Minworth

Today's Canal : Coventry, Birmingham and Fazeley

Still quite cold today and there was a thin layer of mist over the water early on which quickly dispersed. However, no blue sky as high level cloud stayed with us all day.

When we set off we almost immediately arrived at the two Glascote Locks which were in our favour. Now we are back in the swing of narrow locks, three crew can get through them at a good pace. However, we failed to take any pictures here or as we came around Fazeley Junction.

We needed to fill with water as Christine wanted to put the washing machine on as soon as possible. We debated whether to fill the diesel tank as well but initially we decided that it would last us back to base. When we reached Fazeley Mill Marina we spotted their price and went onto the towpath water point instead. No sooner had we connected up the hosepipe but there was a further debate about fuel. The route ahead does not have many places and the main one is at Alvechurch, another ABC marina so presumably the same price. Put the hosepipe back in its box and reverse to the marina entrance and then in to their service wharf. We filled up and also completed all the other usual services.

Drayton Manor Bridge is another popular image. Its twin turrets each house a spiral staircase. It was built in the early 19C. The Tame Valley Wetlands website says "The bridge dates to when Sir Robert Peel (British Prime Minister and founder of the police force) built his new mansion at Drayton Bassett. The canal ran through his estate so it’s widely thought that Sir Robert wanted the bridge to be a feature along the canal rather than the more practical styles typically seen along the waterways."

John Smeaton was the engineer hired to construct this canal and he managed to devise a route that allowed mostly long straight sections. Most of the locks were gathered into a single flight. The architecture is quite conventional but frequent modern signposts guide walkers to various parts of the country parks created form former quarries that occupied most of the land to the east of the canal from Fazeley to the first locks. They were started in 1930s when farmers discovered they could make more money this way than from agriculture!

Gravel Pit Bridge is about the only visible reminder of this history of the area. Older guide books describe it as a conveyor bridge but later became a roadway. As far as we could see it is now derelict, not even a footbridge.

We arrived at the bottom of the Curdworth flight around 12:20. A boat passed us just before this so we were surprised that the first lock was full. We reached the moorings at the Dog and Doublet at one o'clock - just right timing for a lunch break.

Each of the locks has a tiny flower bed around the lock number, all differently planted and kept looking very smart.

Between Locks 5 and 6 is new crossing for HS2. We assume that the line will be carried on a viaduct across the canal - a short section over the nearby motorway is already in place. However, we nothing much happening, the scene is quite stark, almost as if it was from a wartime prison camp!

Lock 2 looks as if it is the top of the flight as the next lock is some distance away.

However, the top lock was originally much close but was moved when a motorway was built right over where it was.

Not long and we passed through the very short Curdworth Tunnel, all 53 metres of it. Not worth putting on the head light! Before long the surroundings become industrial (or even post industrial) and not the most comfortable places to be overnight. We kept an eye on our mobile phone signals and opted for a spot a little before the MInworth locks and not too close to the main road that follows the canal for some while.

8.4 Miles - 13 Locks