Kelly's Capers: Underway again..ish

Our last few days in the marina were spent having the boat serviced and with me going off for the annual weekend with my old rugby mates, on my return we had a visit from our old friends Paul and Steph, from Leeds.
Monday morning arrived and we readied ourselves for departure, we were soon underway making our way west on the Trent and Mersey heading for one of our favourite mooring places at Alrewas.
The weather was gorgeous, a lovely sunny spring day, Lucia managed to do all the locks despite nursing a heavy cold, the first (cold) since we left Leeds almost two years ago.
We overnighted in Alrewas and restocked the medicine cabinet with cold remedies from the pharmacy there before setting off in more spring sunshine. We were headed for Streethay Wharf to get repairs done that were identified during the service, requiring a left turn onto the Coventry Canal at Fradley junction.
The repairs required the boat to be pulled from the water and very quickly we saw the first of the problems, this was a worn key that provides the drive from the propshaft to the propeller, on removal it was discovered that the key was severely worn, fortunately it was a brass key making this a sacrificial part whilst protecting the shaft and propeller. This was soon remedied and the engineers moved on to the next jobs, firstly the installation of a hatch giving access to the fuel tank as we had developed a bad case of diesel bug necessitating the tank to be cleaned thoroughly.
Diesel bug is an algae that grows between water and bio diesel, it is foul stuff, a thick black jelly that can cause severe damage to the engine if left to get out of control.
The second job was the replacement of the cup that supports the bottom of the tiller stock. Ours is a Liverpool boat and the tiller assembly is a poor design requiring significant work to dismantle it to carry out any necessary work.
The boat was out of the water overnight and we had the unusual experience of spending the night on the boat with out any of the usual movement experienced in the water.
The following morning work commenced and by lunchtime we were afloat again ready for departure.
We cruised the short distance along the Coventry canal to Whittington before setting the next morning in more fine weather heading for the Birmingham and Fazeley canal. We made the right turn at Fazeley junction managing not to knock the chimney off under the low bridge. We cruised to the bottom of Curdworth locks to the moorings we had stayed on in May last year. We took the opportunity to revisit the lovely Middleton Hall before walking across the fields past the training grounds of Aston Villa FC.

Drayton Footbridge, each tower contains a spiral staircase up to the bridge

The next morning, Saturday, we started to climb the eleven lock flight, and it was here that I noticed vibration on the tiller arm, further inspection showed that the two bolts that hold the tiller bearing had failed again. After much discussion with the boatyard it was agreed that the only option was to turn around and return to the boatyard, this required us to complete the lock flight before turning and descending again. We finally returned to the bottom of the flight and moored up ready for the long trip back to Streethay on Sunday.
By this time I had also succumbed to the dreaded lurgy, but a steady days cruise got us back ready for a lift out on Monday morning.
Much discussion ensued and it was agreed that the the whole tiller assembly would have to be removed for the rudder to be shortened and a new plate and bolts to be installed.
All work completed we returned to the water and got underway the following morning, unfortunately the fine weather had deserted us and we set off in cold and rainy weather. We retraced our steps to Curdworth locks, ascending the first three to moor outside the Dog and Doublet, visiting for a delicious tea consisting of an enormous Steak and Kidney pudding.
The following morning was drier whilst still cold and we made our way up the remaining 8 locks and up the 3 at Minworth before reaching Star City moorings for the night.
Our route took us close to the centre of Birmingham along the Satltey Cut, built to avoid the 25 lock climb into the centre, we had the 5 locks of the Garrison flight to negotiate along this stretch before reaching the junction at Bordesley where we joined the Grand Union.
Turning left we were straight into the 6 locks of the Camp Hill flight. This whole stretch is very industrial and on a couple of occasions I could here what I thought was the sound of heavy industry, only to find they were scrap recycling plants, very little seemed to be going on in the innumerable factory buildings around us.
Following the locks at we set off along the Grand Union in a bitterly cold wind and rain at first all seemed ok but as we reached the outskirts of the city the canal descended into a wooded cutting and became very shallow making steering difficult and progress very slow. We also had a rope and old fender wrapped around the prop requiring 30 minutes of cold hacking and carving to free it.
Finally arriving at Catherine De Barnes, the first advisable mooring from the city, we tied up and retired to the inside of the boat to dry out and warm up. The rain finally stopped and I took a stroll into the village, that had very little to offer.
Next morning the going was a little easier and it was dry so we made our way through the five large double locks at Knowle and down to Kingswood junction to cross over to the Stratford Canal.

Kingswood Junction

The first of nineteen at Lapworth

Here we turned right heading north back towards Birmingham, this required a climb up the top 19 locks of the Lapworth flight.
The scenery around here was sublime with rolling fields and some very impressive properties.
We made good progress and were joined by a lock keeper part way up, making for an easier passage.
Arriving at Hockley Heath we tied up for a couple of nights.
Vicky and Ian joined us on the Saturday, and we had a good lunch at the Wharf Tavern.
Sunday morning brought good weather and we made our way along another shallow stretch filled with logs and shrubs. We finally reached the old stop lock on the approach to Kings Norton junction where we turned right onto the Birmingham and Worcester canal heading for the city centre.

Brandwood tunnel on the North Stratford

The old stop lock near Kings Norton Junction with its Guillotine gates

The view from the impressive aqueduct at Edgbaston on the way into the city

We did this stretch last year so carried on past the impressive Cadbury factory soon arriving at Gas Street, mooring alongside the Arena.

Farmers Locks

We took a walk down the Farmers flight of locks dropping straight down from the Old Turn junction, we have not boated this flight so walked down to the bottom to explore on foot, it is an amazing place with 200 year old locks surrounded by modern office and apartment blocks.
We stayed in the city for three nights and on Tuesday we were visited by Indi and his wife Giann. I worked with Indi on contract in Wales some 15 years ago, so we had a great catch up, over a good lunch, in the Tap and Spile.

Indi and Giann

Later that day we met up with Tore and Kirsten whom we met last year and had a good evening comparing notes from last years travels.
Wednesday was a fine day if rather cold for the time of year so we cast off making our way along the new and old lines to Wolverhampton where we are now moored ready to descend the 21 locks down to the Worcestershire and Staffordshire canal where we turn right a the short distance to turn left onto Shropshire Union and our journey north.