Intrepid Voyagers!

Wednesday, 03 March 2010 14:47

Sadly, we left a lovely mooring

It was time to move on again as we are aiming to be in Birmingham for the weekend. John has a NABO meeting and I need some retail therapy!

With a cold breeze to contend with, we set off; however, we were not going very far.

Kixley Bridge

The M42 began to make its presence felt and eventually we passed under the motorway bridge. It was obviously being used as a "paint shop" as a "mooring" was reserved with boat hooks and paints!

Boat hooks and paints

Immediately after the M42 is Copt Heath Wharf, offering diesel, pump out and gas - if you can get to the wharf that is! You would need to breast up against the hire and day boats.

Copt Heath Wharf and the long term moorings after it

There is an  old BW "dumping ground" next. On it was a swing bridge, gently rusting away. There is a small wharf with an old BW notice telling the passing boater ....... nothing!

Swing bridge to nowhere and "dumb" barge

A long weir leads to Henwood Bridge

We were not far from our destination - the canal takes a long left hand bend to Catherine de Barnes (known by the Locals as "Catney"). We have been advised that this is the last "safe" mooring before entering the suburbs of Solihull. We decided to stop and tackle the long route into Birmingham tomorrow!

Moored at Catherine de Barnes Bridge

Our "intrepid voyage" was at an end! Catney's claim to fame is that the last known victim of smallpox died at the "fever hospital" in Henwood Lane in 1978.

So tomorrow we have the Camp Hill Locks, the Ashted flight and then the crème de la crème - the Farmers Bridge flight of locks. 25 locks in total - any willing volunteers?  

Grand Union Canal, Kixley Bridge, Knowle to Catherine de Barnes Bridge

1 hour 12 minutes, 2.35 miles, 0 locks