GU Canal - Camp Hill to Catherine de Barnes (time lapse)

The summit pound of the Grand Union Canal (Warwick and Birmingham: widened section -- Main Line) runs eleven miles from Camp Hill Top Lock No 52 to Knowle Top Lock No 51. This is the journey along the first seven and a half miles from the Winding Hole above Camp Hill Locks to Catherine de Barnes.

We found this section quite hard going. For much of the way the pound seemed low and we were constantly dragging the bottom of the cut. This also caused us to have two trips down the Snot Box (or Weed Hatch for the uninitiated). The first of these produced weeds and polythene, the second polythene and lots of nylon fishing line which was far from easy to remove. At one point we tried to moor and couldn't get within three feet of the bank and the skipper is far too old to be walking the plank.

Reading Pearson's (yes we do take note of your comments) we found the following:

"One of the problems facing the builders of the Warwick & Birmingham Canal was the provision of an adequate water supply to the eleven mile summit between Knowle and Camp Hill. Olton Reservoir goes some way to resolving this, though the summit often feels shallow and the seemingly insoluble hazard of rubbish floating in the canal remains a nuisance to boaters and anglers an eyesore, to passers by on the towpath."

Which sums things up nicely really, dunnit?

Much of Birmingham's industrial heritage lies along this part of the cut. Birmingham Small Arms, for many years makers of weaponry and motor cycles had several factories here and were know to all and sundry as "Bits Stuck Anywhere!"

Mooring at Catherine de Barnes presents two problems.

The first is that it is very close to Birmingham International Airport and can be quite noisy if you are on the flight path (we were) but fortunately there are no flights between midnight and 6:00 am.

The second is its one and only pub, The Boat. It's not really a bad pub it's just that it's a Chef & Brewer. They have a "Specials Blackboard" covering one wall but even at 6 O'clock in the evening most of them are sold out (if they ever existed that is). They don't take kindly to suggestions that in such circumstances they should wipe them off.

The food isn't that bad, it's just that none of is freshly prepared and cooked on the premises. Reheated there yes, prepared and cooked no. Such are the ways of modern catering. The average age of the staff appeared to be about 12 and woe betide anyone who orders a brandy with their coffee. They put ice in it (hint: make them bring you another one without the ice before letting them take the offending one away. Then they can't poke the ice out with their grubby little teenage fingers while you're not looking)

(You can find the menu at: www.pub-explorer.com/wmids/pub/boatinncatherinedebarnes.htm)

Category:

Travel & Events

Tags:

• grand
• union
• warwick
• birmingham
• solihull
• catherine
• de
• barnes
• canal
• lock
• narrowboat
• snot
• box
• weed
• hatch

[hasgc70]

Cool,can I get a copy of these from you?

[PIGandPINEAPPLE]

Don't see why not let me know what you need

[nairbfry]

Nice journey! I enjoyed it very much. My favorite view on this video is at the beginning where I can see the front of the boat going down the canal.

[PIGandPINEAPPLE]

Glad it floats your boat. We had the camera mounted on the blunt end for security reasons, feeling that armed with a barge pole and a boat hook the Skipper was well placed to repel boarders! As you noticed once we were though the badlands the camera went back to its normal position on the pointy end.

Oh yes, and while we're at it thank you for subscribing.

[Kidderminsterharrier]

A lot of sharp bends on this one.

[nairbfry]

Thanks for the explaination and your welcome for the subscription.