Victor: Things get worse

SO TO the Birmingham & Fazeley Canal—yes my friends, we are once again heading for the delights of the BCN.

We all like the the waterway up to the outskirts of Birmingham, lovely straights though the countryside with only one length of moored boats, though obviously hire boaters were taking advantage of the holiday period.

Good condition

We met quite a few hire boats coming down Curdworth Locks, that were a help of course, with the flight in fairly good condition, with both easy paddle gear and the gates well hung.  Even the wide single gates at the bottom, that make life easier were not too difficult to handle.

The only drawback was the encroaching off-side vegetation, but it did not cause too much of a problem. I see those coir roles that were so beloved by the environmentalists, or whatever,  and such a pain to moorers are becoming a thing of the past.  Useless really as those on this waterway never sprouted or whatever it was they were supposed to do.

Mind you there was still that filthy boat next to the pub on the flight still there, with the pound going up and down like a yo-yo, the owner at least had the sense to moor it on metal springs, but I wonder how it managed to remain there for years.

So to the top of the flight with just three boats on the moorings, and so on to our usual overnight moorings at Minworth on rings by the rather extensive pub, that alas is now empty with broken windows.

It was not too long before we realised that part of its car park had become a lorry park, and with a refrigerator lorry next to the waterway, and others pulling in, it was soon a hasty retreat to the quieter region at the other side of the bridge, again on handy rings.

Collapsing walls

Onward along the Birmingham & Fazeley where it was easy going with plenty of water, but there were plenty of sections of its wall having collapsed and thus having to be sheered-up.

At one instance a main road was going under by the collapsing section that would have been interesting if the waterway had breached.  Under one bridge was a good selection of road barriers, that we just managed to miss. But altogether it was easy going with plenty of water and the locks easy to operate.

What was surprising was that hire boats far outnumbered private boats, with those from Ashby, Napton, Stone, Black Prince, Anglo Welsh, Kate, Rose and Viking, that were obviously using the Birmingham & Fazeley as part of a ring. But strangely not a single Canaltime boat.  Private boats were few and far between.

So to Spaghetti, and there were still men working, as it seems always, and the first turn down to another of our favourite moorings at Star City, that provides a long jetty behind locked gates, that can be opened with a normal Watermate key.  It is an oasis of calm until you go through the gate, then, as Jan describes, it is like bedlam! One advantage, you can order a taxi for shopping as it seems everybody knows where it is.

Just one complaint, the surface of the jetty was treacherous, and we dare not use the small ramp, it being so slippery, climbing on to the wall instead.

It always surprises me that you can cruise with a fellow boater yet never see them again, then sometimes you see the same boaters time and time again, so it was no surprise to see Sue on No Problem yet again, and pass a pleasant time, with Sue also remarking on the well dredged Birmingham waterways.  Another boater we often meet is Graham Booth and his charming wife in Rome. Though not much chance of that this time as Graham is exploring elsewhere.

A turn for the worse

Then things certainly took a turn for the worse when we once again tackled the five Garrison Locks. "Bloody hell, there's been some rain in the night," exclaimed Jan, as water was pouring over the top gate of the first lock, with the walkway four inches under water, so she was unable to reach the opposite paddle.  We managed between us, and eventually left the lock and closed the top gate that was still under water.

All the remaining locks were overflowing, with one bottom gate unable to be opened as when it was pushed it lifted then stuck, nothing like the usual 'something behind the gate' experience, but with fenders up we managed. This was the lock with the near collapsing top gate I reported a couple of year ago that had an inordinate amount of play, and other contributors too have remarked upon it.  Even the beam is in terrible condition as can be seen, but nothing has been done, more important things for the Trust to spend its money on I expect.

The reason

It was at the top lock that we learned of the reason for so much water, as three paddles have been locked open, with water pouring out, and guess what?  Yes, the fairly long pound was a good 18 inches down, it seemingly having been draining all night.

So it was a very steady crawl out of the lock then turning right into the Digbeth Branch up to the first lock. We dare not go to the lock moorings, so put the boat into the mouth and clambered off.

Then the trouble started, as Jan could not of course get the boat over the cill with the pound so low.  Oh dear. Thomas takes over and gives out orders for Jan to quickly raise a paddle, and as the volume of water comes down it lifts the boat and it gently slides in.

Water pouring out

But the bottom gate wouldn't shut, with water pouring out of its side and bottom.  Had we buggered-up the cill? So it was a call to the Trust, but in the meantime there was just a little more water going in as was leaking out and eventually we left.  After this the short pounds, even with side ponds were low, but we managed, and eventually we reached the moorings, that a former columnist, Brian Holmes, who is sorely missed, had told us about just before the junction that had rings and was quiet.

Anyone knowing this part of the system will know it is the heaven of the graffiti morons, whose obviously only mark in life is scrawling their 'tags' on public property, and a right mess it is too.

The graffiti really starts in earnest at Spaghetti Junction, is on the walls all the way down the Birmingham & Warwick Junction Canal, and is splattered all over the lock beams of Garrison Locks continuing all the way up the Digbeth Branch, as can be seen from the picture above; but there is an oasis of sanity with a new mural on the Branch that is a delight, but alas how long before those self same morons will ruin that too.

In Sheffield a magistrate actually sent one of them who 'tagged' everything in sight including M1 Motorway bridges, to a youth detention centre, and it had effect.  But I expect now the do-gooders would say it affected their right to expression or such stupid reason, and so let them carry on.  But they certainly spoil our waterways.

Being worried about the situation at the lock we walked back and two Trust people had arrived, I expect with so little staff these days two hours is to be expected, with one telling us that it was a new gate a few year back, but when it was installed the quoin that is flushed up to was not replaced, so of course it does not fit, hence the escaping water. The cill was okay.

For anyone working the combined Aston/Farmer's Bridge flights, the moorings are just a few hundred yards along Digbeth Branch, half way between the two flights, with a handy winding hole.

And so it will be onward up into the city and towards the Staffs & Worcs.

Victor Swift