Victor: Things get worse - A turn for the worst

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