Tame Valley Canal:Rushall Junction

We set off this morning on our last segment of our journey home.   Which way should we go, because there is a choice.   So we decided to miss out Birmingham and take the route via the Tame Valley Canal to join up with the Birmingham & Fazeley.   We have never taken this route before.  It is a bit of a backwater, or a less popular route, and we were not expecting to see many boats.  We were anticipating problems.   At Pudding Green Junction we turned left.   Almost immediately we encountered a narrow and seemingly very shallow section between two reed beds.  Rather fearing that this was a prelude to future problems we were proved wrong in that respect at least.   For the most part the canal was as clean as can be expected in an urban environment and the towpaths well cared for.  Our problems were of a different nature.   I will list them, not with any wish to criticise for I am sure that things are well understood by the bank staff/ lock-keepers.   Just our typical experiences.

1.  We got stuck getting out of the top lock.  The bottom gate would not open fully, but a flush from the top paddles did the trick.   The appearance was that of getting stuck on the bottom cill, but perhaps, the poorly open gate stops water getting to the back of the lock as the boat exits.  The boat acting as a dam.   Hence the flush works.
2.  The pound below the second lock was empty.  Just a delay while we let water down.   Just enough to get through.  All the signs were that this was just a local problem.
3. Lock 7, same problem as 1.  There was a gathering of drinking folk there who were very helpful. 
4. After lock 3 a lock-keeper? appeared in the distance at the top, and a mysterious individual started preparing locks for us, but never made contact.   Thank-you.
5. The bottom pound was full of foreign objects of all shape and sizes.  Clearly this acts as a local rubbish tip.  Good food for our hungry propeller.   The only other (not) moving boat we saw today.  They had a bed sheet on the prop.
6. We found a shop below the canal at Hateley Heath Aqueduct.   Not a good place to stop for the night.   Youths were evident throwing stones at each other, so we moved on.
7. The same youths took up position on the high Crankhall Lane bridge and threw stones down at us we passed underneath.  Quite large pieces of ballast most of which missed but causing some damage to paintwork.   Had one hit me on the head it would have been quite serious.   Criminal damage certainly, or attempted murder.
8. Finally we found a good mooring just after Rushall Junction, far enough away from the motorways to be acceptable for the night and in company with other boats.

Comments

[Ross Munro]

Did you contact the police. We had a similar incident some years back at Marple, Greater Manchester Police area. They were unable to identify our position, we were moored at the bottom lock of the Marlpe flight. The outcome, after my complaint, was that they added the BW data base of water side features to the police carsbase.

[Mike]

Yes, the Police were contacted, rather belatedly unfortunately. Like you described they had difficulty understanding the location. It occurred to me later that had I taken a picture, the phone camera would have recorded the location. I tested this and it comes up as a post code. Police understand that.