Narrowboat Maid of the Mist Blog - October 2010

We hope you enjoy reading about our travels around the British Inland Waterways

Grand Union Canal

1st - Today was such a wet day we decided to sit it out just below Stockton Locks.

2nd - Stockton Locks to Royal Leamington Spa (20 locks). We were joined by nb The Green Frog (Graham and Anne). A nice couple who were on their maiden voyage. Behind us were 2 boats carrying 18 scouts between them. They were very helpful and enjoyed assisting at the locks. We gave them a donation for their kind assistance.

3rd - Staying in Royal Leamington Spa today as I want to do a little shopping. Need to get a pair of glasses sorted as I stood on them, and my phone battery is playing up, so need a new one of those too. I love this town.

If the rain holds off for a while, we may take the dogs to the park for a while.

You have probably seen the image on the left on an earlier page. Just wanted to remind you that you will need a strong stomach if you wish to taste this water. It is extremely unpleasant and leaves a nasty taste in your mouth for a long time.

4th - Only a short cruise today from Leamington Spa to just below the Hatton Lock Flight (4 miles and 2 locks). We couldn't set off before lunch as I had to call in at Specsavers to pick up my reading glasses. I trod on them yesterday and damaged them, so a quick repair was needed.

It was a beautiful day with glorious sunshine. Let's hope tomorrow brings the same.

5th - Another lovely day. Did the Hatton locks today, all 21 of them. We were accompanied by a dutch family on holiday and this made the tedious task more enjoyable. Although 21 locks does not seem a lot, the fact that the paddles are hydraulic makes the going very tough. Some of them require 26 turns, which is quite exhausting. Moored at Tom o' the Woods at Turners Green. Six miles cruising in all.

Stratford on Avon Canal

6th - Another glorious day, and the turn of the Lapworth Locks. It was such a pleasure to be on a narrow canal. We managed all 19 locks in just a couple of hours and continued cruising to just after Bridge 15. Cruised 6.5 miles.

BCN Mainline

7th - A heavenly day today - no locks. Cruised from Stratford on Avon Canal (Bridge 15) to Birmingham Canal Mainline (Sheepcote Street Bridge) via the Kings Norton Junction (12 miles), past Cadbury Bourneville and Edgbaston. I spent most of the day indoors resting but keeping up the tea delivery for Graham.

8th - Staying in Birmingham to carry out some boat maintenance. It has to be done. We are touching up the gunwhales and above the waterline. We have been through so many locks this year we got quite scratched.

9th - Well that plan went out of the window. Having cleaned down the gunwhales to the waterline, we discovered we didn't have enough paint to do the job. So we set off again and cruised to the towpath moorings on the Birmingham Level Main Line, east of Dudley Port Junction. A very quite night.

10th - Today we cruised down the Netherton Tunnel Branch (hoping to pick up water, only to find the facility had been vandalised), however we did manage to get some by the Windmill End 48 hr moorings on the Dudley No. 2 Canal, which is where we are moored tonight. We had to do the Netherton Tunnel which was a scary circa 3000 meters. This is a wide tunnel with a towpath on both sides.

Lengthman's hovel - Dudley No. 2 Canal We also cruised the Dudley No. 2 Canal from Windmill End Junction to the terminus and back again. And I saw my first fox of the year, sunbathing on a stretch of land opposite the towpath. Sadly I made too much noise in my excitement and it ran away before I could get a picture.

This is a very interesting part of the inland waterways. It is an area which once served in the region of 14 collieries, alongside various other works like the, Doulton Pottery (sanitary ware) Brick and Tile works, Tube works and the Breeze Ovens to name a few. A number of the bridges date back to the 1880s. Just as the canal swings right into the Rowley Stop narrows, there is a lengthmans hovel to the side. Unfortunately, this is in a very poor state having been vandalised.

11th - Moved to Brierly Hill and moored alongside the Merryhill Shopping Centre. Just before you reach these moorings (14 day), there are moorings in a new basin called the Waterfront. Here you will find lots of bars and eateries. We prefer to be away from that sort of mooring to prevent those inclined to be silly after a night out on the drink doing any damage to the boat.

Just relaxed in the evening after a quick bit of shopping in Sainsbury.

12th - 13th Stayed at the Merryhill moorings as we wanted to sort out our satellite dish, which we haven't been able to get working since we purchased it in Reading. We popped into Maplins and they exchanged the LNB and the receiver and it now all works a treat. Weren't able to get any paint for the gunwhales as there is no Homebase or B&Q in Merryhill.

14th - Moving now to Stourbridge down 24 locks. At the Delph Locks, the first 8 locks when going down, you have to ensure each lock ahead is empty before emptying the lock you are in. There is blue paint on the top paddles and red paint on the bottom paddles and you have to put the red ones up before the blue ones (if that makes sense). This makes for a lot of work, but good fun for the holiday makers.

Arrived in Stourbridge at about 6.30 pm only to find there is a rally on at the weekend and mooring is quite difficult. Still we found one, but we are told we may be moved in the morning.

15th - Well we were moved this morning, however only a short distance and at no inconvenience to ourselves. We went into town in the afternoon and scoured the charity shops, of which there are quite a few. Found myself a nice plant pot for an indoor plant.

My impression of Stourbridge is a bit muddled. The High Street is quite long with an unusual selection of shops (not your usual high street stores). Lots of charity shops as I said above, a couple of hairdressers, a pound shop, music shop etc.

The market centre was a little disappointing as most of the stalls/shops were closed down. Now if it had been a Monday or Tuesday, I would have expected that, but not on a Friday.

16th - Visited the rally in the morning. There were quite a few working boats and butties, but on terra firma there were a large number of vintage cars, tractors and fairground organs. The stalls inside the Bonded Warehpouse where craft related rather than canalware.

We moved off in the afternoon as far as Ashwood Marina on the Staffs and Worcester Canal.

Staffordshire & Worcestershire Canal

17th - Cruised from Ashwood Marina to the top of Bratch Locks. I need to say a little about Bratch Locks as they look very much like a staircase.

The locks are in an attractive setting with an octaganol toll office in the middle section. At first site they appear curiously illogical with an impossible short pound between the bottom of one lock and the top gate of the next. But the difference in their operation is the side pounds hidden beneath the towpath hedge and the culverts that connect these to the intermediate pounds.

Bratch Locks Tto work through these locks boaters should simply treat each one as a separate lock. However, if the lock keeper is not available to assist and advise carefully study the operating instructions before use. The lock keeper is there from March to October.

18th - Today we cruised from Bratch Locks to Gailey. We come here to collect our winter supply of oil and service kits for the engine. We purchased our engine from J D Boat Supplies and we always buy our supplies from them each April and October.

We notice that the canals are getting very quiet now as the holiday season is drawing to a close, and all the trees are changing colour or losing their leaves. It is a lovely time of year.

19th and 20th - Remained at Gailey to receive delivery of some spares that were not in stock. Zoe came to visit and bring our post and she took us to Midland Chandlers in Penkridge to collect some paint and a few other bits.

21st - Moved to Autherley.

22nd - Staying at Autherley again tonight. Graham has managed to paint below the gunwhales on the port side, so that looks a lot better now. I will have a go at the actual gunwhales tomorrow if the weather stays dry.

23rd - Still at Autherley. Will probably be here until Monday. Lea is coming to take us to a Car Boot Sale tomorrow, so we will enjoy that.

24th - Had a lovely time at the car boot sales (went to two), which was followed by a pub lunch. Bought an old galvanised coal scuttle which I am going to paint and decorate before filling it with lovely flowers for the bow. Our current flower pot on the bow is composite stone and has cracked due to the harsh frost last winter. I will take a photo when the painting has been completed. Only got the primer on last night.

25th - 30th Moved just a couple of miles out into the country . We are hovering a bit because we have appointments in Telford on the 1st of next month and we do not want to be in Wheaton Aston until the 31st. Not that we do not like Wheaton Aston, but neither of us get a phone signal there, and we do not like to be out of touch with family for too long, if avoidable.

31st - Last day of the month and we have moved to Wheaton Aston. We were very lucky to get a mooring just before the bridge, down from the lock. We managed to get the satellite tv working, so we will get the results shows tonight for Strictly and X Factor.

Author: Jean Beven

The Grand Union Restaurant - downstairs dining room