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Post by carthorse on Jun 2, 2018 18:27:48 GMT
I’ll be undertaking my maiden voyage in a couple of weeks from Droitwich spa up onto the Coventry Canal to Kings Orchard Marina. The canal route planner website reckons day two of the trip will see me mooring up somewhere around the Farmers Bridge top lock in the middle of Birmingham. The Nicholson guide makes a vague illusion to not leaving your boat unattended in this area ‘but Gas Street Basin should be ok’ ? Is there anywhere I should definitely avoid and where’s the best place to moor up overnight in these parts? Or is it all scaremongering ?
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Post by Mr Stabby on Jun 2, 2018 18:40:33 GMT
Moor overnight in Gas Street Basin, do an early start the next day and get well out of Birmingham before you moor overnight again is probably best advice. I wouldn't personally moor at Farmers Bridge.
Is it scaremongering? I don't know, 9 times out of 10 you'll probably be fine in all of the places that are reputed to be dodgy, although mooring among cows and sheep is likely to be less problematic that mooring among junkies and alkies.
Carrying a zombie knife and keeping it on show can be useful.
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Post by Telemachus on Jun 2, 2018 20:01:15 GMT
This is our home territory. I wouldn't moor in the Gas St basin area for choice simply because there is a lot of footfall and it can be noisy. I would continue a 100 yards to Old Turn Jn (the one with the "roundabout" island) and turn left towards Wolverhampton direction, then moor just after the Oozels street loop branches off, in other words just down from the NIA. The left side is better (less footfall). Or go left again into Oozels st loop and moor underneath the Bank restaurant. Lots of CCTV and security patrols. Next morning you can either reverse back to the Jn to turn onto the B&F or continue towards wolverhampton for a short way and wind either at Monument Basin or a little further at the entrance to the Iknield Port loop. Failing all that turn right at Old Turn Jn onto the B&F and moor in Cambrian Basin which is just beside Farmer's Bridge top lock. The finger pontoons are visitor moorings except for 2 berths which have a sign, or on the bank side. Very quiet and safe there EXCEPT for the Flapper pub. Closes at 11 pm weekdays and 1 am Sat and Sun so it depends on which day you intend to stay there and what time you like to go to bed.
After that you want to cruise to the other side of Minworth before night stopping IMO. 13 Farmers bridge locks, 11 Aston locks (but be careful, Aston in closing for maintenance any time soon, might have to go via Ashted and Garrison locks) and 3 Minworth locks. We usually stop at Curdworth or just before - there is a newly refurbished pub between Minworth and Curdworth, apparently they do great breakfasts but we haven't tried. Cuttle Bridge Inn IIRC. Then its just the 11 Curdworth locks, which are very pleasant apart from the M42 traffic noise. Enjoy!
Oh and just be aware that its very difficult to traverse the Oozels St loop and then turn right back towards farmers bridge, unless your boat is very short.
Oh and if the thought of all those locks in 1 day is too much the visitor moorings at Star City are fine. They don't look particularly inviting but we have stopped there many times and never had any trouble. Star City has a lot of security and anyway there is a locked gate (BW key) between it and the pontoons. You will pass them if you go via Ashted / Garrison. If you go via Aston it is a small detour to get there, and a reverse of 1/4 mile or so back to Salford Jn
And finally, do make sure you have a handcuff/ anti vandal/ water conservation key, as some of the locks on the BCN are locked by these devices. Its the tube with the square socket in it, and a T handle. |
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Post by Telemachus on Jun 2, 2018 20:42:26 GMT
Hopwas? Do you mean Hopwood?
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Post by carthorse on Jun 2, 2018 21:18:52 GMT
Many thanks folks, that’s just the sort of local knowledge I was after.
Naughty fox - thanks for the offer but I’ve got my eldest lad and an experienced boat owning mate helping me out at least for the first couple of days. I won’t be setting out till the second week of June ish due to work commitments, but Cheers all the same.
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Post by Trina on Jun 2, 2018 22:03:14 GMT
Telemachus talking sense...never thought I'd hear myself say that-wow ! 😅
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Post by Telemachus on Jun 2, 2018 22:16:35 GMT
Telemachus talking sense...never thought I'd hear myself say that-wow ! 😅 Huh! That’s you off the Liverpool gin parteeeee list! |
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Post by Telemachus on Jun 2, 2018 22:18:55 GMT
But how typical. I post pictures of a wooly toy dog and get loads of likes. I post a long, considered and hopefully helpful description of Birmingham moorings and get zilch. In future I’m going to restrict myself to posting videos of cats doing funny things!
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Post by Mr Stabby on Jun 2, 2018 22:20:54 GMT
Telemachus talking sense...never thought I'd hear myself say that-wow ! 😅 Don't say things like that Trina, if TellyMackus's head gets any bigger his ears will be in different time zones. |
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Post by patty on Jun 3, 2018 5:20:25 GMT
This is our home territory. I wouldn't moor in the Gas St basin area for choice simply because there is a lot of footfall and it can be noisy. I would continue a 100 yards to Old Turn Jn (the one with the "roundabout" island) and turn left towards Wolverhampton direction, then moor just after the Oozels street loop branches off, in other words just down from the NIA. The left side is better (less footfall). Or go left again into Oozels st loop and moor underneath the Bank restaurant. Lots of CCTV and security patrols. Next morning you can either reverse back to the Jn to turn onto the B&F or continue towards wolverhampton for a short way and wind either at Monument Basin or a little further at the entrance to the Iknield Port loop. Failing all that turn right at Old Turn Jn onto the B&F and moor in Cambrian Basin which is just beside Farmer's Bridge top lock. The finger pontoons are visitor moorings except for 2 berths which have a sign, or on the bank side. Very quiet and safe there EXCEPT for the Flapper pub. Closes at 11 pm weekdays and 1 am Sat and Sun so it depends on which day you intend to stay there and what time you like to go to bed.
After that you want to cruise to the other side of Minworth before night stopping IMO. 13 Farmers bridge locks, 11 Aston locks (but be careful, Aston in closing for maintenance any time soon, might have to go via Ashted and Garrison locks) and 3 Minworth locks. We usually stop at Curdworth or just before - there is a newly refurbished pub between Minworth and Curdworth, apparently they do great breakfasts but we haven't tried. Cuttle Bridge Inn IIRC. Then its just the 11 Curdworth locks, which are very pleasant apart from the M42 traffic noise. Enjoy!
Oh and just be aware that its very difficult to traverse the Oozels St loop and then turn right back towards farmers bridge, unless your boat is very short.
Oh and if the thought of all those locks in 1 day is too much the visitor moorings at Star City are fine. They don't look particularly inviting but we have stopped there many times and never had any trouble. Star City has a lot of security and anyway there is a locked gate (BW key) between it and the pontoons. You will pass them if you go via Ashted / Garrison. If you go via Aston it is a small detour to get there, and a reverse of 1/4 mile or so back to Salford Jn
And finally, do make sure you have a handcuff/ anti vandal/ water conservation key, as some of the locks on the BCN are locked by these devices. Its the tube with the square socket in it, and a T handle. OK so Ive liked and quoted......just so u know your posts are read and responded to...... |
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Post by Jim on Jun 3, 2018 6:38:48 GMT
But how typical. I post pictures of a wooly toy dog and get loads of likes. I post a long, considered and hopefully helpful description of Birmingham moorings and get zilch. In future I’m going to restrict myself to posting videos of cats doing funny things! There there diddums! I went back to ease your pain, as others had done I see, when you begged for brownies. Better now? Just no cat pics please, no cat pics. |
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Post by Telemachus on Jun 3, 2018 7:46:17 GMT
Too little too late!
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Post by Jim on Jun 3, 2018 8:11:12 GMT
Oh God, why didn't I just let it go. |
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Post by Deleted on Jun 3, 2018 8:19:25 GMT
Oh God, why didn't I just let it go. |
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Post by Deleted on Jun 3, 2018 8:23:38 GMT
I didn't give Nick a like out of sympathy, I didn't read past his long helpful post.
That is all.
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