Although it had rained quite substantially overnight, it was dry when we awoke and stayed so all day and, despite being permanently grey, it was remarkably warm for mid October.
After setting off in good time we immediately passed under Double Bridge before tackling the rest of the Curdworth flight - we came up the first three last night.
These locks are very easy to operate and we made good progress. The first couple of pounds were longer but as we neared the top lock they became ever closer together.
Most of the locks in the flight have their own numbers, substantial and different from any other flight. Most have flowers planted around or near them although they are now well past their best.
Lock 4 is not yet at the top of the flight but does have what was once a substantial maintenance base - we saw a team of three volunteers a little earlier as they made their way with their equipment to do some cutting back on vegetation.
Just after the lock there is a good view of the M42 - it has been close to the canal for some distance but is rarely to be seen clearly. Although we drove up the M42, this bit is just after where we turned off for Fazeley.
The top lock is quite new as it had to be moved when the M6 Toll was constructed. The various intersections close to here are quite complicated and so it must have been worth the cost of a new lock to be able to follow the alignment that it does. Looking at older OS maps, it looks as if the original lock was right under where that bridge is today.
Just after we had passed through the very short Curdworth Tunnel we were flagged down by the chap on a moored boat who asked for help. Not wanting to leave him stranded we pulled alongside and it turned out that what he wanted was a jump start as his battery was flat. We gave it a good try but his leads were really not substantial enough and although his engine turned over (just) it was not enough to get it going. In the end we had to leave him with his engine still not started as there was not much more that we could do. He really needed someone with the right equipment but we're not sure whether he will be able to afford that.
It looks as if repairs to the next bridge are almost complete. At a guess this was yet another case of a vehicle taking the bridge took quickly and demonising a large chunk of the walls. From the number of reports that we hear of similar cases, quite a bit of CaRT's maintenance budget seems to have to go on such works. If only the driver would report the accident then their insurance would have to cover it - if only!
And so to the bottom of the three Minworth Locks - which are all quite spaced apart.
This row of houses beside the second pound were only just being started when we came this way in April last year. This was once the large Cincinatti factory site. One home lowner has a.lready done a lot of work on enhancing the canal side bank.
Just below the top lock there was once a comprehensive service block as well as a rubbish disposal point by the lock cottage. Alas, over time all but the water point have been closed. However, Mike had flagged down Christine, who was steering at this point, to moor before he realised that the Elsan station was abandoned as well (despite having a clear sign)
Having moored up, Christine felt that this would be a good place to have lunch! (Despite the last lock being ready for us) Her red pepper soup from yesterday evolved with the addition of some chorizo sausage that Andrew had found on his market foray.
The busy Tyburn Road that follows the canal for some while seems to becoming a centre for car dealerships. There were several large ones and yet another under construction. One even had a multi storey car park to keep its vehicle stock!
The Birmingham, and Fazeley then runs alongside an elevated motorway.
And then we reached Salford Junction - the first bridge is the start of the Grand Union Canal whilst the middle bridge is the remaining section of the B&F whilst the right hand goes up the Tame Valley, currently closed for maintenance to some of the locks.
That's our one - with a short aqueduct over the River Tame to follow - almost buried under the network of roads and bridges at various levels.
We paused very briefly at Cuckoo Wharf for Elsan and Rubbish before continuing to the bottom of the Aston Flight of eleven locks.
This section has a significant number of towpath bridges that once gave access to wharves and arms that served the numerous industrial works that grew up alongside the canal.
Whilst there is still plenty of industry in this part of Birmingham (elsewhere it seems to have all but disappeared\) there are some re-developments. The architect here must have had fanciful ideas of building a new canal arm to encourage deliveries by water!
Again, the upper part of the flight gets ever closer and the top few pounds had to be built with extensions to hold enough water otherwise when a boat passed through there would be insufficient water for another boat to follow.
Arriving at the top lock we had to make a decision about our overnight mooring. It was, by now, just after 4 o'clock but we had been progressing at almost 10 locks an hour, Turning right would take us to the 13 locks of Farmers Bridge and a rather late arrival into the centre of Birmingham. Left would enable us to moor at some renovated 48hr visitor moorings outside Aston University and its department training a new generation of railway engineers needed for the construction of the HS2 project. There is a winding hole opposite the mooring.
Whilst Mike and Christine brought the boat up to the junction, Andrew walked down to the mooring to sus out their suitability. He returned with a positive assessment and so discretion took over and - with 22 locks already under our belt - we took the easier option!
10.1 Miles - 22 Locks
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