April locks and bridge, 1.

After we returned to the boat following a spell back in Hull, City of Culture 2017, we had time to kill so from Hawne Basin we headed back to Park Head Junction and up the three locks there.

The Park Head Locks are not really a dead end but in reality they are for us as we are too big to fit through the Dudley Canal Tunnel, according to the gauges at each end that is. At the Park Head Junction where the Dudley Canals 1 and 2 meet they make a nice scene with the canal lock house at the bottom and the blue brick bridge framing the locks. In truth there is a cement factory right next to the Blowers Green lock behind the camera.

The view back down the locks is framed by the rail bridge, unused at the moment but may be brought back to life with a tram of metro link. There is plenty of moorings at the top of the locks in green open space because as well as the canal into the Tunnel there was the Pensett Canal that has a short distance still in water to tie up in as well as the Grazebrook Arm. The C&RT bloke we chatted to on the way down the following day was surprised we had moored up here as there was a big 'council estate' there!? There were plenty of dog walkers but our experience was of a nice quiet mooring in the sun and a great place to kill time.

We later threaded our way back to Birmingham to pick up our guests. Here is another 'when is a bridge not a bridge' puzzle, as this is the Stewart Aqueduct where the Old Main Line crosses over the New Main Line. Right by here is the Chance Glass Works that I must visit one day as it is an industrial museum with a fascinating history. The M5 elevated motorway overshadows the old waterway and even has a leg in the centre of the new line just the other side of the aqueduct.

After Birmingham we headed to Wolverhampton to pick up our visitors. They were straight into the 21 locks of the Wolverhampton flight but we had a great day for it, perfect for lock wheeling really. Helen is just passing under the railway bridge that leads to the engine repair works In the distance is lock 16 and the A449 from Stafford to Wolverhampton. The electrified line also heads to Stafford. This flight is always a pleasure to work as once again the locks are well used and narrow so easily worked. It is even nicer with two extra hands.

We were soon down on to the Staffordshire and Worcestershire Canal. Mind you we were soon of it again as we turned on to the Shropshire Union at Autherley Junction. The above stop lock mirrors many junction of different companies canal were they jealously guarded their water supplies. The difference in height was just inches but with a hire base just by it it can be a place of delay when new hirers are finding their feet.

 The Shropshire Union strides across the landscape on it's way to Ellesmere Port. There are big embankments followed by deep cuttings as it goes as directly as possible. Here, just south of Brewood is Avenue Bridge. Nearby is Chillington Hall. The new fangled canals were well received by some landowners as it cut an ugly scar in the lands. If you think of the scar that is made when they build a road you can understand why. However they were somewhat mollified by such things as swapping the side the tow path was on and building particularly beautiful bridge like this on to carry the Hall's carriage road over the offending route.

This is very frequently photographed feature on the the 'Shroppie'. It is another deep cutting not far north from Norbury Junction where the Shrewsbury and Newport canal branched off. There is a road on the top the brick second arch was added later to prevent the two sides slipping down together. The canal made, and still make, good routes for communications. In the past it was telegram and telephone lines and the pole can be seen sat on the spreader. These days it is fibre optic cable and electricity/gas under the tow path.

The first locks come at Tyrley and once again they are in a nice setting, with canal workers cottages and services. The middle locks are nice and open but the bottom ones are in a cutting through a sandstone bluff that makes the locks feel claustrophobic and the by washes make the approach difficult at times.

We passed through Market Drayton and Nantwich and left the boat at Venetian Marina for another visit home before continuing the journey later in the month through Middlewich and on to the Trent and Mersey.

We then came across 'Heartbreak Hill' where 26 locks appear in 7 miles and raise the canal up 250'. I must be a little weird as once again these locks are really a pleasure to work. On a nice day the walk is through nice countryside with much to see and the majority of the locks were duplicated in the 1830's and so there is not much hanging about either. After Wheelock, an interesting old place, the locks are frequent but once again as they are narrow ones they do not entail too much walking at the lock as you can cross the gates.

To be continued