Leaving Brum !!

 

We are now on our way out of Birmingham and are making our way towards Fazeley. We have been told by several other boaters that if you are going this way you need to go all the way to Curdworth before you stop as its not safe with some referring to it as Bandit country. The journey will involve dropping down 27 locks with an estimated time of 7 1/2 hours. We left our mooring at 06.55 and filled up with water at the services above Farmers Bridge locks.

As we start our decent down the 13 lock flight we soon start to go under the buildings which are built over the canal and locks.

Carolyn's not very happy coming through this part as there are lots of people sleeping rough below the buildings.

Nearly at the bottom of the flight and Carolyn now has Guard dog Hamish to protect her as we pass under the railway..

The next fight of locks is the Aston flight of 11 locks. The Graffiti is everywhere. If there's a flat surface that the Scroates can reach they will spray it. At least they didn't paint over this bridge name.. I worked in Dartmouth , Devon for 23 years .                                                                               

Dropping down the Aston flight with the old gas holders in the distance.

One of the few boats we passed coming in the other direction. A bit like us ,but also known as Water Gypsies.

As we travel out of Birmingham we can see what was meant when they called it Bandit country. Even some of the houses have Razor wire around their garden walls to protect them .

I have never been up and down the weed hatch so many times. This lot completely stopped us from moving. Its the most I have ever removed in one go from the prop.

We passed this KFC on route and with it being lunchtime Carolyn ran in and picked up a few pieces of Chicken .It had to be the smallest pieces of Chicken we have ever had being half the size of what you normally get. I just wondered if they have bred a new form of Midget Chicken.

Good job this never got around the prop. Its the first time we have ever seen a fridge floating down the canal.

Eventually after 7 hours we reached Curdworth and picked up this mooring just before the tunnel. In the end our cruise was mostly uneventful , but we have heard stories of people experiencing problems on this part of the canal system. After seeing all of the smashed windows of the factories on the canal side plus the graffiti and the measures that the locals take to protect their properties I would definitely recommend NOT stopping overnight between the centre of Birmingham and Curdworth.

                                                                                                                   Happy Days