BCN 24 Hour Marathon Challenge

24th May 2016

It is almost upon us! We have spent the last few months planning for this challenge. There are around 100 miles of canals covering Birmingham and the Black Country, and each year the BCN Society organises the event to encourage boats to use these canals. This year more than 40 boats are taking part.

The rules are simple – but the scoring system is complex. We can start anywhere we like on the BCN and will earn points for miles travelled, locks worked and for taking pictures and answering questions  at specific places on the system. Some sections earn more than others to encourage participants to cruise the lesser used parts. We have to finish at 2pm at the finish post, this year at Hawne Basin. We can cruise for a maximum of 24 hours in the 30 hours of the challenge.

Rob and Morgan have agreed to crew with us, along with son Ben and his girlfriend Nicki. With Anne and me this gives us a crew of 6, although we may be augmented by day visits from Lindsay and Steven.

The large crew will be really useful as our first challenge will be to climb the 21 locks that make up the Wolverhampton flight.

We spent the weekend preparing the boat, clearing out cupboards and making up beds for the enlarged crew. We stowed all the non-perishable provisions, and switched the fridge on to cool down ready for the fresh stuff which was added on Monday night.

On Tuesday night after work, we began the positioning move needed to get City of Durham to the start line in time for the weekend. Having filled with water, we moved out to Tixall, mooring just beyond the ‘wide’ for the night.

On Wednesday I had to work during the day, so we made an early start and moved as far as Acton Trussell before stopping for a later breakfast. I set up my laptop and spent the rest of the day working. We had intended to move further in the evening, but instead decided to have a nap. it had been fairly cold during the day so the heating had a good work out.

Thursday dawned, and although overcast, was somewhat warmer than yesterday. We made an early move to Penkridge, where we stopped for lunch and a work break. In the early evening we moved on up to Gailey and moored just below the final lock.

Friday was pleasant as we made the final move to Coven Heath, where we were able to tie up early, and decorate the boat whilst we waited for our crew to arrive.

In the early evening everyone turned up as planned, and we retired to the pub for an enjoyable meal, along with a discussion of our tactics for the next two days. Back on board we retired to our bunks. It was the first time that we had so many people on board staying over night, and the boat seemed very small! Indeed, Nicki’s luggage seemed to take up every available bit of floor space!

There was some disturbance in the small hours, with people knocking on the boat, so not much sleep was had. At 6 am we cast off for our start point at Aldersley Junction and the bottom of the Wolverhampton 21.

NB Dove waiting at the start.

And we’re off!

The climb up to Wolverhampton went smoothly with Rob, Morgan and Ben working both the current lock, and the one ahead, whilst Anne kept us going with refreshments and I steered. Nicki was asleep.

Rob and Morgan lock-wheeling.

Ben on the gate

One casualty though was our Black Country flag. Due to a moment’s inattention by the steerer, we drifted too far back in the rising lock, and our extended flag pole (the stick I use for dipping the fuel tank) had an altercation with the gate.

Oops!

We decided to wait until we reached the top of the flight before effecting a repair, which Anne did with the aid of some duct tape and cable ties.

It took about two and a half hours to reach the top, and we followed the main line to Deepfields Junction where we diverted to collect some points at the Bradley Workshops.

Bradley Workshops

Another competitor was having trouble winding in the entrance to the basin, mind you they were a full length working boat. Our own attempt was a little easier, and we managed to enter the bridge long enough to answer the bonus question that was written on the pipe. The Bradley Arm was very shallow, and progress was slow. It took almost three hours to get back on to the main line!

From Deepfields Junction we made our way down to the Black Country Museum. This was another ambition fulfilled – I had wanted to come here by boat since I first visited by road almost 30 years ago!

Dudley Tunnel (North Portal) and the Trip Boat

After attending to the water and sewage tanks at the Sanitary station, we waited for Nicki to have a shower in the facilities block, before retracing our steps and turning on to the Old Main Line at Tipton Junction.

We picked up an old carpet on the propellor at Dudley Port Junction, so it was a trip down the weed hatch to get us going again. Shortly afterwards we were passing over an aqueduct and managed to grab a photo of the Netherton Tunnel below, where we would be tomorrow.

 

Continuing along the old main line, we eventually came to the M5, which ran overhead for a while. At one point we had the motorway above, and the new main line below.

Meeting of the ways

We passed through the Summit tunnel, and then saw the Engine Arm junction, with the aqueduct over the new main line closed and dewatered. The first locks since the morning then appeared, and as Nicki was now awake she had the chance to help.

Smethwick Locks

At Smethwick Junction the old and new lines merged and we continued on towards Birmingham City Centre. We passed a couple of junctions of the old loops, and had to negotiate the narrows created by the old toll islands.

Toll Island

It was now getting dark, and as we had had a very long day we decided to moor up near the centre to get some rest.

We were entertained by a passing trip boat which was hosting a hen party, but declined their generous invitation to join them!

Over dinner, I checked on canalplan.ac to confirm how long it would take from here to Hawne Basin, and was shocked to be told 10 hours!  Working backwards from the finish time of 2pm tomorrow meant that we would have to be under way again at 4am!!!!

To be continued…..