From The Regional Chairman Page 4 Black Country Ring

Black Country Ring

Two years ago I wrote an article about our family holiday on the Kennet and Avon Canal. We all enjoyed it so much we booked another school half term canal holiday for the following year. Little did we know what was in store and it would be cancelled due to Covid19! We rebooked the holiday for 2021. Fortunately Boris said we could go this time so off we went to Great Haywood which is directly north of Birmingham. The very first canal holiday that Roy and I took over 55 years ago was through the centre of Birmingham. It was very derelict at the time but the experience resulted in us becoming canal enthusiasts and joining IWA. This time we would take a circular route - The Black Country Ring which would take us through Birmingham again and we would be able to see how their canal system has changed for the better. The Ring was advertised as having 79 locks and taking about 43 hours.

As it was a Bank Holiday, we left early and arrived at the canal basin at 9.15 am. Louise, our daughter, and family arrived minutes later. Luckily our boat was ready early so we loaded our bags and provisions. There was great excitement getting to know the layout of our 69 foot boat and choosing our cabins. We set off at midday and made good progress travelling in an anti-clockwise direction on the Staffordshire and Worcestershire Canal. Lucas 12 yrs. and Bella 9 yrs. couldn’t wait to help at the locks. Indeed they helped at all the locks during the whole holiday. Lucas also soon became very competent at handling the boat. We travelled south through beautiful countryside and moored just below Penkridge. That evening we discovered we had been given double bedding for two single bunks. A phone call to base soon sorted that and our duvets arrived before long.

Black Country Ring (cont)

Sunday was a busy day. Heading towards Wolverhampton, the hawthorn blossom and wild flowers soon turned to neglected industrial units and rubbish caught in the canal reeds. We all found this contrast very interesting and the children realised how lucky they were to live in a lovely Essex village. At Aldersley Junction we entered the Wolverhampton 21 locks and climbed these without seeing another boat. We began to wonder if we had chosen a good route! There were moored boats at the top of the locks, and the weed was beginning to grow but we carried on until we were very relieved to finally find somewhere safe to moor for the night.

The next morning we continued on the Birmingham Main line, taking the Old Main line to Factory Junction which we thought would be more interesting. Again the contrast in scenery along the route was interesting, under motorways, over rivers and other canals and past many new developments. We moored in the centre of the city close to Old Turn Junction. Checking the weed hatch we found we had collected a large amount of plastic. How this area had changed since our last visit, new canal side developments were mixed with the old and the canal sides were busy with people enjoying the atmosphere. We joined them and walked the very recognizable areas bustling with the Bank Holiday weekend tourists enjoying the sunshine and the chance to be outside again. That evening all the restaurants seemed fully booked, but we did manage a restaurant meal which involved ordering on-line.

Black Country Ring (cont)

The following morning started with some excitement. We realised we desperately needed water but had past the water point yesterday. So, very early, Roy reversed back past moored boats, under a bridge and to the water point before returning to our overnight mooring. Then it was a walk round Birmingham, some food shopping and Bella bought some new school shoes. It was very hot that afternoon when we started the long decent out of the city down the 13 Farmers Bridge Locks. A very helpful CRT volunteer helped us through the locks, just as well as we met a boat coming up in a very short pond between locks. An interesting passing manouvre as our boat was longer than the pond. He advised us not to take the Birmingham and Fazeley Canal at Aston Junction but to continue on the Grand Union to Bordesley Junction and down the Birmingham & Warwick Junction Canal as there was a park where we could moor for the night. The moorings by the park turned out to be next to a Retail Park! To the delight of the children there was a McDonalds! We stayed the night and the following morning treated ourselves to McDonalds bacon rolls and maple syrup pancakes for breakfast. That was a first for us ! That morning we passed under long sections of the M6 motorway and on to Salford Junction. The extreme right turn here would be difficult at any time, but with a wind against us the boat became wedged between the two banks. Luckily some workmen took our front rope and pulled us round. Back onto the Birmingham & Fazeley Canal we passed a lot of industrial buildings, some very new and in use, some derelict.

Very hot again and lots of hard work doing numerous locks but beautiful countryside with blossom all along the banks. Later that day we moored near a pub! Maybe a fish and chip meal for supper? Sadly not! Scampi and chips was on the menu, but sold out, probably because everything else involved a burger or burger in a bun and chips. Never mind. After a very hot day and no evening meal to prepare, a shower of rain was welcome while a game of Pictionary made us all laugh before bedtime.

Thursday was a cooler start. On to the Coventry Canal, we cruised through the picturesque woodlands of Hopwas where red flags warn of military manoeuvres. More boats around today. During the afternoon we realized we should have a pump out, but any facilities were hours away. Simon phoned ahead to Streethay Wharf and organized for someone to stay on after closing to help us. A great service! That evening we found a quiet mooring near a pumping station for the night.

The next morning Simon went for a five mile jog and came back with lots of fresh food for our last day.

At Fradley Junction we joined the Trent & Mersey Canal and cruised through stunning farmland scenery and thick woods. After the village of Armitage we negotiated a narrow rocky cutting. This was formally an unlined tunnel that had been bored through the rocks. For the rest of the journey we cruised beside the River Trent until we reached Little Haywood. Surely there would be a restaurant here for our last meal? More closures due to Covid and the one pub open was fully booked, so it was the local store for steak or fish and oven chips.

Up early the next morning as there were a lot of boats on the move the previous day. We had to be back at base by 9.30 am and there was one more lock to do. We cruised quietly past many moored narrow boats, including one across the canal that had a missing mooring rope, a gentle push with our bow allowed us to pass. Through the last lock and sharp left at Haywood Junction into the boatyard. So we concluded our holiday, great weather and stunning scenery thoroughly enjoyed by the whole family.

Chris Chandler