Sherbourne Wharf to Minworth

7.5 miles:  27 locks

We left Sherbourne Wharf in drizzle but the weather forecast promised better and by mid-morning it was sunny and it remained like that till the end of the day.

I knew the first day out of Birmingham was going to be very hard.
It looked like a minimum of 27 locks!
I planned to go down the Farmer's Bridge Thirteen and the then the Aston Old Eleven and then the Mimworth Three unless I found mooring before then.
Hallmark arrived at Old Turn Junction and the start of the Birmingham and Frazely Canal just after 8.00am.
Frazely was a couple of days away or to put it another way 15 miles and 38 locks away!

Just before the first lock is Cambrian Wharf which has some 14 day moorings.
But what wonderful reflections.............

There are thirteen locks in the Farmer's Bridge flight and we had dropped the 70 feet to Aston Junction by 10:30am.

It is a good run down though the Jewellery Quarter.
You literally go under some of the modern buildings adjacent to the canal.
You go through a one of a pair of tunnels at one stage.
But going right under Snow Hill Station in a cavern of a bridge caps the lot.

But the Aston Flight was closed as the bottom lock had been damaged and British Waterways said it could be a four hour closure.

So I decided on a diversion that would still get me to Salford Junction.
This involved taking the Digbeth Branch and then the Saltly Cut.
There were still 11 locks made up of six at Ashted and five at Garrison.
Much of the detour was grim and a bit scary.
There were stretches were just full of grime and graffiti.

The canal  was criss crossed  by  bridge after bridge of railway lines.
There were highlights like the Warwickshire Bar and some 'handsome' warehouses.

We finally got to Salford Junction where the Aston route joins about twenty yards back.
Being underneath the M6 and the A38 at Spaghetti Junction was amazing.
The canal is totally overshadowed by the elevated sections of motorway.
They seem to be bearing down on you.

The Birmingham and Fazeley now begins it's long run out of Birmingham.
For mile after miles there seems to nothing but factories.
They ignore the canal and go about there business regardless.
Then come the last three locks of the day.
The Minmorth locks all need vandal proof keys as the pound has been frequently drained overnight in the past.

There are three pubs along the canal all with moorings and judged safe overnight stops.
After a long day I chose the middle one with it's Hare and Hounds  non-canal name.
But the food was good and the mooring quiet.

Gas Street Basin to Sherbourne Wharf in Birmingham

I had spent three good days and nights just up from Gas Street Basin having a great time.

Exploring the city, walking the Farmers Bridge 13 and going out to Smethwick.
It was time to leave Hallmark and go back to London and Southampton for few days.
I had arranged to moor Hallmark at Sherbourne Wharf about half a mile away beyond the Worcester Bar and the Broad Street Tunnel.

The Wharf was just down Oozells Loop and was ideal.
Lots of residential boast tucked into an old Fellows and Morton wharf.

Hockley Heath to Gas Street Basin

0 locks:  15 miles
As you journey around the bottom of Birmingham between Hockley and Kings Norton the city seems so far away.
There were no locks and for much of the way trees border the canal.
Lots of oak and willow.

Just before the Kings Norton comes Brandwood Tunnel.
Its really short at 275 yards, but I managed to hit the sides a good number of times!

The Stratford upon Avon canal comes to an end with a disused guillotine lock.

I am at Kings Norton.
Birmingham city centre is five miles away
I turned Hallmark right onto the Worcester and Birmingham Canal.
The junction marked by a fine Junction house and a detailed signpost.

I had hoped to stop near Kings Norton and then do the last lap into Gas Street the next day.
But thee were no obvious moorings and all the guide books advised you not to moor up on most of the way into Birmingham.

Water levels on the Worcester and Birmingham Canal were low and progress was slow
The day was getting hotter.
Hallmark's engine was working hard.
We had been chugging non-stop for over six hours
I began to think the oil pressure was not all it should be,
The railways runs alongside the canal for most of the to the city centre and at Selly Oak you cross a brand new aquaduct.

There is pleny of industrial presence for much of the early part factory wall provide a boundary on the non-tow path side.
Some of the industrial landscape was derelict and awaiting redevelopment.
The route 'greens up' once Selly Oak arrives.
Then Birmingham University dominates both sides of the canal.

Edgbaston is only a short tunnel.
It has a tow path and sodium lighting.
I kept Hallmark straight all the way!

I have been planning to take Hallmark to Gas Street for longer than I remember.
I tried last year but ran out of time.
So it was quite a wonderful feeling as I got closer
Suddenly Hallmark was almost there a sharp left turn at The Mailbox and you could see the heart of the English canal system right there!

We had made it
Just before the Worcster Bar were some empty moorings and I glided tired into a space and tied up.
I was going to chill out here for three or four days and savour Birmingham.
Here is the Mailbox buzzing in the evening.

Hatton to Hockley Heath

22 locks:  8.5 miles

Hallmark was away by 8:30am.
The first three miles to Kingswood Junction were lock free.
It was a warm start to the day.
No need for a fleece
After the busy Hatton Flight with plenty of boats and walker the journey to Shrewley is very quite as you pass through some delightful countryside.
Just before Shrewley Tunnel you enter an echoing cutting and then in the distance you see the entrance

The tunnel was not as bad as I feared.
It was only just over 400 yards and totally straight.
Towards the end water was pouring in but my waterproofs kept me dry.
After the tunnel the journey is first on a long embankment and the in a deep cutting known locally as Rowington Tunnel.
The turn at Kingswood for the Stratford upon Avon Canal was a tight turn through a bridge arch I never hit anything but I did have to have two attempts!

The connection on to the Stratford also needs some care to ensure you follow the Lapworth Floght flight up rather than down.
I sorted it by heading for lock 20.

Hallmark was back on narrow locks.
There was plenty to climb Lock 2 is the top lock.
After the first few locks the flight begins in earnest.
The pounsbetween each lock are very very short some of the lock gates and paddles were incredibly stiff.
I did the first eight of the 20 totally alone.

I got a good system going including getting the next lock set before moving out of the lock I was in.
I was 'caught' by a competent crew on a hire boat for the last 12 and helped a lot
I got to the top in six hours and five minutes,

The flight has many interesting features especially it's split bridge with small gap down the centre for the horse tow rope.

After the top lock there are private moorings on both sides the comes Swallow Marina where I filled up with diesel and also managed to get on of the mechanic to repair the chains holdeing my bow fender.
After the Lapworth Flight come two lift bridges that caused me great difficulties as the controls are on opposite bank to the mooring.
So both delayed me as I had to wait for a 'friendly' walker.

I moored up near The Wharf Tavern in Hockley Heath Thursday night is curry night.
So guess what There are some brilliant old canal photos in the bars

A day at Hatton

I arrived at Warwick Parkway station about 9:45am.
It was further down the flight than I thought.
But it was great to walk the Hatton again.

I planned to get some 'emergency' fuel at the garage near lock 32.
I hit on the idea of asking a passing boat to carry it up for me.
Luckily the first I asked agreed.

I walked on leaving them to lock the 12 remaining locks with my cans.
There were jobs to do on Hallmark including visiting the sanitary station.
Hallmark was there on her mooring.
She looked good.
A couple of 'new' boats had joined her.

Outside everything was fine but the domestic hot water system was leaking again.
It looked like two pints had dripped away.
I rung John who had done the work at Banbury and he agreed to bring some new connection in the early evening to sort things.
I then walked down to the cafe at the top lock to treat myself to an all day breakast.

John arrived and was soon at work totally replacing a couple of connections and the system was throughly tested and dry as a bone.
I walked to The Watermans for supper and on the way back the sunset was totally amazing.

Warwick and the Hatton Flight

It was drizzling as Hallmark pulled off the mooring.

It was early.  Only 7:30am but the aim was to get to the bottom of the Hatton Flight and see if we could pair up with another solo boat.

But first there was the two Warwick Cape Locks with the Cape of Good Hope right alongside.

First you pass the Saltisford Arm and then the real climb begins.

We were soon at Hatton Bottom Lock and no one was to be seen.

It looked like another Hallmark solo!

And now it was raining heavily.

The flight of locks at Hatton on the Grand Union is nothing but amazing.

Some would say intimidating others daunting.

There are 22 locks and the canal climbs 150 feet in just 2 miles

In the central most concentrated section some say it resembles an aquatic ski slope.

This is looking up in the poring rain.

And now looking back down the main block of locks in the sunshine.

Well Hallmark made it!  Yes to the very top ..........

A shade under four and a half hours...........

Although the Hatton Flight is not the longest flight in the canal record books ......... that accolade goes to Tardebigge on the Worcester and Birmingham.Canal.

It is the toughest Hallmark has done yet!

Here is the British Water's depot very near the top.

At the very top we filled Hallmark up with water and tidied up as it was back to London for a few days.