The Blue Bell Cider House, Waring's Green to Hockley Heath (Stratford Canal)

Decided to chug on this morning, but only going 2 miles down the canal to Hockley Heath, that’s far enough for us for one day!

We stopped at Warings Wharf to get some gas and use the Elsan and get rid of the rubbish.   The caretaker, Marianne, who runs the wharf with her husband is a really friendly lady and unbelievably she comes from Cheddar and he comes from Rodney Stoke!   She asked me where I came from because of my accent and when I said Sandford, that’s when we got chatting and I said my mum lives in Cheddar and my dad is a Cheddar man.   Her Grandmother lived not far from mine and her dad went to the local school in Cheddar, probably the same school as my dad and she has relatives with the name Hale, my family name, what a small world it is! 

Sign at Bridge 20 for Wedge's Bakery

The sun was shining and it was nice and warm as we set off from the Wharf,  through Bridge 20 where you can stop to visit Wedge’s Bakery as it is just up over the bridge, but we resisted the temptation to go again, trying to think of our waistlines, and we still have some goodies left that we bought yesterday, so not really thinking of our waistlines that much, sounded good though!

Going under the M42 Bridge

Under the M42 Bridge and a few more bridges, then we were at Hockley Heath and we moored up.

We walked up the road to the few shops, a post office, a convenience store, a butchers and a few others which are on a busy road.  There is also a McLaren Garage with a Formula I car in the window and a Rolls Royce garage, very posh garages for a small village, we were told by the chap at the Wharf that there were a lot of millionaires in this area so that probably explains it!

Wharf Tavern & disused arm

There is a really nice pub as well called the Miller & Carter Steakhouse so we went in for a drink.

There is also a pub on the canal called The Wharf Tavern, but we passed by that one as we went in there the last time we were here.  By the pub there is a tiny arm that used to lead to a coal yard but is now part of the pub garden.

We are staying here tonight, then we will move on tomorrow where the Lapworth flight awaits! 

Moored at Hockley Heath

Dickens Heath to The Blue Bell Cider House, Waring's Green (Stratford Canal)

Past Waterside Apartments

We are being followed!

It was sunny when we got up this morning and it was actually warm at last as it has been chilly for days.  We chugged off down the canal, past some nice waterside apartments and past two moored boats and one of them came out behind us, this is the first time we have had a boat behind us since we started our trip, what a novelty!   On past the Earlswood Motor Yacht Club where there are a lot of moored boats and on around the corner under Bridge 18 and moored up opposite Warings Green Wharf where there is a long line of long term moored boats.  This is a really sunny spot.  Just along the towpath by Bridge 19 is The Blue Bell Cider House.  We only chugged 2 miles today, that’s more like it, getting back into our rhythm!

Wedge's Bakery

The Cake Counter

Wedge's Bakery & Friendly Staff

At Bridge 20 there is a brilliant bakery called Wedge’s Bakery, well it was the last time we were here, so we walked along the towpath for a bit, then went off the two path and walked up the lane as the towpath was a bit muddy and soon we were at the Bakery.  It is about ½ mile from the Bell Blue Cider House.  It was all we remembered, they make fresh cakes, bread etc. every day and also sell fruit, veg, sausages, bacon, local milk, quiches, scotch eggs, pies, etc.

Fruit & Veg Stand

It is a brilliant place and therefore we bought quite a few things.  The staff are really friendly and extremely busy with a steady stream of customers and considering it seems to be in the middle of nowhere with just a few houses nearby its amazing.

They also now have a café so we had a coffee and a bacon sandwich with local bacon and fresh granary bread made this morning, really yummy.

Suitably refreshed and our purses considerably lighter, we walked back to the boat, dropped off our shopping then walked up to the pub.

The Blue Bell Cider House

It is a traditional pub real cider, there is quite a choice and serving pub food but dockers portions!

We had some cider and sat in the sunny garden by the canal. 

Where the moored boats are, they sell diesel and gas, so we stopped by to find out the price of the gas as we need to get some.  It was £26,75 for 13kg and you can use the Elsan for £1, so when we go by tomorrow or the next day depending when we move, we will stop and get gas.

We walked back to the boat and I had the enormous chocolate éclair that I bought at the bakers with a cup of tea, it was delicious, but will need to do extra walking tomorrow as I dread to think how many calories it was!

We may chug on tomorrow or stay put, will decide in the morning.

Moored at The Blue Bell Cider House, Warings Green

Hopwood (Worcs& Birmingham Canal) to Dickens Wood (Stratford Canal)

Tuesday 19th May

It was raining when we got up and the forecast for today was not good, so we decided to stay put.  We were going to catch a bus to Redditch, but the bus fare was going to be £5.90 return each for a 20 minute bus ride, so we decided that it wasn't worth it,so went for a walk instead down to the Garden Centre.  It was just a small one, had a look around, then came back and went to the pub, The Hopwood House for lunch, they had a deal on two main meals for £10 so we had that and very good it was too.  Just chilled out for the rest of the day.  We will move on tomorrow.

Wednesday 20th May 

Approaching Wast Hills Tunnel

In Wast Hills Tunnel

Almost Out!

Got up and it was dry, although a bit grey and windy, but decided to move on today.  Chugged off and just up from where we were moored was the mighty Wast Hill Tunnel, it is 2,726 yds long and takes about 30 minutes to go through and was once referred to as King’s Norton Tunnel.   A steam–powered and later a  diesel-powered   tunnel tug service used to operate in the days of horse-drawn boats, as there is no towpath.  The old iron brackets and insulators that still line the roof were installed to carry telegraph lines through the tunnel. Grandiose Bridges span the cuttings at either end.  

Soon we were in the tunnel and chugging through, its quite high and you can pass another boat, but we were lucky as we didn’t meet one.  We were soon half way and then we were coming out into the sunshine, thank goodness, neither of us like the tunnels, but you have to do them if you want to travel around the system as there are lots of them dotted about.

Toll House at King's Norton Junction

Guillotine Lock

Going through Guillotine Lock

On up the canal, we stopped to fill up with water, then we were at King’s Norton Junction and turning onto the Stratford Canal and into King’s Norton Stop Lock, this lock is unusual having two wooden guillotine gates mounted in iron frames, balanced by chains and counterweights.  The machinery is not now used and boats pass under the two gates without stopping.  We went through the lock and chugged on up the canal, the first bit of this canal is quite built up as it is really the outskirts of Birmingham.  We next came to Brandwood Tunnel, just 382 yds, so a baby tunnel!  

Going through Shirley Draw Bridge

Entering Brandwood Tunnel

On we went and then we came to Shirley Draw Bridge.  This is an electric bridge which we have to work using a CRT key.  I worked the bridge and Kev brought the boat through, all went without a hitch and on we went. We chugged on for a bit, then  after Bridge 13 we decided to moor as we had been chugging for nearly four hours, so that’s enough for us! 

We will stay here tonight and move on tomorrow. 

Moored at Dickens Heath

Tardebigge to Hopwood (Worcs & Birmingham Canal)

In Tardebigge Top Lock

Commemorative Plaque

It was pouring with rain when we got up this morning, so we decided to stay put and hopefully if the forecast was right, it would have gone over by midday.  It did brighten up after we had our lunch and the sun came out, so we decided to chug on.  Just up from where we were moored was Tardebigge Top Lock, so up through there we went.  At the top of the lock a little way along on the non towpath side there is a plaque commemorating the founding of the Inland Waterways Association (IWA) in 1946 by L.T.C. Rolt and Robert Aickman aboard the nb Cressy, which moored there. 

In Tardebigge Tunnel

We stopped at the services to fill up with water, get rid of the rubbish, etc, then on we went into Tardebigge Tunnel, 580 yds long.  The tunnel does not have a towpath and until the turn of the century a company tug used to pull all boats through.

Passing a Heron

Soon we were out of the tunnel and it was spitting with rain, we stopped just up from there to get diesel and as we were just coming into moor, the heavens opened and it poured down, I stayed in the boat, but poor Kev was on the towpath and got wet, it only lasted a few minutes but it was very heavy, if only we had been in the tunnel a few minutes more!  We filled up with diesel and soon were on our way again and the sun came out.  

In Shortwood Tunnel

Almost out of Shortwood Tunnel

On up the canal and soon we were in Shortwood Tunnel, 613 yds long.  We were soon through there and on up the canal past Alvechurch, under the M42 bridge and soon we were at Hopwood where we moored.  It is a nice spot here and there is a nice pub nearby!

We are going to stay here tomorrow as well as the forecast is not too good, don’t want to risk getting wet again!

Moored at Hopwood