Into Our Unknown

Summer Cruise 2013 – Fri 14^th June
Day 10: Northwards to the Curly Wyrley!
               18 miles, 16 locks and 1 tunnel

Alarm set, porridge for the captain, flask made!

Ropes were cast off at 7am (an unprecedented early time for us) and we were soon heading northwards up the New Main Line. Depth of water meant we made good time.

Looking ahead along the dead straight New Main Line

Smethwick Junction – we go straight on

The 1825 cast iron 'gothic' aqueduct – built by Thomas Telford

The summit tunnel at Galton – now in concrete in the 70ft cutting

Derelict factories hem in the canal as we approach the M5

The M5 soars above Stewart Aqueduct which carries the Old Main Line

Our first turning was at Pudding Green Junction and to the 8 Ryder Green locks down.

This area of the Birmingham Canal Navigations are described as the 'back waters'. You can see why as they are less cared for than the mainline. A couple of the lock gates and the paddle gearing was coming to the end of it's working life.

Looking down Ryder Green Locks

 

Chris skippers the boat down the locks

We stopped at the bottom for a short walk to a new Asda to get supplies for the weekend before cruising the Walsall Canal northwards. This section was partly built up and partly quite rural.

Pylons follow the line of the canal

I stopped to clear the propeller of rubbish/weed caught around it!

Going under the M6 - the canal was quite shallow here and we slowed right down

Bridge graffiti

A derelict old warehouse

Modern housing as we approach Walsall locks

 

Chris brings the boat into the bottom lock – and yes, it is pouring with rain!

This part of the Walsall Locks have been improved with new buildings and renovations.

As we climbed up to Lock 3, we were stopped and found a Canal Trust man attempting to clear a brick off the bottom cill – using a long weed rake (keb). After many attempts it seemed to work and the bottom gate could tightly close – not before the water in the pounds above had drained away! It was unclear why this had happened!?

After a further wait to fill the pounds ups, we were on our way again.

New apartments

Renovated flour mill

 

Searching for the obstruction

 

Lack of water

We joined the (in)famous 'curly' Wyrley at Birchills Junction – the Wyrley and Essington Canal was built in 1792 by William Pitt, with the section we cruised opened 2 years later.

Mainly serving the extensive coal mining, though also quarries and foundries.

Moored at Pelsall Works Bridge – the last boat to arrive!

Looking from the bridge to the Festival Site

It had been a long day – 7am start; 10 hours of engine running with a couple of hold ups.

We had covered 18 miles and done 16 locks.
And we were tired!