Regents Canal Restoration

Since making my post about the Regents Canal, Kevin Too one of our blog readers, has pointed out there there is a BBC item concerning the work which, like Matthew's comments emphasises the rubbish dumping.

Try it - it's interesting.

Stourbridge

We don't often try selfies - here is our attempt from the lock side at Swindon - Staffordshire. Emily, our daughter, lived for some time at the Wiltshire town of the same name - well that's our excuse for the picture.

A selfie!

On Sunday October 5th we left Compton and made our way towards Stourton Junction and the start of the "Back of the Map" - the Stourbridge Canal. The weather was bright and really pleasant. 

Going down Bratch Locks

It was quiet on the canal and the volunteer lock keeper at the Bratch was very helpful. We only had to wait for one  boat to come up the flight.

As we approached Stourton, Janet & Mike Kinnings called us and suggested they help up first four locks on the Stourbridge Canal - the start of the BCN. We gratefully accepted and moored up in the countryside after a long day.

Regents Canal Maintenance

Our nephew Matthew, who lives near Limehouse, has sent us some images of the Regents Canal which has been drained for maintenance.

As Matthew puts it "More cones than the M1, more tyres than Kwik-fit, more trolleys than Tesco, a vacuum cleaner and a few office chairs".

Canals are still dumping spots for unwanted material - was it ever thus?

Bridgnorth

Our boating friends Janet & Mike Kinnings live close to Compton.  They came to Albert on Saturday morning (October 4^th), and along with Sandy the lurcher, we had day out in Bridgnorth. 

River Severn at Bridgnorth

It is a favourite day trip spot for the Kinnings. They thought we would enjoy it and that I would particularly like the cliff railway.  They were right.

Wonderful sign writing

The weather was fine and walking around the town on the banks of the Severn was a delight.

The two sections of the town, high and low, are connected by a series of paths and a cable driven funicular railway. The trip up the railway was a must. This piece of vintage engineering provides great views over the river and across low town.

Bridgenorth Cliff Railway

The town has many Telford related features including a church, St. Mary Magdalene, reminding me that Telford was initially an architect. The other, older and more historic church, St Leonards, is no longer used for worship but as a community centre. It was a collegiate church and the area around it is reminiscent of a cathedral close.  

Presumably Telford was at Bridgenorth for only a year?

Bridgnorth Castle Keep - civil war damage

After a good lunch and a long walk around the town we went back to Albert. Maggie and I ate at the Oldfellows Hall. It was very busy and we got the last available table. The food was good and service spot on.

Compton

On Friday October 3rd we only had two locks to operate, one at Gailey and one at our destination, Compton so we had a relatively easy day. Our plan was to meet up at the weekend with our friends the Kinnings who live near Wolverhampton.

Gailey Round House

We don’t often pass along the Penkridge to Autherley section of the Staffs & Worcester Canal and I had forgotten how rural and pleasant it is.

Hatherton Junction Calf Heath

Pendeford Narrows - no oncoming boats - luckily

Autherley Junction

We moored up for lunch just past Autherley Junction in sunshine. Our quiet lunch was somewhat interrupted by a scooter with a boy and girl on board (of course not wearing crash helmets) riding along the towpath at high speed. We have seen mini scooters on towpaths before but this scooter was dangerous, particularly since a school party on a “fun run” passed by some minutes earlier. I tried photographing the bikers – but to no avail.

Scooter on the towpath - no licence plate

We saw another kingfisher near Tettenhall and yet another at Compton as we moored up. The next boat, Pensax was running its Gardner engine. I had a very interesting chat to its owner, Don Grey, whose background in boating was long and varied. It included owning a Bollinder and converting a BCN working boat. His details on how to reverse a Bollinder were particularly fascinating. I also liked his story of going from Wigan to Leeds on the Leeds & Liverpool Canal over a weekend!

Although at lunchtime I had good internet coverage, again on Friday evening, I couldn’t make a post – hey ho.

Fig tree in allotments, Compton

The 48 hr moorings at Compton are very handy for local shops. In the evening we took the opportunity to stock up on groceries and had some fish & chips from the local chippie. The queue was long and their portions very generous.