Easter Monday, and our first uphill locks in Kingley Vale. So far, from the upper end of the Macc, we have come down nearly 95 metres or almost 311 feet, but as every boater knows, Birmingham is built on the top of a mountain so it’s uphill whichever way you approach it. We set off at about 9; the bottom lock was full and needed turning, but all the others were with us. It wasn’t long before we’d made our first uphill step.
At the moorings above the next lock there’s a boat owned by Joan Collins — but probably not that one.
We met one boat coming down after a couple more locks. Below Lock 5 is where HS2 will cross the canal. There’s a big new bridge over the M42 which runs alongside the canal just here, and a huge compound on the offside.
Locks 2-5 are the only ones which are close together. We crossed with a boat between 4 and 5.
There were a couple of volunteer lock keepers on at Lock 4 which is right by their base, and they seemed determined not to leave their tea and biscuits. We’d seen another two further down the flight trimming back bushes. This is probably the prettiest part of the flight, and of course in photos you can’t hear the motorway.
At Lock 4 we’d got Macc out of his crate as he’d woken up and had been shouting. We tried him on the rear slide again but he really doesn’t like it when one of us is off the boat. It’s odd, because he has no problem with either of us going out when we’re moored up, or with going for a walk with just one of us. The long pound between Lock 2 and Lock 1 was very short of water. I’d walked on to check on the depth at the water point, as we’d thought we’d stop and fill up, but Adrian phoned me to say he was stuck, and could I run some water down. So while it looks nice, it was a bit of a challenge.
Eventually we got to Lock 1, which was rebuilt in a slightly different place when the M6 Toll was built. The previous lock was right under where the bridge now is.
It was quite a relief to get into the lock, but even the pound above which is a couple of miles long was quite low. Curdworth Tunnel is very narrow, but only 52 metres long.
We carried on to just before Wiggins Hill Bridge, where we’ve moored several times before. The low water levels meant the stern wouldn’t come anywhere near the bank, and were slightly on the wonk. There’s a footpath on the other side of the canal where I took Macc for a walk, which gives a nice view of the boat.
We’re next to a car park and there’s a busy road beyond that, so it’s not the quietest mooring. A few boats have been past, including a Braunston hire boat going incredibly quickly, which was close enough to scrape down the side, and took what little water we have from under us so we tipped over even more. On the plus side it’s been nice and sunny though, so the solar has been doing well.
4 miles, 11 locks. (74 miles, 47 locks)
Have you walked Macc while one of you is steering? That might show him that the one on land isn’t going to disappear? When we go up the Hanbury locks (immediately after we leave the marina), Jess is desperate to be off the boat but has to be on the lead because a fast road runs alongside. We tie the lead to the handle on the balance beam and she waits quietly while the lock is prepared, but has to be held on a short lead as the boat starts to move so that she doesn’t try and jump on while still on the lead!
best wishes Debby