Blowing up to Birmingham.

The early light rain hardly wet the ground and by the time we were ready for the off it was nice an bright but with quite a breeze blowing. The trip through the wood was almost idyllic as we passed through dappled shade, but once clear of Hopwas the open fields made the wind more apparent and there is still a bite to it.

Hopwas Wood Bridge.

This is just for my Mother in Law mas she really liked the previous cygnets.

We stopped at Fazeley by Peel Wharf as we needed milk and a couple of eggs. It wasn't really worth the walk to the supermarkets in the out of town park. It was fun watching the shuffling about for the services at Peel Wharf. After a cup of tea we moved off and stopped just round the corner and stopped to top up with water.

I'm not sure who painted the bird paintings but they do brighten up the junction. The Junction house is slowly being restored and is looking very nice at the moment. On the opposite side the flats that were left part built for ages seem to be complete now. There may even be curtains up at a couple of windows. It certainly seems to make the junction more alive.

We turned right and entered the Birmingham and Fazeley Canal. We haven't been this way since our hire boat days.

We have seen this boat around the suystem for the last couple of years and this must be it's home. Tolson's Mill has a big wool and craft shop so I assume that it is attached to that.

This mill just by the junction makes me think we are back in the north, on the Macclesfield or something. They were originally built in 1883 and were water powered for cotton spinning and printing calico.

Just round the corner from Fazeley Junction is Drayton Footbridge. It has recently been restored, but the swivel bridge is still to be done. It is a one off as a castellated footbridge.

It was a lovely run up the Curdworth Locks. The wind made it interesting but the sun was bright. The M42 and M6 Toll are close but largely in cuttings so don't intrude too much. We had every lock against us and every time there was a boat coming down we found the boat ahead had slowed enough for them to get the lock so we still had to turn them when we got there. I enjoyed the trip up though. I do like the Birmingham Canal Navigations single gate at each end. They have be a little heavier than two but saves much walking and so time.

The second lock from the bottom of eleven (ie Lock 10) showing the single gates. I have only just noticed the couple necking on the bench by the lock!

There are several cottages along the canal that have their BCN numbers still on them. The Birmingham and Fazeley actually merged with the BCN as early as 1794.

We got to the top of the flight and stopped as there was a nice spot with plenty of sun on the panels and seemed nice and quiet too. All in all a very nice day with a little warm up for the next 26 locks up to the summit in Birmingham.