Obstacles in our way?

Sunday, 08 November 2009 16:44

Not that they stopped us!

Today we left the Staffs and Worcs behind, but not without a couple of things worth a mention!

"Obstacle 1" - well it used to be

Brinsford Bridge (70) is particularly nasty as you approach from Coven and we both have been known to catch the stern as we emerge. Those bumps were on Twelfth Night and we have managed to escape on Epiphany!

However we were glad to leave it behind only to find "obstacle 2" - a fishing match - well it is Sunday after all.

Who would lift their pole, who would slide it to one side and who would shift it back. The sliders nearly decapitated a pair of cyclists! There were only two lifters!

"Obstacle 3" is the very narrow cutting crossed by Forsters Bridge (68) and ending at Marsh Lane Bridge (69), know as "The Narrows" to most boaters.

Looking back at Forsters Bridge

The canal after Marsh Lane Bridge opens out into a large housing estate. This is where they held the IWA National rally in 2008.

Looking back at Marsh Lane Bridge

"Obstacle 4" (or maybe it is just a "stop gap" - ha ha!) is Autherley Junction and the less than 6 inch Stop Lock there. Another instance (like the Worcester Bar in Birmingham) of the old canal companies not wanting to share). I was dropped off to prospect the junction and check that another boat was not wanting to come up.

Autherley Junction from the Staffs and Worcs Canal

The boat in front of us was just leaving the lock so I was able to open the paddles and fill it again - this takes all of five minutes! Once through the lock boats have to navigate past the hire boats 4 abreast from Napton Narrowboats which cause rather an obstacle to inexperienced boaters, particularly if there is a wind! So let us call that "Obstacle 6" - although our helmsman is well and truly experienced! (flatter, crawl, crawl)

Leaving the lock

Looking back to the Staffs and Worcs

Bathurst Bridge (2) is John's favourite bridge

I think it is the trees and colours, rather than the bridge - we have a number of photos!

After Bathurst Bridge - "Obstacle 7"

This was serious stuff. How much was all this equipment worth? Again, we took bets - lifters, shifters or sliders? Were they like herons - ahead of the boat so they could catch the fish that we were pushing ahead!

These guys were shifting a bit too

I suppose we could call them "Obstacle 8". We met them just after bridge 3A, before the Wolverhampton Boat Club.

"Obstacle 9" is very nasty and we often wonder it's purpose

It is after Pendeford Bridge (4) and must have caught many a boater as some of the iron work is mangled and scarred. We have come through this in a high wind and then it is best taken at speed with the most experienced helmsman on the tiller!

Our final "obstacle" of the day, making a neat 10, was a boat we met on the approach to Brewood (pronounced "brood"). The helmsman on this boat could not see over the top so had to peer out the side of his stern cover.

"Obstacle 10" - it had potential to be!

The trees clear briefly to give a good view of Brewood Church and then close in again over the cutting that we know as "muddy towpath moorings" at Brewood. However we chose our mooring carefully - just by a rare dry bit!

Staffs and Worcs Canal, Cross Green to Shropshire Union Canal, Brewood - 3 hours 2 minutes, 7.7 miles, 1 lock