You never know who you're going to meet!

We slipped our moorings at Cuckoo Wharf at around 09:00hrs and made our way up the eleven locks of the Aston Flight. All very uneventful, there wasn't even a boat coming the other way. Turned right at the top if that's how to explain it, its really straight on as the turn to the left is very acute. Not much further on and the bottom of the Farmers Bridge locks is looming. We opened the bottom gate and this well dressed fellow arrives and gives us a helping hand. He didn't have a boat, which we thought was a bit odd, anyway this kind fellow assisted us all the way to the top lock at Cambrian Wharf.
A very big thanks to you, Jim Shead, for all your hard work.

Scenes along the way:-

Our current location.

Lunchtime, and we installed ourselves in our favourite location under the security cameras in Oozells Loop, and then a stroll over to The Malt House for a pie and a pint - excellent.

Just as I'm writing this, something occurred. We could hear voices for some time outside the boat and wondered what was going on, so we looked out the window and saw this:-

Tranquility - with added glamour.

I tell thee, you never know what's going to happen next...

A day in the rain

Alvecote Marina to Cuckoo Wharf

First things first, coal from the merchant up the bank. 25kg of Taybrite £9.15. I carried it back to the boat and got told off for getting my coat dirty. Hey ho!

It started raining early today and didn't stop until we were moored at Cuckoo Wharf. Indeed, down the Birmingham and Fazeley Canal we had ice, not sleet or snow, or hail, but ice crystals falling with rain. I suppose you could call it rice. At least it was mainly light rain. The frustrating thing was, there was blue sky nearly all round, but we had to be under the cloud which was precipitating.

We made our way along the Coventry Canal to Fazeley Junction passing Amington, Tamworth and Kettlebrook. We were surprised how quickly the junction crept up on us, and how sharp the turn was toward Birmingham. We spotted NB Sanity near the junction today.

Locks at Glascote

Drayton Foot Bridge. Must be one of the most photographed bridges on the cut.

Locks 8 & 9 on the Curdworth Flight were very difficult. The bottom gate on Lock 9 wouldn't open fully and we had to ram it open to get enough space for TQ to get through and again at Lock 8, the top gate had a similar problem and I had to remove an obstruction from behind the gate using a pole to allow it to open. Then it was a tight squeeze. I've a feeling some bricks from the culvert arch may have collapsed.

Lock 2 on the Curdworth Flight with M42 madness in the background.

Blue sky, but its still raining.

Just turned left, still on the Birmingham and Fazeley Canal.

Our current mooring at BW Offices, Cuckoo Wharf.

TQ report:- All systems working perfectly, except for the grill in the galley. It still overheats and cuts out. When the fan is running there is no cool air flowing out through the venting slots at the top of the grill. In my experience, this may mean the DC motor has been connected with reverse polarity. It will need investigating.

The view from the front window.

Sunday - A long day

Sunday

Anstey to Sutton Cheyney

No "3" signal again, so this blog is late - sorry.

Hawkesbury Junction

Hawkesbury Junction

A Police Station?

Made our way down to Hawkesbury Junction and turned right onto the Coventry Canal, then about 2.5 miles further on we turned sharp right again and made time to explore the Ashby Canal, and what a pleasant surprise. Its much llike the Shroppie in places, especially the Middlewich branch, and in others its like the Caldon Canal. Stopping at The Lime Kiln for lunch, we had a pint each but there was nothing on the menu we fancied and the service was slow. The ale was good, though. We went as far as Sutton Cheyney and winded. Looking for a mooring spot for the night can be difficult. Any steel pilings have got continuous moorers welded to them and mooring elsewhere usually means shallow waters. We found a spot out in the sticks between bridges 31 and 32 where the pilings were concrete with a wooden facing. Too thick for piling hooks, I wrapped the mooring lines around the wood - no problem.There are a couple of large marinas and some nicer smaller ones too, food for thought for the future.

Monday

Sutton Cheyney to Atherstone

Still no "3" signal.

I was impressed by the Triumph motorcycle factory at Hinckley, the factory where I work would fit in there 15 times or more, it is massive.
Turning right at Marston Junction was a smoother, less acute affair than when we entered the Ashby, and we find ourselves back on the Coventry Canal heading toward Nuneaton. Through the town the canal is loaded with detritus. I actually saw someone throw a beer can over a bridge parapet into the cut in front of us, and he didn't even look where he was throwing it. People who do this really upset me but there's nothing I can do as an individual. The local authorities need to clamp down hard on people who cause this problem.

Spottted Bittern today, She's a sister ship to TQ and is currently based at Blue Haven Marina on the Oxford Canal.

Bittern, one of the fleet

We needed to get this troublesome battery seen to today so we called into Star Line Boats and also had a pump out and topped up the diesel. Very helpful and friendly service. NOTE:- they do not accept credit/debit cards. Lin had to walk into the town and get some cash. With all that done we headed on our way out of Nuneaton through some very nice countryside in complete contrast to Nuneaton.

Monday night, we find ourselves moored near Bridge 37, very close to a very busy railway line, with freight running all night. Better moorings around the corner but we didn't find out about that until Tuesday morning - Oh! well.

Tuesday

Atherstone to Alvecote Marina

Yippeee! Maximum "3"

Saw fellow bloggers Chas and Anne aboard their narrow boat Moore 2 Life today, happy daze!

Polesworth is quite a nice village, the River Anker flows under the main road and the water is crystal clear. We had a stroll around and bought some award winning sausages from the butcher, pork and leek and pork and apple, and some ales from the off licence - some Crabbies Ginger Beer and some Speckled Hen. A sandwich back on TQ, a bit of blogging and then... I'll catch up later if I can get a 3 signal.

Update:-

We've moved up to Bridge 59, just short of Alvecote Marina. A poor signal on "3" but I think I can get away with it.

Like last night the railway is very close although not so busy.

We had some of those sausages for tea. I can confirm they are really good. "Are there any left?" I asked. "There's two" Said Lin. "Two" With more emphasis. "I'm counting them." Even more emphasis. "Are they the same?" I asked, thinking there might be one each of pork and apple and/or leek. "No" she said, "They're bent in different directions." What? (Fall about laughing)

There's a coal merchant just up the bank from here, I'll see if I can get a bag tomorrow.

Battery system is holding out a lot better. We used the telly and a laptop for most of the evening last night and still had loads of juice left for the Webasto heating the next morning - result.

As you can see in the video the black cover is broken exposing the vent from which the gas is escaping in large quantities. Look closely at the video and you can see the vapour emitting from the vent. This is what was making the hydrogen sulphide odour. When a battery boils it gives off hydrogen and oxygen, potentially an explosive mixture, and with the presence of electricity...

A dirty day and a nasty smell!

Hillmorton to Ansty

Had a lazy morning and left our mooring at 09:00hrs in the rain, and it continued to rain steadily all day and at times the rain was horizontal.

Through Rugby the bridges are decorated with art instead of graffiti. Its all about the history of the town and includes the story of the game of rugby and the story of the canals in the area. Unfortunately, some of it has been dawbed.

Rugby has a Tesco and yes you've guessed, we paid a visit. Another two carrier bags full of "stuff", and then it was lunchtime, and then it hammered down so we timed that just right.

After the rain had slowed Lin stayed inside and I steered TQ the rest of the way to Bridge 11 near Ansty. Along the way, Newbold Tunnel was well illuminated, nice, but I'm not sure why. Apparently the lights are turned off at night to allow bats to roost? I would have thought there wouldn't have been any bats in there at night. Maybe I've got it all wrong.

At Stretton Stop there was a bit of a surprise, there is a swingbridge, and its marked on the map but its small on the map and small in actual size too. I think its a sales ploy to get you to stop and buy something. Luckily for us someone came out to open it. Good job too as last time I went into a place like this all I wanted was a spare light bulb and ended up buying a new caravan.

Ansty is a odd place for boaters. It looks a nice village and I'm sure it is but its not boatie friendly. There are a few visitor moorings at one end of the village occupied by the usual continuous moorers and local hire boats' overspill from the local boatyard, and the rest (and there's quite a lot) are dedicated to permit holders only, and are unoccupied, and further on there is loads of space with "Strictly No Mooring" signs, so we won't.

On through Ansty and under the M69 Motorway Bridge and just after Bridge 11 looked a good place to moor but as usual along here its shallow near the edge.

Oh! I almost forgot, that bad smell. We blamed it on the toilet yesterday, but today I discovered what it was. In the port side rear locker is a pair of batteries. I think they are part of the domestic set, the other three being below in the engine room. One of them is gassing badly under charge which is why the smell occurs at the end of the day, and why battery performance is down. On Monday I'll phone Carefree and ask their advice.

No neighbours, just the distant roar of the M69

More tomorrow if I can get a signal from "3".

Thursday and Friday blogs

Warwick to Long Itchington

No "3" signal whatsoever last night so no blog yesterday, sorry.

Starting with Thursday, Lin did some more shopping in Tesco for the things we forgot yesterday. She was gone ages, but it always seems that way when you're itching to get on. Well worth the wait though. Pushing on through Warwick, over the aqueducts we spotted a duckling on a floating crisp packet. I bet he'll have a narrow boat of his own when he grows up. Should've taken a picture but we didn't see him 'till it was too late. We didn't stop in Leamington as we want to explore the Ashby Canal and we're already pushed for time having made one detour already, but I still think we can do it.

Our location at Long Itchington

View from our window

Long Itchington to Hillmorton

Friday, and we woke up to a hung parliament. (whoopy doo) Not that we're bothered much, we'll just sit back and watch them fight it out over the next few days. That'll be a laugh.

Thought I'd take a stroll over the aqueduct which spans the River Itchen. The Weedon and Leamington Railway used to wend its way along here and now its a Sustrans cycle path and all the railway track has been removed. Not many bikes use it I'd think, its fairly well overgrown on the far side of the aqueduct.

TQ in the distance

On through Stockton Locks and there was Portugal, a tug in our favourite style. I want one of those please.

Portugal. A lovely tug.

I was surprised to see how big Ventnor Farm Marina is. We were passing it for ages and then there was more of it right up to Calcutt Locks, and Calcutt Boats have a large marina as well.

Calcutt Junction is where we leave the Grand Union and turn left onto the Northern section of the Oxford Canal. This is much different, there are no concrete sides to the cut, just the odd bit of piling and mainly shallow slanting concrete slab sides which make it impossible to moor close to the bank.

Braunston Junction is not far away, we turn left again and the Grand Union continues to the right.

Approaching Braunston Junction

We've done well with the mileage today, just looking at the Pearsons Guide, 16.5 miles is our distance traveled. Currently moored at the Old Royal Oak, a Hungry Horse house, we went in and ordered fish and chips. It was good value at £8 for two. The ale was rubbish though, very cloudy, their excuse was it was a new barrel and needed to settle. They didn't stop selling it, and offered me a cheaper alternative and I didn't receive the difference in cost either. Shan't be going back there again.

Update on TQ, all is going well so far, although the batteries only just come up 12.5 volts after 8 hours engine run and an hours' rest, and after half an hours' TV they drop right back to 11.8 volts under load. I'm switching off the inverter overnight and turning the fridge back to one. This is helping a little, but I would suggest they need drop testing and replacement as necessary.

From Black Boy to Cape of Good Hope

Another good day today, we were away by 07:00hrs even after spending an excellent evening in the Black Boy with Anne and David and being the last customers in the pub at chucking out time. We haven't done that for a few years.

Our trip to the Cape of Good Hope was hard work, Shrewley Tunnel was very wet and every lock on the Hatton Flight was against us. We passed a boat coming up the flight, but the next lock was still against us. There was a boat going down ahead and they were not prepared to wait for us even though it would have been easier for them as well as us and could have saved water in the bargain. We're moored on the visitor moorings opposite the Cape of Good Hope and we walked the mile to Tesco, did some shopping and walked all the way back and then we went in the pub and had an excellent meal. Lin had a beef burger and chips and I had sausage egg chips and beans. Well deserved after a hard days' work so burger the calories.

Shrewley Tunnel and the unusual separate towpath tunnel

Inside Shrewley Tunnel

On the Hatton Flight

I don't think this has moved since the last time I photographed it

A diversion on tick-over

This blog is dated Tuesday 4/5/2010
Sorry about the late blog there is something wrong with our 3G dongly thingy. I've found that I need to uninstall the programme and reinstall it again each time I use it.
We were planning on turning right at Kingswood Junction and heading off to Warwick, but friends Anne and David reccommended a pub on the Grand Union called The Black Boy (not sure if that's PC today). This meant turning left and a detour on tick-over (we have loads of time to spare) up to the winding hole just before bridge 70 and coming back past the Black Buoy Cruising Club and mooring up on the left, right outside the pub. What I've neglected to say was, we also stopped at the Navigation for lunch, and had a ploughmans and a pint. I made the mistake of ordering a pint of Dog Dancer which turned out to be cider. I might be from Somerset but I'm not a cider drinker. Well, it wasn't bad for the first half, but after that it became more and more samey. I'll not be doing that again. The ploughmans lunches were good though, but I can't help thinking the sandwiches others were having was better value for money. So here we are outside the Black Boy and we'll be meeting Anne and David here later for a meal. Tomorrow morning we'll have to be away early and get all the way down the Hatton Flight.

Connection at last and the paint job

This blog is for 2nd May 2010.
Sorry, tried to blog last night, but there was no signal. Turns out there probably was a signal, but a corrupted programme in my laptop was preventing me from receiving anything. Uninstalling the programme and reinstalling it did the trick.
Anyway here goes:-
Had a good journey to Alvechurch despite the rain and loaded up TQ straight away. I asked in the office if TQ had had her turnaround check done and they said it would be done at around 13:00hrs. so we had to wait awhile for that to happen. In the mean time we checked the loo (well you have to eventually) and it sounded different to what it had in the past, so we asked the engineer for his opinion. he said "It sounds just like it did last week and as its working, run with it and if it goes wrong, call us out." So that's what we've done. We decided to stay at Alvechurch that night and get away very early in the morning as we were meeting some friends later at Kingswood Junction.
I've got a picture of TQ in the camera, and I'd downloaded it to the laptop but blowed if I can find it now. I'll blog it here later.

I've found it!

Tranquility on her home mooring at Alvechurch

About the paint job TQ had week before last, OK its not bad, but the finish on the roof is a bit iffy. I don't think TQ is going to look really good until she has her full repaint this coming Winter, but for now I guess its OK. If this were the "final result" I wouldn't accept it.

This blog is for today 3rd May 2010.
Up with the Lark this morning, and away by 06:30hrs (that's not a typo) and made our way North to Kings Norton Junction. Lin steered through Wast Hill Tunnel while I had a shower, and I steered while Lin showered and made breakfast. Bacon butties on the fly. (Whilst cruising). Through Brandwood Tunnel, and we didn't get spat at this time, and on to the Shirley drawbridge where the buttons have to be held in to operate the lift gear. You have to press them in hard, I guess they've seen a lot of service. Locked our way down Lapworth and caught up with Anne and David near Kingswood Junction. They have a delightful boat and we spent the rest of the afternoon talking boats and engines. Time to retire, I'll continue tomorrow.

EGM today

Due to popular demand (though you wouldn't think so looking at the ratings) it was suggested that I open this blog to all Tranquility Syndicate Members. So invites have been sent and more people will be blogging here in future. That'll make the ratings rise.

It has been decided that we are staying at Alvechurch for at least the next three months. This lets us off the hook as we feared we might be volunteered into taking TQ back to Elton Moss in Cheshire. This also means we're going round the Warwickshire Ring. The big decision now is whether to go clockwise or counter clockwise.

TQ has just had her gunwales and roof painted and in the photos sent to me it makes her look a whole lot better. Looking forward to seeing her in the steel.

Looks great in the photos

Our last day...

...and despite the weather we've had a great time aboard Tranquility. We left Oozells Loop early this morning in fog and made our way to Winson Green Junction where we turned right and cruised up the Soho Loop.

Our turn into the Soho Loop

It was a pleasant trip and I think if we as boaters don't use these backwaters, we'll lose them, if not to neglect and nature, then to the authorities and developers. That's why we went up there, just to add to the numbers and help prevent their loss. Although a bit shallow in places, its surprisingly easy to navigate and relatively free of detritus.

The Main Line Railway Bridge

Winson Green Prison Bridge

This appears to go under the prison although its not big enough to get a narrow boat through, I wonder if any prisoners have tried to escape through here.

Moving across the BCN Main Line at Rotton Park Junction into the Icknield Loop we found this to be more compact waters and speed should be kept to a minimum. Also if you have a chimney up, take it down. The bridges are very low.

This is a familiar name

In the Icknield Loop

Behind the grassy bank is Rotton Park Reservoir.

Farmers Bridge Top Lock and Cambrian Wharf

Back on the Main BCN Line we crused back to Old Turn Junction and a short way down the Birmingham and Fazeley to fill with water before winding and mooring up in Gas Street Basin and visiting Brenda and David aboard NB Mr David. Its nice to natter.

The Selly Oak works

I forgot to photograph this on the way to Birmingham, but I remembered on the way back to Alvechurch. You'll need to go dead slow here and wait for the workmen to raise the bridge for you. At weekends its left open.

A closer look

Tonight we're moored about a mile short of Alvechurch, just South of the M42 Motorway, the darkness and cold beat us. Tomorrow we go back to Alvechurch, load up the car and sprint back down the M5 to Somerset, picking up the cat on the way home. Another holiday over, we've had a great time, back to work on Tuesday. Roll on May.

Not much done today and going up in the ratings.

Still here at Oozells Loop. I went out and did some shopping, just a paper, bread and some batteries. Guess who I saw today:-

Sorry about the quality, it was taken with a mobile phone.

Went for a walk around the Soho Loop this aft. Very pleasant except for the man with the two unruly dogs who just jumped up at me and plastered their muddy feet all over me. Unfortunately we met again and exactly the same thing happened, and not a word of apology. Both dogs would have gone in the cut this time if it were'nt for the fact the owner was bigger than me.

Will take TQ up around the Soho Loop tomorrow, another backwater we've not been before.

I never thought Travels on Narrow Boat Tranquility would go up so fast in the ratings - 87 in the Top 100 sites and 53 51 in the UK. It won't stay there for long, next week there'll be a drop back to normal. In the mean time I'm going to enjoy the high.

Back in the same spot, but where have we been? Read on...

I was caught proping up the bar in the Bottle and Glass

I couldn't blog yesterday as there was not enough signal strength on the 3 dongle thingy. We left Oozells Loop and cruised up th New Main Line and detoured up the Gower Branch through the three Brades Locks where we encountered two minor problems. The first was ice as we approached the first lock but we managed through that OK, the second was the staircase locks were completely empty - both of them. I had to fill the top lock first and then empty it into the next lock and move TQ along one then fill the top lock again and move TQ out. We made it to the Black Country Living Museum and apart from the two museum boats we were the only ones there. We filled with water when we arrived then winded and reversed back to the moorings. Had a look around the museum again today before setting off and heading back to Oozells Loop, via Oldbury and under the M5 Motorway arriving at around 17:00hrs.

I've been discovered, it seems. 88 in the boating sites ratings. Can't be bad.

Summit Tunnel

Under the M5 Motorway

Blakeley Hall Bridge

Florence

A fine narrow boat

The bar in the Bottle and Glass

In the midground, President and Kildare

Engine Arm Aqueduct

Staying put and into the Top 100

This is a really quiet spot right under the eye of a CCTV camera and there are security guards patrolling the quay side and helicopters patrolling overhead. It must be the safest mooring on the cut. Access to the amenities is just as easy from here and talking of amenities we had lunch in the Malt House. Steak and Ale Pie, Mash and Peas - Mmm! it was delicious.

Todays location - Oozells loop

Back on TQ now and we've crashed!

We'll stay here again tonight and do some exploring tomorrow.

I've just realised that at this time this blog has broken into the Top 100 Boating Sites at number 100 - Yippee! That's the highest its been.

Oozells Loop

I've just been for a walk around Oozells Loop and I found it very disappionting. Most of the tow path is closed off and made private. I had to go up some steps and over a bridge and down a road so far and turn right to get back to the loop at the other end. I then walked up the loop and it came to a dead end unless I wanted to get wet. Not today, so I had to use a foot bridge to come back through Symphony Court.

Sheepcote end

A new? FMC building

Oh! look, its Paul

Monday freezing morning...

...and everyone's at work back home and here we are frozen in. There was ice on the inside of the windows this morning. We're having to hole up for the day and hopefully tomorrow the ice may have melted some and we're able to make our way to Gas Street Basin. Heavy rain is forecast for the next few days - Oh! well, you can't have everything.

Smoke on...GO! (It's a Red Arrows thing)

Sun up.

Approximately 16.327mm depth of snow

Update:-

We had lunch in the Hopwood House, something we said we'd never do again after the last time, but it was quite a better experience this time. We had Beef Goulash and very nice it was too. After lunch we decided to take a chance with the ice on the canal and see if we could get to Gas Street Basin. Departing from our mooring was difficult as the ice wouldn't let us point the bow out into the middle of the cut. A few stabs at the ice with the "Bargee Kev" (like Bills but mine) soon had us on our way. So, on through Wast Hill Tunnel and we met some BW guys working on the bank. They were pleased to see us as they had tried to get their equipment on the move but were unable to due to their square fronted hopper/ butty  being unable to penetrate the ice.

When we arrived at Kings Norton Junction we could see in the distance a camera crew filming. We came closer to realise it was Alan Herd of Narrow Boat Afloat fame, the TV series. Remember Dover? We had a chat about the ice as we passed through, and the film crew kept filming us as we ploughed on towards Birmingham.

Arrived at the water point opposite The Cube at around 16:30hrs and filled with water, and then through the Worcester Bar which marks the end (or beginning) of the Worcester and Birmingham Canal, and the beginning (or end) of the BCN. We moored up at 17:00hrs under the watchful eye of the CCTV camera just inside Oozells Loop. Its very quiet here.

Ice - 40mm thick where we moored last night

Edgebaston Tunnel - Look no ice!

ICED IN!

We tried and failed. The ice on the Worcester and Birmingham Canal is too thick. We moved out of Alvechurch and cruised to Just South of Wast Hill Tunnel. If the ice was as thick between here and Gas Street Basin we would'nt be able to get there before dark and the risk of mooring in the pound North of Wast Hill Tunnel is too high, so its best we moor here just South of Bridge 69.

Our current location South of Bridge 69 on the Worcesterand Birmingham Canal

The adventure starts here

We're just getting ready to load the car with all the parafernalia that comes with narrow boating. I've had a thought, (careful) I have'nt washed the car, its in a bit of a state with driving through muddy lanes. Oh! well... If I'd washed it, it would probably be filthy dirty again by the time we get to Alvechurch.

I've checked for stoppages on the BCN and the Worcester and Birmingham and its all clear, just a restriction at Selly Oak.

I'll catch up later, hopefully from the Gas Street Basin area.

Best laid plans...

Well, it looks as though most of  the canals around Alvechurch are closed at various places due to planned and unplanned maintenance. We were hoping to cruise the Grand Union but the Stratford is closed just North of Lapworth Junction, so we thought Birmingham and we'll cruise some backwaters we've not been before. Think again, the Worcester and Birmingham is closed at Selly Oak for a new road and aqueduct. Only one route left, the W and B to Worcester - Tardebigge again - and again on the way back. Oh! well, its all good excercise and we really need excercise.

UPDATE: 23/01/10
The stoppage at Selly Oak has been lifted.