Curdworth

The Birmingham Canal Navigations left me with a parting gift yesterday.  Approaching Cuckoo Wharf, just half a mile from Salford Junction and the end of the BCN the engine stopped dead.

A second or two of silence, then the beep beep noise from the ignition.  Time to steer for the bank I thought, and find out what’s happened.  Then I found the rudder wouldn’t move and I was coasting towards Cuckoo Wharf.  Fortunately I managed to leap ashore and stop the boat with the centre rope before meeting the moored boats.

It was a carpet; neatly fitted all around the propeller and the rudder. Much cursing and heaving and it was hauled through the weed hatch.  I remembered the BCN as I headed out towards Curdworth.

Three locks at Minworth last night, then the Curdworth flight today.  I was following another boat so all the locks were against me, except when I passed another boat and they left the gates open as they left.

Lock 10 was a bonus as two British Waterways staff were working adjacent to the lock and opened the top gate as I approached then, on realising I was single handed, told me to stay on board and they worked the lock for me.

There were flower beds at every lock along the flight.  Simple, but effective and it brightened things up, including Kingsbury Swivel Bridge.

Moored at Atherstone, heading south.

Posted on Tuesday, September 11, 2007 at 20:54
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