Albion Junction via Drained Pounds

Today's Canals - Birmingham and Fazeley, Tame Valley, Walsall, Wednesbury Old and Birmingham Main Line

The day began bright and sunny and we made a prompt start with the short distance back to Salford Junction. (Our mooring was on the opposite side of this ;picture, just behind the long term moored boat) Just before the junction we crossed the River Tame which was flowing quite fast.

The section we took yesterday from here is about 50m away from where we joined so Andrew reversed back just so that we could say that we had completed the loop!

The signpost has had its distances altered - perhaps CaRT's tape measure has stretched. In any event it is now not so far to Perry Bar as it once was!

We now turned northwards onto the Tame Valley Canal with the first part under the mesh of motorway and other roads, all on elevated sections above us. A footbridge and railway were thrown in for good measure.

At times it felt as if we were in the middle of a giant roller coaster.

Before long we were at the bottom of the Perry Barr flight of locks. The first two are somewhat separate from the main flight.

An unusual feature of these locks is that they have ladders either side just below the bottom gates. They appear to be original and many of the rungs are badly corroded - in one case at least so badly that all the rungs have been removed. However, most have had the missing steps replaced.

Under the first of two M6 crossings, repair work had been carried out and a temporary walkway installed. This was being dismantled but was pulled to one side to make sure that we could pass by with just enough room to spare.

At this point we noticed that recent work has been done to improve the towpath especially for cyclists. At least the specification here leaves enough of a strip for boats to hammer in mooring pins - too many other places have the hard surface right to the edge.

Just before the fourth lock, Andrew signalled to Mike who was steering to slow down as he had to pull out a floating sheet that would otherwise had prevented the boat from entering the lock.

At times, if you ignored what was behind you, the view of the next lock could almost have been in deepest rural Shropshire.

The last locks are close together and give quite splendid view from below.

Things were going well until we reached the sixth lock from the top where Andrew came back to report that all but one of the remaining pounds were completely drained. He had seen two CaRT staff who were going to report to Customer Services but suggested that we should also do so. Mike rang and then received a call back a couple of minutes later to say that staff were now on site to begin filling up the flight. The person who came down to talk to us was very friendly - he was not entirely sure what had been happening but it seems that the towpath contractors have not always been especially helpful. Between us we came to the conclusion that they had emptied the pounds for reasons far from clear and had done so earlier that morning.

Gradually enough water was let down to provide sufficient depth for us to poke our nose tentatively out of the lock to see if we could clear the top cill. Yes we could and then we continued happily to the top of the flight. Overall it had added just over an hour to our journey time.

A deep cutting followed and the banks were beginning to turn blue.

Well away from the locks we eventually caught up with the crew who are making the new towpath.

This is what the towpath looks like before the improvements.

We continued long the very straight sections until we reached Rushall Junction where the line up to Brownhills and Anglesey Basin at Chasewater joins in.

Shortly afterwards we crossed a motorway on a narrow aqueduct. Narrow enough for Mike to hop off, walk ahead, take photos and hop back on again before the boat had reached the end!

Up to now we were enjoying bright and warm sunshine but as we neared the end of the Tame Valley Canal at Doebank Junction, grey clouds gradually took over and by the time we moored at the service block at the junction light rain was beginning to fall.

Close to the service block the Ocker Hill Tunnel Branch joins in. This was originally a feeder for one of the first bumping schemes that took water back up a level to keep the higher pounds filled up. It finished work in 1948 having opened in 1784. The remaining short section is home to a number of residential boats.

However, as we set off once more, the light rain was replaced by much heavier stuff and at times it was less than pleasant.

Just before the Ryders Green flight, Christine set off to visit Asda - we had already made several unsuccessful attempts to locate a newspaper and she wanted just a few more larder items as well.

Mike and Andrew began the ascent but progress was again brought to an abrupt halt with the discovery that the pound above the second lock was completely empty. This was strange as a boat had come from this direction whilst we were moored at the junction. Further puzzle came with a passing cyclist who reported that it had been like this at six o'clock this morning. However, we found that both top and bottom gates were not making a good seal - perhaps because rubbish was blocking the cills. In any event, we ran the water down ourselves this time (probably too late for a service team!)

By now we were getting thoroughly soaked but just as Christine returned we were able to move the boat out of lock 2 and into the faulty pound. Gingerly we motored through.

Two locks to go and we discovered a very large log wedged underneath the bow of the boat. It took some effort to persuade it to let go!

By the time we were ready to exit the top lock our minds were very much fixed on mooring for the night - our plan was to stay overnight at Albion Junction just twenty minutes away. But the day was still not ready to let go. As we engaged forward gear to leave the lock, the engine came to a halt and it was clear that we had picked up quite a substantial amount of rubbish around the prop. Down the weed hatch and out came a child's fleece jacket, some netting, assorted string, plastic and weed!

As we completed this task, the rain cleared and the last few minutes of our day were back in bright sunshine once more. We turned onto the main line - this heron was enjoying the sunshine too.

12.1 Miles - 20 Locks