What a lot of cruising we did today!

Have a look at this - it shows our "track" today

It was a very cold day and it tried to hail and snow a few times, but with 5 layers and warm hats and gloves we survived! We left Sneyd Wharf and cruised South to Birchills Junction. Here the Walsall Canal (right photo) leaves the Curley Wurley. Here also once stood Birchills Power Station but now there is a large retail park.

We continued on towards Catshill Junction. This section once had a bad reputation and we had been warned that there were underwater obstructions all the way to Pelsall Junction. We had absolutely no trouble at all and what locals we saw all passed the time of day with us! In fact in all our cruising today we hit nothing (apart from a slight misjudgement at a Junction - more of that later!) and we had a perfectly clean prop so no "down the 'atch" for John at all today, except  to find nothing when we moored!

Once past Birchills, the canal reaches open countryside where once there was open cast mining, foundries and industry.

Looking across disused mineshafts, now countryside

The names of the bridges rather give the past away! Coalpool Bridge, Goscote Works bridge and at Pelsall, Pelsall Works Bridge.

Pelsall Works Bridge

The bridge above, built in 1824, has a plaque (top right) stating that this was the site of Pelsall Coal and Iron Company, 1832-1892

Pelsall Common area is very pleasant and would make a lovely mooring, but we pressed on. We have in mind that there might be some really cold weather ahead this week so plan to be somewhere where we can be "iced-in" comfortably, so  ..... we have a plan!

Pelsall Common area

We turned left at the Junction to explore the Cannock Extension Canal, but more of that in another blog! After that little excursion we continued on the main Wyrley and Essington Canal towards our next Junction.

Pelsall Junction

The canal remains mostly rural with some more interesting bridges, again giving away the canal's past

Silver Birches line the canal

Jolly Collier and Coopers Bridges

The Curley Wyrley takes a sharp right hand bend towards Catshill, but before this there is large Tesco with good moorings. We stopped and shopped!

Bend with canoe club and BW services (yes, they are real swans!)

Tesco moorings

At Catshill Junction we turned sharp left away from the Junction Bridge

Well, we almost did! It is such a sharp turn that if one is at the tiller and trying to take photos at the same time, one hits the bank! Here are the photos responsible for our slight contretemps!

Catshill signs

To the right, under the Junction Bridge is the Daw End Branch, but we were going left to the northern tip of the BCN on the Anglesey Branch and you will have to wait for that blog too!

Our total stats for today are as follows -

Sneyd Junction, Wyrley and Essington Canal (BCN) to Anglesey Wharf, Anglesey Branch

(via Cannock Extension Canal)

5 hours 10 minutes, 13.75 miles, 0 locks

Just to give you an idea

Below is an "impressionistic" map of the BCN - it is not meant to be accurate or very detailed! It is interesting to see that we have done so little of the Navigations!

We started bottom left on the Stourbridge Canal (white arrows), through Netherton Tunnel and along the Main Line to Cambrian Wharf.

The black arrows show our journey once we were released by the ice!

We are now at Sneyd Wharf on the Wyrley and Essington and plan to go to the end of this canal. When I next put this map up I hope that there will be black arrows on all the navigations - we shall see!

More about the Wyrley and Essington Canal

We have moved around the corner of Sneyd Wharf as we were moored on an absent narrowboat's mooring. He is due back soon so we thought it best to leave it vacant. The boaters here are very friendly and have welcomed us, given us advice about the area and a gift of some distilled water.

They also told us that the canal was dredged recently so should be easier to navigate! Thanks everyone!

Can you spot us in this photo? - try clicking on it to magnify!

There is a small book swap here - in the sani-station toilet (!) so I have been able to donate more than I took! It is now on our "Book Exchange" list -  as are details of the hospital where I had my blood test, in our "Cruising with medical needs" section.

We took a walk to the local shops after moving. They are in Mossley, about half a mile up the hill. Buses also run to Wolverhampton and Bloxwich from here. There is a post office, chemist, greengrocer and small supermarket.

I also took the opportunity of a warm sunny day to take some photos of the remains of the beginning of the Wyrley Branch Canal. The map below shows the Wyrley and Essington and its old branches. The Lichfield and Hatherton Canals are both restoration projects.

Map of the Wyrley and Essington Canal

The Wyrley Branch Canal from Sneyd Junction Bridge

The blocked bottom Sneyd Lock

The map above suggests there were 5 of these locks, other sources I have read vary between 4 and 6! However, only remains of this bottom lock and the top lock can really be seen today.

Bottom Lock close-up

The wings of the lock tail have been preserved, all be they are a bit battered. The steps up to the lock side are still intact.

The lock is now culverted and filled in but at the top there are still remains of the brickwork of the jaws. Sadly the "ditch" of the remains of the canal is full of rubbish.

Jaws of lock

Rubbish ditch

The remains of the Wyrley Canal are then culverted under the road and disappear under Vernon Road the other side.

Road culvert

Looking down the canal from the road bridge

The Mercia Way follows the line of the canal and Captain Ahab has covered this in his fascinating Watery Tales. He walked the Wyrley Branch Canal and the Essington Canal which branches away to the west with yet another 5 locks.

Forest of Mercia Way sign

The Essington Canal was thus the highest canal on the BCN at  536 feet. It was built (1795) for Mr Vernon to reach his Pit in Essington. It closed in 1830 when the pit was played out. Captain Ahab has more information about this too.

Returning to today - beside the bottom lock is a pool. It is the home of two swans and made a lovely photo. Note the sad presence of the notice. It seems from other notices around that this area is or was a favourite for young oafish boys (spot the acronym?!) on motorbikes. The M6 rushes away behind the far trees.

Tranquil swan pool

So back to Sneyd Wharf - it is also home to West Midlands Canoe Centre and Arrowcraft Canoe Suppliers. This may explain this notice at the top of the road leading to the Wharf

BW welcome notice

This is the view of the workshops (once BW workshops) that now house these activities - can you spot us at the end?

Workshops at Sneyd Wharf

I was also amused to see the canoe theme very much in evidence - a good way of using leaky ones?

Planter canoe

And here we are - a "curly" mooring on the "Curley Wurley"!