Droitwich Canals DVD

Waterway Routes are proud to announce the release of the Droitwich Canals DVD.  The latest in the series of waterways DVDs.

It runs for 30 minutes and follows the route of the canals from Hanbury Junction with the Worcester & Birmingham Canal to Hawford Junction with the River Severn.

It covers the Droitwich Junction Canal, the River Salwarpe (in Droitwich) and the Droitwich Barge Canal.

Showing progress with the restoration up to September 2008 it includes the opening ceremony for the Barge Lock on 26th September 2008.

It’s similar in style to the Cotswold Canals DVD which some of you may have already seen.

Regular readers might wonder why there was no previous hint about production of this DVD and there is a simple reason - I produced it by accident.

We filmed the Stourport Ring this summer and planned to include a short section on the Droitwich Canals, which will form an alternative part of that ring when they are restored in a few years time.  Later this could be replaced by a section showing the open canals.

I walked the canals two weeks ago, capturing lots of film and I did a rough edit when I got home to check I had enough material.  I had too much and, after returning last week to film the opening of the Barge Lock I had enough for a full half hour, stand alone DVD - so here we are.

The DVDs, booklets, maps etc are being copied as I write this and we will be dispatching the DVDs from Monday onwards.

Now I can get back to the Four Counties DVD which has been nearly finished for a little while.

Posted on Saturday, October 4, 2008 at 15:26
Comments (0) Category(s): Droitwich

Droitwich Barge Lock

The Droitwich Canals are under restoration and will provide a new route to cruise in the foreseeable future.

Today was the ceremonial opening of the Barge Lock which links the River Salwarpe to the Barge Canal.

After much hard work over recent weeks by the Waterway Recovery Group, British Waterways and many others the lock is ready for navigation.

The gates were bowed.  Not distorted but equipped with a large ceremonial bow and ribbon fastened along the gates.

After the speeches the dignitaries pushed the gates to open them on the count of three but nothing happened.

To hold the gates shut until the vital moment the organisers has let a couple of inches of water into the lock.  A quick wind of a paddle and the waters were levelled and the ceremonial opening happened as planned on the second count of three.  More info to follow in further blogs soon.

Posted on Friday, September 26, 2008 at 20:55
Comments (0) Category(s): Droitwich

Bloggers & Blog Readers

I was walking down Farmers Bridge locks on Monday afternoon, windlass in hand, and caught up with a familiar boat.  Don scores a hat trick as he appears in three consecutive blog postings.

He and Joy were escaping from Birmingham - Matt having returned to London, leaving them to the delights of Farmers Bridge Locks on their own.

I helped with a few gates and paddles as I passed on my way down the flight.

This story really begins back on 18th April when I helped Sue & Vic down the Rothersthorpe flight of locks.  I just appeared, windlass in hand, along the towpath.  In the comments Adam (from Narrowboat Debdale) asked if this service would extend to him when he was passing through Farmers Bridge Locks.

Well that’s a challenge to be addressed.  A careful watch was kept on Adam’s Blog and Sunday’s post indicated that he’d be climbing Farmers Bridge locks on Monday.

So, off I go to London, to cram in a morning’s work, then onto a train to Birmingham.  A quick dash to pick up a windlass from our boat - I’m sure Adam would have lent me one but it would have spoiled the effect to not have one in hand when I arrived.

Then off I go down Farmers Bridge helping Don & Joy a little on the way.  A few locks later I spotted a boat coming up with boater on the towpath.  “Are you Paul?” he asked, quicker than I could ask if he was Adam.

Adam quickly introduced me to Adrian and Adrian’s Mum and up we went, passing Don & Joy in one of the short pounds.

A chance to chat as we worked the locks, before mooring on the Main Line.

It’s almost 12 months since our boat appeared in the October 2007 issue of Canal Boat magazine and we were first spotted by Adam.

Now Adam writes the boat reviews for Canal Boat magazine and I offered him a turn on our boat to see just how quiet our electric power is.  A quick figure of eight around the the Icknield Port and Oozels Street Loops before Adam headed off back to Debdale and I headed off back to Bristol.

Posted on Wednesday, September 17, 2008 at 20:35
Comments (2) Category(s): BCN , Blog Readers , Bloggers

We caught them up

When we returned to Birmingham yesterday we spotted the blog readers we had passed the day before.  They weren’t going to get away without a proper photograph a second time.

Now we’ve formally said hello and used the camera to welcome Don, Joy and Matt - enjoying another canal holiday in England.

They follow other blogs, including fellow New Zealander’s Dot & Derek on Gypsy Rover and, I suspect, Sue and Vic on No Problem.

Posted on Sunday, September 14, 2008 at 15:08
Comments (0) Category(s): Blog Readers

Blog Readers from New Zealand

Heading south on the Stratford on Avon Canal we saw this boat coming towards us.

First the steerer seemed to be taking a particular interest in us, then he disappeared.  The boat coming towards us appeared to have nobody at the helm.

I think he’d just bent down to shout something to those inside the boat - but what could it be?  Was it connected to the interest he was taking in us?

Then the steerer re-appeared and seemed to be listening for something.  He was listening for the sound of our engine.

Someone had done well to recognised us well in advance and remember we had an electric motor with silent running.

As we passed there was just time for him to say they were blog readers from New Zealand and for me to ask them to leave a comment so I knew who we had missed.  So who are the mystery boaters - please leave me a comment.

I was so surprised that I didn’t get my camera out until they were well passed us - it’s a good job we had the Bowcam running so I could extract these stills.

Posted on Friday, September 12, 2008 at 21:53
Comments (1) Category(s): Stratford on Avon

Meeting Mail Order Customers Face to Face

It’s not very often we get to meet our mail order customers face to face.  Today was an exception when I met Jane and Raymond Cross. (I do hope I remembered their names right).

Our son, Andrew, was steering as we headed north on the Stratford on Avon Canal and I was at the front investigating a problem with the Bowcam.

Then I spotted the crew of a southbound boat waving at us as they approached.  They had recognised us from our Llangollen Canal DVD which they had purchased earlier this year.

We were just about to moor up so I could go back on my bike to capture a few more shots for our latest filming.  I caught up with them at the next lift bridge for a short chat.  Notice Jane doing all the hard work with Raymond supervising.

I also saw them at the next lock as I cycled back to our boat.  Jane’s feedback that she liked how our DVD explained about needing to walk ahead with radios on the narrow sections of the Llangollen Canal was much appreciated.

Their home moorings are on the Middle Levels so they have quite a journey just to reach the main canal system. I hope they make it safely back there.

Posted on Tuesday, September 9, 2008 at 21:33
Comments (2) Category(s): Stratford on Avon

Susan makes it home

Susan made it back to her flat this afternoon.  She’s still very weak and Christine is looking after her with an occasional evening visit from me.

She goes back to the hospital for a check-up next Monday and it will be some time before she is well enough to return to work.

Posted on Monday, September 8, 2008 at 21:31
Comments (0) Category(s): Recent

Back Home

Our boat is back home at Sherborne Wharf, and has been for a few days, but I’ve been a little to busy to blog.  Our cruise around the Birmingham Mini-Ring was completed slowly as we hopped from station to station so we could take it in turns to visit our daughter, Susan, in hospital.

Susan has improved greatly over the last few days and is expected to come out of Hospital tomorrow, although it will be a week or two before she has enough strength for work.

Posted on Tuesday, September 2, 2008 at 22:14
Comments (0) Category(s): BCN , Birmingham Mini Ring

Bollards reach Farmers Bridge

We set off for a short cruise today, hopping between places with transport links to visit our daughter, Susan, in hospital.

We’re only about 3 miles from where we started, but that includes the 13 locks of the Farmers Bridge locks where new bollards were being installed.

They were all being set into the lock side with great care.  I wondered if one was being set up as an art exhibition with the spade and pile of bricks.

At least they weren’t wasting money placing new ones where there were serviceable old ones already there.

As we went down in the lock I wondered how you were supposed to pay out the rope if you had passed it round one of the new square bollards, as you could with the old round ones.  Perhaps the new ones will be just as round in 100 years time.

We’re moored on the visitor moorings at Aston Science Park tonight.

We will be heading towards Knowle tomorrow, although I need to study the timetables to see whether it will be better to stop before or after there.

Posted on Tuesday, August 26, 2008 at 21:20
Comments (0) Category(s): BCN , Birmingham & Fazeley

IWA Festival 2008 - Autherley Junction

August Bank Holiday means it’s the Inland Waterways Association (IWA) festival.  It’s held at a different location every year and this year it’s at Autherley Junction where the Shropshire Union Canal and the Staffs & Worcester Canal meet near Wolverhampton.

We had planned to visit on Saturday morning but our plans became a little complicated and Christine visited on Saturday morning and I visited on Sunday morning.  It was a very quiet start to Sunday morning but it was just starting to fill up as I left at lunchtime.

There were all sorts of stands, typical of these festivals.  Some sheltered in the marquees and others braving the weather with their stalls outside.  Plenty of boats to go aboard, if you don’t mind queuing.  There was, of course, plenty of the traditional mud to wade through.  There were plenty of volunteers putting down cartloads of bark chippings but they were soon trodden into the mud.

Then it was back by bus and train to our boat, still moored in Birmingham.

We’d planned to cruise the Avon Ring this week but unfortunately our daughter, Susan, is in Hospital.  First in City Hospital, and now in Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham, fortunately both within reach from our home moorings so we’re living on the boat.  We’re still not certain what the problem is but it seems to be a rare infection which has stopped her kidneys working and she has needed dialysis.

There are small signs of improvement now and we might manage a short cruise later in the week, hopping between railway stations or bus stops so we can still see her during visiting hours.  With our son Andrew, and girlfriend Megan aboard we can share the visiting.

Posted on Monday, August 25, 2008 at 09:12
Comments (0) Category(s): Festivals and Shows

Netherton Tunnel 150

Netherton Tunnel was opened 150 years ago today.

It was opened to relieve the bottleneck of Dudley Tunnel which is a long, narrow tunnel which boats had to be legged through.

Netherton Tunnel must have been a wonderful improvement.  It’s not just a wide tunnel, allowing boats to pass in the tunnel, but has towpaths on both sides of the tunnel.  

In today’s re-enactment of the opening ceremony a convoy of boats travelled southwards through the tunnel.  One of the dignitaries on the leading boat had the honour of cutting the tape at the tunnel mouth - which I managed to catch on video, but not with a still picture.

Then the convoy of boats continued to emerge from the tunnel.  One of them was towing a butty which was detached at the tunnel mouth and Prince, the horse which had been patiently waiting for its moment of fame. pulled it to the junction.

One of the boats was a battery powered boat from Dudley Tunnel, enjoying a moment of freedom.

The bridge at Windmill End Junction provided an ideal vantage point for the opening ceremony where the leaders of the councils from each end of the tunnel shook hands to mark their new through route.

The West Midlands Fire Service band provided the fanfares and colour on the bridge.

Posted on Wednesday, August 20, 2008 at 22:39
Comments (0) Category(s): BCN

Visitor on board

Paul’s Mum (Muriel Balmer) is visiting for a few days.

Despite being a live-aboard earlier in life this is her first visit the Birmingham Canal Navigations.

A gentle cruise yesterday took us around the loops of the old main line, then along the new main line to moor near Albion Junction.

This morning we visited Caggy’s boatyard to make a booking for blacking the bottom.

The back via Tipton Locks, the Old Main Line and Smethwick Locks.

A quick refresher and Paul’s Mum was soon back into the swing of things, and keen to work the locks.

And, of course, a chance to relax and read the leaflets about all the nice things around the BCN.  There are some great stretches and it is not as bad as some people make out.

Posted on Friday, August 15, 2008 at 16:53
Comments (0) Category(s): BCN

Waterway Routes appears on ITV News (just)

While cruising through central Birmingham today I was watching several film crews on the bank taking shots of passing boats.  I was always keen to observe their techniques and see if I could learn anything new.

One cameraman was lying down with the camera resting on the towpath edging stones and I wondered what he was doing.

Later I discovered they were filming for ITV news so a quick search of the Internet and Christine found this (which appears to have been taken by a cameraman lying down !).  You can watch the whole clip (which starts with adverts) and I appear about 3/4 of the way through - but don’t blink or you’ll miss me.

Posted on Thursday, July 24, 2008 at 22:37
Comments (0) Category(s): BCN , News

Delph, then Home

First past the Tenth Lock Pub, then up the eight Delph Locks.  Their used to be nine locks but they were rebuilt and now only eight.  Many visitors wonder where the ninth lock is.

Here’s Andrew and Megan a few locks up the flight.

We were luck to find two boats working down the flight so the locks were in our favour all the way up the flight.

The arm which used to serve the old locks still exists near the top, with the bridge to carry the new towpath and the photo opportunity.

The through Netherton Tunnel (150 years old this year with celebrations next month).

Now we’re back at our home moorings at Sherborne Wharf.  Time to pack up and head home to start the editing of the DVDs.

Posted on Sunday, July 20, 2008 at 21:18
Comments (0) Category(s): Dudley No 1

Stourbridge 16

We retraced our journey a little this morning to do more filming in the sunshine.  Then it was time to ascend the Stourbridge 16.

The first lock was easy but then the next pound was low in water and we got stuck part way.

It was time to let water down from the pound above giving the unusual shot of the top paddles fully open with the bottom gates both open.  Christine and Megan held the bottom gates open so they didn’t slam shut in the face of the boat.

Then Andrew powered the boat along the bottom into the lock while I took the photo.  Megan shut the top paddles as soon as the boat was far enough in to hold the gates open, before we filled the bows with water.

The rest of the journey was uneventful except for giving Hayley and Nicole a ride while the Mum watched from the bank and minded the pushchair.

Moored at Leys Junction, heading for Sherborne Wharf tomorrow.

Posted on Saturday, July 19, 2008 at 18:28
Comments (0) Category(s): Stourbridge , Stourport Ring

Kinver

Before we set off this morning I climbed the hill to Kinver Church to take some photos.

That was one of the reasons for returning here and it was too showery yesterday.

It was well worth the short climb to look out form the hill and look down on the village below.

I was disappointed wit the centre of the village.  Although a conversation area the effect was spoiled by the constant flow of traffic.

It was almost impossible to take a shot without several road vehicles in it.

Now we’ve winded and reached Stourbridge.  I’m just about to head off to the station to meet Andrew and Megan the additional crew for the Stourbridge 16 tomorrow.

Hopefully we can also catch some of the shots approaching Stourbridge we missed in the rain today.

Posted on Friday, July 18, 2008 at 20:04
Comments (0) Category(s): Staffs & Worcester , Stourbridge , Stourport Ring

Ten Little Ones

Most families of ducks have grown so much now that you have to look very carefully to work out which are the parents.

The little ones have grown as much as the parents and have almost all their adult feathers in place.

I presume this was a second brood when the mother was keeping these ten youngsters very close by.

We’re moored at Kinver tonight, heading back to Stourton Junction and Stourbridge tomorrow.

Posted on Thursday, July 17, 2008 at 17:28
Comments (0) Category(s): Staffs & Worcester , Stourport Ring , Worcester & Birmingham

Wolverhampton 21 and beyond

We descended the Wolverhampton 21 and now moored above Bratch after a long day with a late finish.

At Aldersley Junction we wondered what was going on at the lock but soon discovered it was a school party on an educational visit.

So I hope some of the pupils from St Albans Wednesfield recognise themselves and would like to leave (polite) comments to say how much the appreciated they hard work from the leaders.

Posted on Wednesday, July 16, 2008 at 22:22
Comments (0) Category(s): BCN

Dudley Tunnel

We cruised to the northern portal of Dudley Tunnel today and, as previously arranged with June, we were treated to complimentary tunnel trips as we filmed their activities.

The lady at the reception desk knew we were coming and “Hello - you must be Paul the photographer” was the immediate welcome.  I think the camera on a tripod gave the game away.

Their staff were all very friendly and helpful and they appear on the rouges gallery.  Chris was our excellent tour guide, but I’m sure the others are just as good.

We met June afterwards to express our thanks.  The film we took will appear the the BCN DVD which we are about to start editing.

I can thoroughly recommend the Dudley Canal Trust’s boat trips - please support them.

Tonight we’re moored at the Northern Tunnel Portal - tomorrow down the Wolverhampton 21 and left at Aldersley Junction along the Staffs & Worcester Canal.

Posted on Tuesday, July 15, 2008 at 18:42
Comments (0) Category(s): BCN

Mink at King’s Norton Junction

Returning through King’s Norton Junction today after the traffic jam there yesterday.

There were no boats in sight but on the right, just after the junction bridge were these three black animals.

They were quite openly playing on the bank and weren’t the least bit bothered when I quickly engaged reverse gear and stopped in front of them to grab a camera.

I managed two still photos and, hopefully, enough video footage to include in the Stourport Ring DVD we’re filming for.

I had to Google to check what they were.  It seems they are black mink - perhaps someone can leave a comment to confirm that - or suggest otherwise.

Now we’re moored back at Sherborne Wharf, heading for Dudley Tunnel tomorrow.

Posted on Monday, July 14, 2008 at 17:10
Comments (2) Category(s): Stourport Ring , Worcester & Birmingham

Traffic Jam at King’s Norton Junction

Sunshine was forecast for today so off we went towards Tardebigge to do some filming for the Stourport Ring.

We’d been this way a few weeks ago but missed out on the filming as we were rushing to get our gas problem (and a few others) sorted.

At King’s Norton Junction we saw two boats through the bridge and wondered what was happening.

Careful observation revealed it was a motor and butty turning left onto the Stratford Canal.  The turn is very sharp, immediately after the bridge, and the far corner is very shallow.  I guess the motor didn’t make it and was pushed further onto the shallows by the butty.  They must have been there for some time as we’d not seen them ahead of us, even on the longer straight stretches.

Later I spotted this very tidy Anglo Welsh kit.

Moored tonight at the top of Tardebigge and heading back to Birmingham tomorrow.

Posted on Sunday, July 13, 2008 at 21:33
Comments (2) Category(s): Worcester & Birmingham

Titford Boat Gathering

Rain forecast again but it was time for a trip out by train this morning to visit the boat gathering at Titford.

The BCN Society has its headquarters in the pump house at Titford and they were having a boat gathering.  Just time to take a few photos between the showers.

Note that it’s the men that are working hard cleaning the brass and washing the roof !

It’s pretty rare to see a boat at the top of Tat Bank but today there were lots.  I didn’t count but probably over 40 and that’s more than in a whole year, normally.

Walking along the towpath the unmistakable pink Thursday’s Child was there, from Narrowboat World fame (see In the Pink).

Then back for a quick sandwich before chasing a Sherborne Wharf trip boat with my bicycle to grab some shots for another project.

Posted on Saturday, July 12, 2008 at 20:30
Comments (0) Category(s): BCN

Saul Festival 2008

Last year’s Saul Festival was the victim of the floods and had to be completely cancelled just a few days before as the site was under water.

Everybody was hoping for better things this time.  It’s the major fund raising event of the year for the Cotswold Canals Trust and they were hoping to make up for last year’s disaster.

The weather forecast for this year was a little better but with strong winds and rain still forecast.  Just look at the person on the right checking the sky to see what’s coming.

We’ve only been once before, and that was two years ago when we filmed the event to include in the Cotswold Canals DVD.

We were there a few minutes after it opened at 10:00 this morning to beat the forecast rain.  I was disappointed to see that many of the traders did not open their stands until later in the morning.

It was a slow start and much smaller crowds than we remember from last time.  I hope their attendance improved during the day or their takings will be down on previous years.

I often have to wait for people to move out of the way so I can photograph something but this time I was trying to catch lots of people in the shots to make it look busy.  Unfortunately I couldn’t.

There seemed less stands than last time and with less people I’m worried their takings will be down and they need all the success they can after BW pulled out of the Cotswold Canals Restoration earlier this year.

Posted on Saturday, July 5, 2008 at 22:07
Comments (0) Category(s): Cotswold Canals , Stroudwater

Taylors of Fenny

Our boat was built by Ian Taylor at Fenny Marina and we started our maiden voyage to Oxford on Good Friday 2007.

Ian did most of the work himself, with help from Ron and Barry.

The good news is that from tomorrow, 1st July, Ian takes over the business at Fenny Compton and will be trading as Taylors of Fenny bringing over 25 years experience to the business.

Ian will be offering a comprehensive range of services for narrowboats including, electrical service and repairs, gas service and repairs, plumbing, repainting, engine servicing, heater servicing and much, much more.

He can also supply Epifanes paints and varnishes, Vetus marine diesels and equipment, Webasto diesel heating and Kuranda marine equipment.

I’m sure he will be very successful.

Posted on Monday, June 30, 2008 at 21:54
Comments (0) Category(s): Build our Boat , Southern Oxford

Dragon Boat Racing

We returned safely to our home mooring at Sherborne Wharf by early afternoon.

Then we set off with cameras at the ready for the heart of the BCN - the short section of canal between Old Turn Junction and Gas Street Basin.

This is where the Dragon Boat racing was taking place.

It wouldn’t have taken much effort for a stranger to have found the racing, simply by following the sounds of cheering and shouting from the course where everyone seemed to be having lots of fun.

There was a BW marshal at each end of the course who simply stopped the passage of narrowboats for the two minutes or so each race took.

Boaters would hardly notice the delay and many wondered wondered why they had such a welcome to Birmingham.  All good publicity for the canals with an event like this.

Posted on Sunday, June 29, 2008 at 16:40
Comments (0) Category(s): BCN