwick Junction Canal. Salford Junction. |
 The de-gated Nechells Shallow lock. The gates were still there when we were last here in 1994. Birmingham and Warwick Junction Canal. |
 Gavin arrives at Nechells. Birmingham and Warwick Junction Canal. |
 As promised by the BW bod, we soon get "a bladefull!" |
 Birmingham and Warwick Junction Canal. |
 River Rea Aqueduct. Birmingham and Warwick Junction Canal. |
 Garrison Bottom Lock. Birmingham and Warwick Junction Canal. |
 Garrison Locks. Birmingham and Warwick Junction Canal. |
 Garrison Locks. Birmingham and Warwick Junction Canal. |
 Garrison Locks. Birmingham and Warwick Junction Canal. Note the somewhat low pound! |
 Above Garrison Locks. Birmingham and Warwick Junction Canal. |
 Bordesley Junction. We have just come from the left (Birmingham and Warwick Junction Canal.) Grand Union Canal Camp Hill Locks start in the distance. |
 End of Grand Union Canal, heading for Digbeth Junctions / Basin. |
 End of Grand Union Canal, heading for Digbeth Junctions / Basin. |
 End of Grand Union Canal, heading for Digbeth Junctions / Basin. Junction beyond bridge. |
 We have just turned left into Digbeth Basins. |
 The two arms of Digbeth Basin. |
 Looking back from the end of one arm. Digbeth Basin. |
 Neil decrees this is a no bowthruster zone! |
 Looking back from the end of the other arm. Digbeth Basin. |
 Digbeth Junction. We are starting to head up the Ashted Flight. |
 Ashted Flight. |
 Ashted Tunnel. Ashted Flight. |
 Looking back through Ashted Tunnel. Ashted Flight. |
 Ashted Top Lock. Ashted Flight. |
 Aston Junction signpost. |
 Aston Junction. We have come in from the right to re-join the Birmingham and Fazeley Canal. Aston Locks under roving bridge. |
 Heading towards Farmers Bridge Locks. Birmingham and Fazeley Canal. |
 Looking back at Baker Bridge. Dan and Julian have the com. Heading towards Farmers Bridge Locks. Birmingham and Fazeley Canal. |
 Farmers Bridge Bottom Lock. Birmingham and Fazeley Canal. |
 Snow Hill railway bridge. Farmers Bridge Locks. Birmingham and Fazeley Canal. |
 Looking back at Farmers Bridge Bottom Lock. Birmingham and Fazeley Canal. |
 Farmers Bridge Locks. The contractors fencing appears to be in the way! Birmingham and Fazeley Canal. |
 Farmers Bridge Locks. Birmingham and Fazeley Canal. |
 Farmers Bridge Locks. Birmingham and Fazeley Canal. |
 Farmers Bridge Locks. Birmingham and Fazeley Canal. |
 Farmers Bridge Locks. Birmingham and Fazeley Canal. |
 Farmers Bridge Locks. Birmingham and Fazeley Canal. |
 Farmers Bridge Locks. Birmingham and Fazeley Canal. |
 The old burnt out warehouse is finally gone. Farmers Bridge Locks. Birmingham and Fazeley Canal. |
 Serious thunder storm starts! Farmers Bridge Locks. Birmingham and Fazeley Canal. |
 Thunder storm. Farmers Bridge Locks. Birmingham and Fazeley Canal. |
 Thunder storm. Farmers Bridge Locks. Birmingham and Fazeley Canal. |
 Thunder storm. Farmers Bridge Locks. Birmingham and Fazeley Canal. |
 Cambrian Wharf and Farmers Bridge Top Lock. Birmingham and Fazeley Canal. |
 The roundabout at Deep Cuttings Junction. |
 We are just heading down Oozells Street Loop. |
 Sherborne Street Wharf. Oozells Street Loop. |
 The end of the Oozells Street loop for us, at the moment! |
 Winding at Sherborne Street Wharf. Oozells Street Loop. |
 Coming back to the end of Oozells Street Loop and our moorings for the night, opposite Symphony Court. |
 A rare shot of Neil in control! |
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