Grand Union Canal (Birmingham Section) Maps are released

We've just released the next map in our Cruising Maps series. As with all the others, it is available in two formats - both for download. The Acrobat (pdf) format for viewing and printing as individual pages, and the Memory Map (qct) format for seamless mapping on your computer, Andorid, iPhone or PDA. The new release is > Grand Union Canal (Birmingham Section) – Cruising Map
No need to keep turning from one page to another in canal guide books to trace your way around the Cheshire Ring as the seamless Memory Map format is just what you have been waiting for. The first map on the right shows the area covered by the Cruising Maps (click to enlarge)
The second map on the right shows an extract from the Cruising Map (click to enlarge) If you are not how sure what these maps are like then take a look at our Free Droitwich Canals Map to see just how good these are. Next I'll be issuing the remaining parts of the Warwickshire Ring.

Posted on Monday, 30 January 2012 at 20:58        Comments (0) 
Category(s): Birmingham Section

Norton Junction

We’ve completed the filming of the Leicester Ring DVD. Here’s Susan, steering our boat towards London at the end of the Leicester Ring filming. It’s seemed like an obstacle course as we dodged the weather, refilled empty pounds, waited for broken lock gates to be mended and found long lines of boats turning up just when we wanted to manoeuvre the boat for filming. We’ve also shared locks with some very helpful boaters. We’re just past Calcutt Locks on the way back to Birmingham. We hope to reach Warwick tomorrow (Saturday) and tackle Hatton on Sunday morning - we can lend you a windlass if you’d like to help.

Posted on Friday, 23 July 2010 at 21:20        Comments (0) 
Category(s): Birmingham Section , Leicester Section , Southern Section

We had a swan for tea

Heading south this morning we reached Braunston Turn where we kept to the left towards Norton Junction. After winding in the marina entrance we filled up with water before heading slowly back north as we filmed. The forecasted sunshine didn’t come, but at least it remained dry for the whole day, if a little chilly in the shady sections.
We descended the paired locks at Hillmorton as we headed into Rugby. Moored near the shops we were able to top up our supplies easily. Tomorrow we will be heading to Hawkesbury Junction, and possibly a little further. While moored for tea we had a visitor who came surprisingly far inside the kitchen while Susan fed it with bread.

Posted on Tuesday, 15 June 2010 at 20:40        Comments (0) 
Category(s): Birmingham Section , Grand Union , Northern Oxford , Oxford

Warwickshire Ring DVDs released

Another great pair of canal DVDs are released from Waterway Routes covering the Warwickshire Ring, clockwise from Braunston Turn. A short, lock-free section takes us from Braunston Turn to Napton Junction where we turn right onto the Grand Union Canal. We descend through 23 broad locks to the lowest pound of our journey through Leamington Spa and Warwick before climbing through two more to reach the Saltisford Arm. Our climb continues with the mighty Hatton Flight and the Knowle Locks to reach the highest pound of our journey. We pass around the centre of Birmingham and along the Birmingham and Fazeley Canal to Fazeley Junction with the Coventry Canal which we follow all the way into Coventry.

The Oxford Canal, with the paired locks at Hillmorton, completes our circuit of the Warwickshire Ring. These are 1 hour DVDs retailing at £12.95 for the Popular version (rather like a television programme) and £7.95 for the Bowcam version (a speeded up forward facing camera for a little fun). There’s also a Combined version at £19.90, with both Popular and Bowcam in one box saving £1 on the separate prices (and at least 75p postage). They are in stock now, just waiting for you to order them, or any from our great range of canal DVDs.

Posted on Thursday, 3 June 2010 at 21:09        Comments (0) 
Category(s): Birmingham & Fazeley , Birmingham Section , Coventry , Grand Union , Northern Oxford , Oxford , Saltisford Arm , Warwickshire Ring

Warwickshire Ring DVD

Our Warwickshire Ring DVDs are ready and we’ll have them on sale at Crick. They are available in our usual Popular (£12.95), Bowcam (£7.95) and Combined (£19.90) formats. The DVD follows a cruise clockwise around the ring from Braunston Turn, including visits to the Saltisford Arm and to Coventry. They will be available mail order as soon as I get a quiet moment to add them to our website. In the meantime we look forward to meeting our customers and friends at the Crick Boat show over the Bank Holiday weekend. Come and see us in the Kingfisher Marquee, stand KF127.

Posted on Thursday, 27 May 2010 at 21:48        Comments (0) 
Category(s): Birmingham & Fazeley , Birmingham Section , Coventry , Festivals and Shows , Grand Union , Northern Oxford , Oxford , Saltisford Arm , Warwickshire Ring

Hatton again

Thursday was another Hatton day. This time to help Derek & Dot on Gypsy Rover and Derek & Carrie on Uccello climb the locks. Arriving at Warwick Parkway station at 09:20 it was just a few minutes walk to the waiting cup of coffee on Gypsy Rover. It was still raining, so we decided to wait and I spent the time updating Dot & Derek on where to go around the Birmingham Canal Navigations.	By 11:30 the rain had stopped and we were heading up the flight. Gypsy Rover leading the way most of the time, with Uccello close behind.
I think I’ve more photos of Dot steering other peoples boats than steering Gypsy Rover. A quick fill up with water at the top, then on to Hatton to moor close to the station. I was plied with sticky buns and carrot cake from the two boats, with plenty of coffee. I spent the following night on our own boat in Birmingham before more locks the following day.

Posted on Saturday, 6 February 2010 at 13:27        Comments (2) 
Category(s): Birmingham Section , Blog Readers , Bloggers , Blogging , Grand Union

Hatton with Harnser

When we met Brian and Diana on Harnser very briefly last night we established we were both planning to descend Hatton Locks today and, being broad locks, we could share the work.

First I delivered another batch of our DVDs to the Canal Shop with time for a quick chat with Neil, then we were off.  I walked through the separate footpath tunnel at Shrewley, to check it out for filming tomorrow and soon we were at the top of Hatton Locks.

Chatting happily together we were down the flight in 2 hours 25 minutes, and we would have been a little quicker if we hadn’t caught up slow moving boats near the bottom.  Having a 5th crew member makes a lot of difference with one able to go ahead and set the next lock each time.

At the bottom we went into the Saltisford Arm for a pump out and found this moorhen sitting on 5 eggs and happily watching us right alongside.  It even stood up so I could see the eggs.

We’re moored just outside the Saltisford Arm, which was already full with breasted up boats when we got there.  Tomorrow we will be heading back up Hatton the Hatton flight as we film for one of our DVDs.

Posted on Wednesday, 8 July 2009 at 20:50        Comments (0) 
Category(s): Birmingham Section , Saltisford Arm

Too much water

With severe weather warnings issued for heavy rain the prospects weren’t good for today.  Sure enough the rain was heavy all night and still heavy this morning.

The forecast is for heavy rain for 4 or 5 days (and probably more) so there was no prospect of continuing our filming by waiting a day or two.

So, on with the waterproofs and off we head back to Sherborne Wharf in the rain and we’ll have to come back again later to complete the filming.

Unlike my last visit to Hatton Locks when there was a shortage of water while the locks were drained for maintenance, there was a surplus this time.

Lots of water flowing over the bywashes which use the former single locks left when the wide locks were installed in a modernisation scheme.  Sometimes it just flowed in torrents over the gates as if it was winter rains we’d had.

We’re moored at Kingswood Junction ready to head up the Lapworth flight to reach our home mooring at Sherborne Wharf tomorrow or Monday.

Posted on Saturday, 6 June 2009 at 16:43        Comments (0) 
Category(s): Birmingham Section , Warwickshire Ring

Surprise Sunshine

With rain forecast for today we set off from Napton Junction intending to progress as far as we could until rain stopped play.

Much to our surprise it was great weather so we not only made it down all 23 broad locks, to the lowest pound of our journey, but up two locks at the other end.

There’s a 2 lock staircase at Bascote where the bottom lock was leaking so badly I wondered if the boats would get over the cill from the top lock.

Look at the water mark on the walls in the first photo and you’ll see it has gone down 6 inches (15 cm) in the time it has taken the boats to move half way from the top lock.

At Budbrooke Junction we turned very sharp left into the Saltisford Arm.  We’ve never been down there before so we weren’t sure what to expect.

It started with a large "Welcome" sign on the bridge, then an arm with boats moored along both sides and a handily placed winding hole.

We received the warmest welcome we’ve received anywhere from the Saltisford Canal Trust who occupy the Arm.  They have visitor moorings, a day hire boat, a canal shop an much more.

We winded and moored the boat, visited the supermarket and were all ready for tackling Hatton tomorrow if the weather permits – but the forecast is for heavy rain

We’re moored on the Saltisford Arm aiming for Hatton tomorrow, and possibly Knowle – or staying put if the weather is really awful.

Posted on Friday, 5 June 2009 at 21:48        Comments (0) 
Category(s): Birmingham Section , Grand Union , Saltisford Arm , Warwickshire Ring

Bloggers Surprise

We continued south today, climbing the three paired locks at Hillmorton.  The locks were numbered from 2 to 7 which surprised me at first, until I remembered the stop lock at Hawkesbury Junction which must be number 1.

Then onwards again to reach Braunston Turn where we meet the Grand Union Canal from London to join the combined stretch to Napton Junction.  Are we travelling South on the Oxford Canal or North on the Grand Union Canal?

There were lots of boats on the combined stretch and I was inside checking the maps to see how far we were going to get today when I glanced out of the front.

Passing us already was Derwent6, crewed by bloggers Del and Al. Not remembers their names on the spur of the moment I stuck my head quickly out of the front of the boat and shouted "Hello, fellow bloggers".  Del looked very surprised for a moment but quickly checked the name of our boat and greeted us too.

He grabbed his camera and took a shot of us disappearing in the distance.  I did likewise, and was able to retrieve one from our Bowcam showing them approaching.

I hope we get to exchange more than a few words next time we meet.

We’re moored at Napton Junction, hoping to get down most of the broad locks on the Grand Union tomorrow, then up Hatton on Saturday.  Any visitors to help with the broad locks will be most welcome to share the work.

Posted on Thursday, 4 June 2009 at 21:36        Comments (2) 
Category(s): Birmingham Section , Bloggers , Grand Union , Northern Oxford , Oxford , Warwickshire Ring