Anglesey Basin (Anglesey Branch) to Pelsall Common (Wyrley & Essington Canal)

Chasewater Reservoir

Chasewater Reservoir

We were going to stay put today but there was a lot of comings and goings last evening in the parking place near where we were moored and in the top car park which made us feel uneasy, too close for comfort so we decided to move on this morning.  We walked up to the reservoir for a bit then headed back up the canal to Catshill Junction this time avoiding the bank of silt and onto the main Wyrley and Essington Canal.

At Catshill Junction

Brownhills

After a short while we came to Brownhills where there is a shopping area with an Aldi, Wilko, Tesco to name a few so we moored there.  We went up into the shops and got some supplies then back to the boat had some lunch and then we moved down to the services for water, to get rid of rubbish etc.

When we had done all that, we chugged on along the canal.  It was really hot today and humid, perhaps we will get some thunder later.  We wound our way along the canal as this canal follows the contours of the land it is very winky wonky but really nice even if it is shallow in places.

Wyrley & Essington Canal

After a couple of miles, we were at Pelsall Common and we moored just past The Fingerpost pub right on the common.  It is a lovely spot.  

When we had moored up, Kev said he had seen some cloth wrapped around the front of the boat, so he got the boat hook to get it off and would you believe it, it was a whole duvet cover!  It took some getting out of the water as it was really heavy and we were just lucky that it had caught on the front and not made its way back to the propeller!

A short way from where we are moored is Pelsall Junction and this is the junction with the Cannock Extension canal.  We are going to walk down there tomorrow.

Pelsall Common

Duvet cover pulled from front of boat!

Originally rough grazing, much of the common was consumed by a great ironworks between 1832 and 1888, which employed people from Pelsall village.  Eventually iron prices fell, and the company went into liquidation, with the works being demolished in the late 1920s.  A large machine known as ‘the cracker’, was used to break up the mounds of foundry waste, and this gave the common its lock nickname ‘the cracker’.  This machine was disposed of shortly after World War II.

Pelsall Common covers 137 acres, 92 of which, north of the canal, are designated as a local nature reserve.

We are going to stay here tomorrow as it is so nice here and explore around the area, then head off on Friday.  We had a few claps of thunder and a few drops of rain early evening, but then it went over and it has turned into a sunny evening and thankfully not so hot!

Moored at Pelsall Common

Rushall Canal below Lock 2 to Anglesey Basin (Anglesey Branch of Wyrley & Essington Canal)

We are on the move again today but only 7 or so miles to Anglesey Basin on the Anglesey Branch of the Wyrley and Essington Canal.  It was very hot and humid as we set off.

Approaching last two Rushall locks

In Rushall Top Lock

We had the top two Rushall locks to do, the first one was set so we were soon through there but the top lock was full so I had to empty it first but they are not very deep so we were soon coming out the top lock and stopped at the top for the services.  At the top of this lock is also the Longwood Boat club.

We filled up with water and got rid of rubbish then went on our way past two canalside pubs, The Manor Arms and The Boathouse, both looked okay and you could moor outside if you wanted to.   We were then on the Daw End Branch.  This stretch is very winky wonky but really nice, you felt like you were in the middle of the countryside yet Walsall was not far away.

Turning onto Catshill Junction

Catshill Junction

After a while, we were at Catshill Junction where we turned right onto the Anglesey Branch of the Wyrley and Essington Canal.  There is a bridge not far from the start of this canal and just before we got to the bridge we went right up on the silt, boy were we at an angle, I don’t like that when it happens, it scares me and I aways panic, but calm Kev as usual just told me not to panic and we then slipped off the silt and were straight again and on we went quite slowly as this branch is quite shallow in places.

The old Lichfield Canal

We nearly got stuck under another bridge further along the canal, but manged to get going and on along we went, past the entrance to the old Lichfield canal where there were some red bollards in the water and Kev thought we had to turn there but luckily in time we saw where we had to go and chugged on to the right canal!  Soon we were going under the M6 Toll and was approaching Anglesey Basin.  We went right to the end to turn and at the end there is space for two boats.  There was one already there so we reversed into the space on the other side but could only get part way in and stuck, it was too shallow.

Anglesey Bridge

There was a lady on the other boat so we asked here if we could breast up to them, but she was very hesitant and eventually said if you really must!  Kev then decided that if we drove in, we may get most of the boat in and moor that way, so we turned around again and came in front first and that was okay.  We got the front tied up and the centre rope on.

Anglesey Basin where we are moored used to be a coal interchange until 1967.  Also here is Chasewater Reservoir which was built as a canal feed reservoir which supplies the Wyrley and Essington canal and hence most of the BCN.  Shortly after the reservoir was built in 1799, the dam collapsed, pouring a torrent of water across Watling Street and into the River Tame at Tamworth.  Meadows were left strewn with gravel, and some livestock was drowned, but luckily little other damage was caused.  The dam was rebuilt, faced with stone and has remained stocially intact ever since.  

Chasewater Country park is here, it is a 700-acre park where there is rich bird life, fishing and nature trails to enjoy. 

We had lunch then went out for a walk to the visitor centre then had a walk around part of the reservoir.  There is a steam railway here called Chasewater Railway which goes for nearly four miles around the park but unfortunately it is only open at weekends.

We sat for a while by the reservoir then walked back to the boat.  We are staying here tonight and going to have a proper walk around the park tomorrow.

Moored at Anglesey Basin

Birmingham (BCN Mainline) to Rushall Canal below lock 2

We have another long day today so we set off relatively early, well for us anyway and it was another hot and sunny day, a bit too hot really, but we shouldn’t complain, at least there was no rain!

Leaving Brum

In Galton Tunnel

Turning onto the Wednesbury Old Canal

Going down the Ryders Green Locks

Waiting for the pound to fill!

We set off along the Birmingham main line canal which is quite straight but has a few bits with concrete in the middle of the canal so you have to go either side and some of them were a bit tight.  We went through Galton Tunnel which is 122yds longs, a very high tunnel with the towpath running through it.  After several miles we turned right at Pudding Green Junction onto the Wednesbury Old Canal which then turned into the Walsall Canal and were soon at the top of the Ryders Green flight of locks, there are eight locks.  A CRT lock keeper came up the canal and said some of the pounds further down were low so he was going to send some water down.   It seemed like a nice area and we set off down the locks.  Unfortunately as we got further down, it changed and was not very nice, rubbish everywhere and people near the lock drinking.  Also the pounds were low and in one Kev came a short way out of the lock and got stuck and that’s where he stayed until I had let enough water through to get him going again.  Luckily the pound I was taking water from had water coming into it, obviously the lock keeper was letting water down and after about 20 minutes Kev got off and into the next lock.  The bottom gate of this one didn’t open or close properly, but Kev just managed to squeeze through.  That was probably why the pound was empty!

The Tame Valley Canal

Alongside the M6

We got to the last lock and went through there, but again the bottom gate wouldn’t open fully, but Kev managed to squeeze out again.  On we went thankful to leave those locks behind.  The next bit of canal was not very nice, lots of rubbish but shortly after we turned right onto the Tame Valley Canal which was much better and felt nicer although there was some youths on the towpath with a motor bike and one of them had fallen off and scrapped all his hand, so they asked us if we had any clean water, so we gave them a bottle full. I wanted to say to them what are you doing with a motorcycle on the towpath anyway, but didn't, although Kev did tell him not to throw the bottle in the canal when he had used the water, he said he wouldn't!

Turning onto the Rushall Canal

Working up the Rushall Flight

On we went and soon we were up quite high and running alongside the M6 and then we were turning left onto the Rushall Canal and then came to the Rushall flight of locks where there is nine in the flight, but we are only doing seven and hopefully mooring before the last two.  These locks were quite hard as the pounds on this flight were down as well so I had to run water down every time, but we worked through and eventually we had done the seven locks and chugged on a bit further and moored in a sunny spot not far from the last two locks.

We are staying here tonight then chugging on tomorrow, but it will only be for a few miles.  It has been another hard day but really good as all this is new to us and not many people use these canals but we are glad we are venturing off the beaten track and exploring them but you can certainly tell they are not well used by the state of the locks and the weed in the canals but we can now say we have done them!

Moored at Rushall below Lock 2

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