Onto the Rushall Canal

Saturday 4th September 2021

Brenda is blaming her current medication. Within 5 minutes of setting off this morning, what did she see? No, not a posse of kids zooming along the towpath on their electric scooters destined for an early bath if a black cat should cross their path – that was yesterday.

Today we saw a jester belting down the towpath in a Sinclair C5 with a trailer on the back. Beware the deaf, hard of hearing or those with ‘buds’ growing out of their ears. They are out to get you! Always move towards landside and let them risk getting a ducking.

 

As Jannock ascended the middle of the 3 Minworth locks, Brenda’s attention was drawn to a lady on her Juliet style canalside balcony. A romantic picture – No! There she stood in her baggy PJ bottoms, fag in hand struggling to get her well endowed puppies into her bra between puffs. Romeo Romeo!

Then onto Troutpool bridge, just after the big car warehouse over the canal, to inspect this years hop crop. Not a lot there and we’ll be out for too long to ensure they get home in prime condition s we didn’t stop to harvest any.

It has been a lock filled day and we have only seen one other boat moving during 6 hours cruising. Alongside the Perry Bar locks the new Alexander stadium is being constructed ready for the 2022 Commonwealth games – we wondered why it has been named that.

 

There is evidence that the lock immediately alongside the stadium had been tidied up with weeds removed and the canal’s weed blanket had been removed as well. The services at Perry Bar top lock were blocked by 6 CaRT working boats all moored on the services meaning any-one wanting water would need to work across double width workboats with their hose.

We have been successful water wombles this trip, having gained a length of foam pipe lagging, a length of lorry webbing and a new barge pole from within the weed cover. Add these items to the tennis racket bag and a plastic wash bowl we recovered yesterday and we’ll definitely be taking more home then we came with.

 

Having moored for the night between Biddlestone and Hill Farm bridges on the Rushall canal we went for a nice evening stroll around the open spaces here in the centre of the M6 and M5 motorway junction triangle. There was a Heron on the bank when we arrived who was not afraid of boats or people and allowed Brenda to get her best Heron picture ever.

G&B