BCN or Birmingham and Fazeley?

Saturday, 11 September 2010 17:09

It depends whether you are a "working boat" or not!

The boatmen from the working boats called Fazeley Junction the end (or beginning) of the BCN, so as I like this idea as far as we are concerned, we have been on the BCN since yesterday afternoon.

I agree with some that most of our journey today was not characteristic of the BCN, but as we spent so long in Birmingham in the winter we feel as if we are almost on "home territory"! It was a very interesting cruise, much quieter than yesterday, as we saw only one narrowboat on the move all day.

Fi working hard at Curdworth Bottom Lock 11

The Curdworth Locks are certainly not typical of the BCN - they are beautifully kept with flowerbeds, mown grass and are all in excellent working order. Kingsbury swivel bridge above Lock 11 is left open and is arrayed with flowers, as is the bywash bridge at Lock 9.

Looking back at Curdworth Bottom Lock and swivel bridge

Looking back at Lock 9

Aston Villa FC makes a brief appearance over the fields in this very rural stretch which finishes at Minworth.

Aston Villa FC

I am not sure what this is at Lock 9 - a working boatman's "convenience" with a fire and a mini boiler house. Does anyone know?

Mystery building

Along the flight of 11 locks are a number of places with bollards or rings for mooring. As we are counting this canal as part of the BCN we will add these and others we see to our BCN Moorings Guide - clickety click (just give me a little time to do it!).

John on a lock beam for those who are "vertically challenged"!

Petroc was following us, having left Fazeley Junction just as we began our cruise, so John was opening one bottom paddle at most of the locks so they were ready for them. The M42 was not very far away and appears beside Locks 4 and 3. Lock 4 continued the attractive theme with a lock cottage and outbuilding. I cannot leave the Curdworth Flight without a final look at the flowers - all the lock number posts had mini flowerbeds of their own.

Lock 2 Top Lock 1

The top lock is a "new " lock, as the M6 Toll required the site of the old one and its cottages! The road now passes over a bridge below the Top Lock; as usual it is much quieter than the M6!

So onto Minworth, via the 57 yards (52 metres) Curdworth Tunnel. It might be short but the partially submerged towpath made it difficult to navigate!

Curdworth Tunnel

I found the next bit of our cruise interesting, so I am stopping here and will continue as the Birmingham and Fazeley becomes more BCN-like!