Sign of the times. (1)

Whilst looking for bridge pictures for the blog I saw that I have lots of signposts on film. Continuing the theme of things as metaphors from my last blog then a sign post could be seen as appropriate for this time of year. The winter solstice just past, the end of the year the star at Bethlehem and the birth of Jesus could be thought of as sign posts of the years. And here are a few that we passed during this years cruise.

After leaving Dewsbury and passing through Wakefield and Castlefield we were on our way to the end of the Aire and Calder Canal at Goole when we passed Southfield Junction and the New Junction Canal which is a dead staright line connecting the Sheffield Navigations and the Stainforth and Keadby Canal. We were going to Keadby later to travel up the Trent.

We broke our journey up the Trent over a high water on the outer pontoons at Torksey. The weather was fantastic and we had a nice walk and a visit by a friend whilst we were there for a day'ish.

 We came through Nottingam and on the Beeston Cut before reentering the Trent and joining the Trent and Mersey Canal. Back on narrow waters we passed through Burton on Trent and Fazeley before heading into Birmingham on the Birmingham and Fazeley Canal. I love the contrast between the speeding  motorway above and the 'spaghetti junction' and the calm and slow paced Salford Junction below.

After Birmingham we headed out and through the Netherton Tunnel to join the Dudley No.2 Canal. We ventured down to Hawne Basin and back and moored up near Park Head Junction where the No2. canal joins with the Dusley No.1 Canal and the entrance to the Dudley Tunnel which is not accessible to powered vessels. This area of the system is in the heart of the West Midlands but is very green and free of housing, unless you just walk a little way. There are many great pubs and beers around too. 

The Stourbidge Canal is a marvel and if it was anywhere else in the country would have throngs of people gongoozling on the 16 Stourbidge Locks. We had a night at the head of the Stourbridge arm before heading down to the Stourton. The metal signs of the BCN give way to tones like this one at Stourton Junction.

I had the best part of a week in Kidderminster whilst Helen went home but then moved down the Staffordshire and Worcestershire Canal to Stourport to make our appointment with the River Severn. There are four/five basins on this once very busy port where the Severn trows mixed with the narrow boats. The basins are so busy that they need sign posts to make sure you find your way as not all locks down to the river works all the time.

We passed down the Severn and then cut up the Droitwich Barge Canal and had a couple of days in Drotwich learning more about the spa town before continuing down to Worcester. This is the sign post at Diglis Locks where you pen down from the canal into the river. The Diglis River Lock is not far from the canal lock and that is indicated on the big sign.

We had a great trip to Gloucester, via Tewkesbury, and down the canal to Sharpness. We then had the unforgettable trip down the Bristol Channel from Sharpness to Portishead and Bristol. We had a great stay in Bristol and loved every minute of it before moving up the tidal Avon to Hanham lock and the start of C&RT waters and the Kennet and Avon Canal. We will definitely be back to Bristol.

After a lovely trip up the Kennet and Avon we stopped at Bath and Devizes and other points to the east before Reading and entering the Thames and heading for Oxford. We only had a short stay licence so it was a bit of a dash but I think we will be back next year.

The rest of this years cruise via sign posts in the next blog.