Anglesey Basin

Here I am Rune

Distance 0 miles

Total 757 Locks 28 Tunnels

Running total mileage 1142.9 miles

We’ve stayed for the day at Anglesey Wharf and taken the opportunity to take a walk around Chasewater Reservoir, a distance of about 3 miles. There were a few information boards around the lake which made interesting reading. I thought that the reservoir would be principally to supply drinking water but according to the board its primary purpose was actually to supply the water for the Birmingham Canal Network as this is a sort of summit so the water from here goes all the way through Birmingham. In the photo of RUNE we are moored at the point where the water comes in from the reservoir, hope that it never comes in at a rush! The other surprise was that they were still mining coal here until 2000.

Tomorrow we’ll probably start to head down into Birmingham so will look to getting to either Northywood Bridge or Longwood Junction.

A type of water-skiing on the reservoir

RUNE moored in Anglesey Basin

Anglesey Basin

Here I am Rune

Distance 2.9miles

Total 757 Locks 28 Tunnels

Running total mileage 1142.9 miles

Well, as planned we got to Anglesey Wharf but the weather was something of a let-down. The forecast was for a period of sun during the day, well they got that wrong. Never saw a glimpse of the sun all day, it didn’t rain but it was about as dull as it is possible to get. Anglesey Wharf is OK however, we are not far from the M6 toll road but can hardly hear it at all in our bedroom so I don’t think it will keep us awake tonight. 

Probably for the first time on the canal I almost took a wrong turn at Ogley Junction. As I approached the junction for some reason I thought that we were due to go straight on but then saw a log and a load of orange cans blocking the way. It was only after I had slowed in preparation to deal with this ‘obstruction’ that I saw the fingerpost that directed us to the left to get to Anglesey Wharf, straight on would have taken me into a dead end that was the old Lichfield Canal that went through to the Coventry Canal at Huddlesford Junction. It’s a pity that it’s closed because that would have provided me a way around the Birmingham stoppages!

Just beyond Ogley Junction and immediately before Middleton Bridge we had an odd experience whereby the boat rose over something on the canal bed. I don’t know what it was but whatever it was, it wasn’t hard. Certainly made the boat rock and made quite a big wave across the canal, will need to look out for it on the way back down.

Since there seems to be one or two good walks around here we may well stay until Monday to take advantage of them. Monday being both pension day and 1^st December or the beginning of winter.

Brownhills (still)

Here I am Rune

Distance 0miles

Total 757 Locks 28 Tunnels

Running total mileage 1140 miles

Stayed for another couple of days at Brownhills but I think that tomorrow is the day for moving on, the aim for tomorrow will be Anglesey Wharf which basically takes us to the end of the Wyreley and Essington Canal (so that will be another canal we have completed). We’ll see what the mooring is like there, I’m hoping that it will be quite good but on the map it is a little close to the M6 motorway. If it is OK we’ll possibly stay until Monday but if it’s rubbish we can always come back here to Brownhill.

The weather whilst we have been here has been pretty dull and miserable but the forecast for tomorrow is for sun so hopefully a pleasant days cruising awaits us.

Brownhills (2)

Here I am Rune

Distance 0 miles

Total 757 Locks 28 Tunnels

Running total mileage 1140 miles

With a day of damp drizzly weather we decided against moving on and have remained here at Brownhills. I did initially get a slight shock when I went out this morning to explore the area. We are near to a newish Tescos supermarket but I thought I'd check out the nearby High Street. I made my way through a small mall called Ravenscourt which doesn't sell Brownhills very well at all, it looks very run down. All of the shops in it are closed and shuttered, I don't know what the story is about it but if it has been condemned it need demolishing. Once you are through the mall the actual High Street itself is fine but initially I was concerned what sort of area we had moored in.

May well stay here for tomorrow as well.

Brownhills

Here I am Rune

Distance 5.3miles

Total 757 Locks 28 Tunnels

Running total mileage 1140 miles

Woke up to the first proper frost of the winter, and very attractive it made our mooring appear too (photos). We even had our first ‘icebreaking’ session travelling from our mooring to Pelshall Junction itself. Admittedly the ice wasn’t very thick but we were still breaking it up as we progressed. It was strange how only a short section of canal had frozen, where we were moored didn’t freeze and around Pelshall junction itself hadn’t frozen, just a 100 metre section in between.

Once we had broken our way through the ice, we then went up the Cannock Extension Canal up to its terminus at Norton Canes, it is only 1.5 miles though. Turning the boat there was slightly challenging as it has to be done in the entrance to a boatyard and there is a bit of a shelf under the waterline directly opposite just waiting to break the rudder. We successfully managed it (although I wouldn’t like to do it in a strong wind because there isn’t a lot of space to work with. It was then back to the Wyrley and Essington Canal to take us to our moorings for tonight at Brownhill. This seems quite a good mooring, directly opposite a large Tesco’s and adjacent to all of the facilities (water, rubbish and elsan point) so it is possible that we may stay here for a day or two, particularly as there are no time limit boards up so it is allowed to stay here for up to 14 days.

The one other success of the day was to manage to contact a gas fitter to come out to repair our broken oven. He turned up in double quick time (before we had chance to have lunch after mooring) and had the job done in less than a couple of hours, which included checking our gas system for leaks. Well pleased with the result.

The view towards Pelshall Junction

 

 

 

 

 

The view towards Pelshall works bridge

 Interestingly although both of these pictures show open countyside, there were at one time ironworks around here (Yorks Foundy) but now it has all reverted to nature.

Pelsall Junction

Here I am Rune

Distance 4.8miles

Total 757 Locks 28 Tunnels

Running total mileage 1134.7 miles

Bit of a slow day for one reason or another. Firstly we have developed a problem with the oven on the boat so I started the day ringing around various places to see how I would be able to go about getting it repaired. Since it is a Calor gas system none of the gas fitters I rang was interested. A boatbuilder that I tried doesn’t do fitting out so couldn’t recommend anyone and a caravan place I tried that sells such ovens (for caravans) don’t do repairs and directed me to the main Calor depot in Birmingham from whom I am still awaiting a reply. The problem is that you are not supposed to touch gas equipment unless you have a Gas Safe Certificate therefore I can’t disconnect the oven to take it anywhere for repair and will have to rely on a fitter coming to me.

After spending half the morning trying to arrange a gas fitter it was therefore quite late before we set off for the day (about 12.30pm) so we didn’t really get very far, particularly since the canal is quite shallow which makes progress slower. The final nail in the coffin for the day was the fact that when I checked the noticeboard at Walsall Top Lock I spotted a canal closure that I wasn’t aware of and that one prevents us from getting to our Christmas mooring destination, so I’ve spent the latter part of the day trying to rejig our route. The one bonus is that tonight’s mooring is in a pleasant rural location rather than the semi industrial of Walsall.