The best sani-station on the system

Sunday 26th September 2021

Several of our party were up and away before the ‘official’ start time of 9:30am as they wanted to get away early for personal reasons. Harnser and Jannock then set off ahead of Joanna and butty.

Just after ‘Uncle Ben’s bridge’ Harnser picked up a blade full of rubbish and ground to a halt. This made life difficult for the early risers who were trying to return from Titford Pools but had to go into the thick sludge to get past. Once they had managed to circumvent Harnser, Jannock went past with little difficulty due to our shallow draught and led the way into Titford Pools. At the entrance of the pools is this scupture.

We managed to visit both pools, upsetting all the fishermen in the first pool before moving on to the pool that goes under the M5 motorway. It is a surprisingly lovely wild place in a city by a motorway which is now fully navigable thanks to being dredged last year. It’s industrial heritage can still be seen but nature is gradually taking over.

 

Lots of pictures taken and all expected craft accounted for we headed back down the Oldbury branch to the top of the locks for a cup of tea. We were then helped down all of the flight by Brian, Diana and several BCNS members, they have all been so helpful – thanks folks!

 

Turning right after the bottom lock, we travelled beneath the M5 motorway and through the summit tunnel to Smethwick locks where we desc3nded to the BCN Main Line. 

 

 

We travelled along to Winson Green where we turned left onto the Soho loop, up through a fishing match and then turned left again into Hockley Port.

 

At the bottom of these permanent live-aboard moorings is a sani-station which rates as the best we have ever visited. Brenda emptied the rubbish and then had a shower whilst Graham filled Jannock’s water tank, all the time chatting to a resident boater who imparted all sorts of interesting local information. We then said farewell and made our way back out to the Soho loop and onto the mainline again.

As we neared the mainline junction, the familiar graffiti reminded us of our last visit here where a classical flautist was practicing on the towpath. On queue, we heard someone on a flute! The different skill levels were immediately obvious. It would appear that there is more to being a good flautist than blowing and blocking a few random holes.

Into Birmingham and we turned right into Oozels St loop to find our favourite Birmingham overnight mooring was vacant – hooray! Graham is on blood bike control duty tonight so needs good mobile coverage.

G&B