Also the helicopter the other night was apparently looking for a suspected suicide - presumably all was well.
Today has been exhausting both physically and mentally. We had 8 more locks to complete on the Curdworth flight and as we climbled and the wind got stronger it became more and more difficult for me to manage the boat, thank heavens for Codeine!
Looking back down the flight - can't believe how flat and pastural it all is - we are less than a mile from the M6 toll at this point.
Speaking of which here it is in all it's glory. Not a view of it that most people get I fancy. As always there doesn't seem to be a lot of traffic on it.
When the aforesaid motorway was built it meant they had to reposition the top lock and so here is the nicest condition lock I've ever been in!
Another view that probably not many of you have seen - this is Spaghetti Junction seen from below. I hadn't realised that long before the roads were built, there was already a junction here of 2 canals so there is a sort of crossroads underneath all the concrete. I have to say it wasn't exactly a place of beauty but interesting in it's own way.
Here you can just about make out the River Tame underneath all the bridges and the A38 heading west into Birmingham and the M6 heading north on top of it all.
We are now heading up thorugh the Aston Locks and have negotiated the first 3 of them. I have decided that I don't like the Birmingham Canal Navigation, which is a shame as I was looking forward to it. Having seen bits of it from various conferences and training weekends I went on years ago I can remember being impressed with the way that Birmingham had made the most of it's canals. Well so far I can't see any evidence of that apart from the rather nice mooring we are on at present. The canal itself is nothing more than a stream of used engine oil - black and slick. There seems to be all manner of things thrown in the canal and there to get caught under us as we try to get into and away from the bank at locks. There is no wildlife to be seen - I think ducks would die if they immersed themselves in the contents of the canals here. And to top it all, and the reason I said that today has been mentally exhausting is the lack of moorings.
We found this one and are the only boat using it but it is off the towpath side, on a rather impressive business park with lighting and a security officer doing rounds. However we have spent ages checking where we can moor next and how to get from one place to the next. I thought that it would be a popular place to come since 2 of the main 'rings' go through it but heaven knows where they stay.
We plan to be up early (for us) tomorrow as we have another 8 locks to go to finish the Aston flight and then we have 13 in the Farmers Bridge Locks flight to get through before we reach a loop that apparently has visitor moorings. Then it will be another dash the next day. I am looking at the book for the Shropshire and Llangoglen canals with longing - just got to get through Birmingham.......
Oh yes and to top it all we seem (well I suppose it was me actually, going in a lock) to have broken the zip on the right side of the cratch cover so it no longer shuts.....and it's raining.......
By the way the pub last night was lovely - very olde worlde - nooks and crannies and VERY busy. Not sure where everyone came from, as it was out in the middle of nowhere. Something to ponder.
No comments:
Post a Comment