Catherine De Barnes (Grand Union) to Birmingham (BCN Mainline)

We are off down two flights of locks today, 12 and mooring at Star City so we started off early around 8.15am!

Under another bridge

In Camp Hill Top Lock

The canal was very quiet, no boats passed us.  The first stretch was under a canopy of trees and as it was a bit overcast, inside the boat it was quite dark, eventually we came out of the trees and into the sun which had decided to come out.  We chugged for quite a few miles then were approaching the top of the Camp Hill locks, there are six locks in this flight.  We stopped at the services for water then went down to the lock to go through and there was a sign on the lock gate saying that the Saltly flight of locks was closed, we weren’t sure which these locks were but thought it was another name for the Garrison locks which we were going through, so I rang CRT to find out.  Also the next pound was almost empty.

Working down Camp Hill Locks

While we were waiting for them to call back, a lady from a cruiser came up the locks and said that a paddle had been left up further down hence the pound being down, so we let some water through and the pound filled up.  CRT rang back and confirmed that it was the Garrison flight which was closed, apparently there is a derelict house at the bottom lock and some of the brickwork has fallen into the lock so they have to inspect it and more than likely the house might have to be pulled down, so the flight could be shut for some time.  Also the Aston flight is shut but should be open tomorrow.

So now we had a dilemma as we were going through the Garrison flight then onto the Tame Valley canal, but now that was scuppered, we had two choices we could stay where we were but it wasn’t that nice and seemed liked a waste of a day or we could go down the flight then up the Digbeth Branch with the Ashted locks, then up the Farmers locks into Birmingham, so instead of doing 12 locks, we would be doing 25.

Going under Curzon Street Bridge

Going up Ashted Locks

Two boats then came along the canal so we let them go before us while we made our minds up.  We decided that as it was a nice day we would go for it and then we can do our trip around the Birmingham canals the other way around to what we had planned, so we set off down the Camp Hill flight.  Unfortunately as we had the two boats in front, we had to fill each one first, but never mind we worked our way down and soon we were through them and turning onto the Digbeth Branch with the Ashted flight of six locks.

In Ashted Tunnel

Working up the Farmers locks

We did a couple of locks on this branch then saw that the two boats in front of us had moored up.  Apparently one of them had hit the lock as he went in and the cupboards came open and stuff fell out onto their dog and the lady wasn’t best pleased so they had stopped to get the dog out and calm it down and they said that we could go on in front of them which was good as they were pretty slow, even slower than us.

We went on through the locks then came to Ashted Tunnel which is 103yds long, its quite strange as you come through the tunnel and go straight into the last lock so you need to make sure no-one is coming the other way as you might be in a bit of a pickle. On along there and after a bit we were at the bottom of the Farmers locks of which there are 13 and we started our ascent to Birmingham.

Not far to go now

At the top of the Farmers locks, hurray!!

Luckily all the locks were set for us and a few helpful people walking the flight gave us a hand with the gates and when we got to the last few, two CRT chaps were coming down apparently checking the flight and had seen us and set the locks for  us so that helped and eventually we were coming out the top lock.  We moored not far from the locks on the visitor moorings, were we glad to moor up.

Our well deserved drinks!!

We had intended to do 12 locks today and about 10 miles but instead we did about eight or so hours travelling,12 miles and 25 locks! Wow that really tired me out, not used to days like that!!  I need a lie down!

We had a bit of a rest then went up to the Sainsburys local to get a few things and stopped in at the Weatherspoons called the Figure of Eight which was across the road for a well deserved drink.

We will stay here tonight then move on tomorrow hopefully having recharged our batteries after a good nights sleep.

Moored in Birmingham