Philip

I have a couple myself. I'm just being realistic and I refuse to believe anyone who says they have never prejudged in their head or felt at least slightly apprehensive if they've approached a bridge in the circumstances I've described.

I'm wondering if anyone else notices a distinctive aroma of the water towards the southern end of the Shropshire Union? I'm guessing it is a mixture of the soapy water from Barnhurst sewage works, combined with the canal bed/bank materials and the vegetation; I think a good description is a fragrant earthy smell. The smell has been there as long as I've known and I like it, find it adds to the character and many quirky aspects of this canal. It's particularly noticeable at locks with the bywash and when you open the top and bottom gate paddles. Are there any other canals people know of which have a distinctive 'smell' to them?

You're talking nonsense.

Would you invite a gang of late-teenage, hoody-wearing lads onboard who are hanging out under a bridge, particularly if you're on your own?

There's a difference between groups of youths who are genuinely interested and ones up to no good and you can often tell by instinct beforehand. On this occasion, I could tell beforehand that they were up to no good so I didn't invite them on, just as very few would in the same scenario.

I didn't think you were and in fairness I can't remember experiencing any other similar incidents, so this stands out more as a result.

I said 'terrorising' not 'terrorism'...you know there's a difference in the context. The incident happened under Blaydon Road Bridge, which is out of sight from the boatyard. I wouldn't call it scaremongering, rather caution from personal experience to counter against one or two up-thread who are basically saying to treat the whole stretch (including the bits that aren't next to the boatyard and boat club) like any other area of canal.

I said 'terrorising boaters', how else would you describe chucking stones at people? It certainly isn't a laugh and it's the intent that is the issue, regardless of where it hits. People don't do it to others in the street, but some go to the local canal to do it because they have nothing better to do and boats are seen to them as an easy target, and this doesn't reflect well on the area. Just to add, the guys at one of the boatyards there once recommended not to stop between the stop lock and the boat club, so it's not just me.

Why would you take it with a pinch of salt, when I've already said I was minding my own business? They asked for a ride on the boat as I went past, I politely declined (I did not rant or insult them in any way just so you know) and then the next thing I knew a stone lashed the boat and was lucky not to hit either myself or a window. I was furious but kept my head and didn't say anything to them, if they'd smashed a window then it may well have been a different story! An area which has gangs of youths terrorising boaters from the towpath doesn't deserve a good review. The area on the offside of the stop lock is also a dump - full of dog crap and rubbish.

It still doesn't seem to stop certain northern canals especially (like the Ashton for example) not shaking off reputations from 30-40 years ago, even if the situation has improved a lot since, so it's a bit irritating that others areas like the West Midlands and London canals seem to get an easier ride. To be fair as far as Autherley Junction goes I'd agree that the stretch opposite Oxley boatyard looks reasonable and the best place to stop, especially as quite a lot of boats moor there, but I think it is better to avoid mooring betwen Napton Narrowboats/the stop lock and Wolverhampton Boat Club.

Just because you've not had any hassle doesn't mean to say it doesn't happen. Last year I got stoned there by youths hanging about under a bridge and I was minding my own business, I didn't antagonize them. From my experience it's not a good area to hang around.

No it isn't. It's a rough area and boats are a target. People go on about canals like some of the Manchester ones being bad stretches, Autherley Junction isn't any better but doesn't get the same criticism because it's on a popular canal.

Pretty much what I said, do the first mile of the Shropshire Union at least before stopping. Opposite the boat club might be 'safe' but I'd say the moorings between bridges 7 and 8 look a lot more pleasant, scenery wise.

Agree except for the first mile - that's on a par with some of the more 'notorious' urban stretches of waterway in the country.

Autherley Junction isn't the best place to stop, better to carry on to the moorings between bridges 7 and 8 on the Shropshire Union - or do the first 5 miles and stop at Brewood if you want shops or places to eat/drink.

Ayaan's takeaway is good if no pub is serving food - curries, pizzas and kebabs.

Thanks for the advice and info re the Leicester section. I agree going to Stoke Bruerne is probably too much extra, I like the place having cruised through the last couple of years, but perhaps best to leave it for this trip and just head straight back towards Birmingham.

Thanks for your help - great pictures and trip report of the Erewash! With it being quite early on in the trip and before the Soar passage I wonder whether it'd be better to leave the full Erewash for another trip and just do a little bit of the southern end...but then again it looks like I'll be missing out by not going all the way!

Is the Erewash reasonably ok to do single handed- any good places to moor for the night or places to avoid? Also are there safe overnight moorings at Birstall and Thurmaston? I can't decide whether to stop around Birstall or go into Leicester and use the secure offside moorings in the centre, then an early start the next day to hopefully get to not far below Kibworth locks.

I have to add that I had help from a friend at Audlem and Adderley... I've done Audlem to Wheaton Aston in a day beforehand with just time to tie up and go for a meal at the Hartley Arms, but I have to be honest I try to avoid doing this now as it's too long a day - I don't mind the locks, I just find the 17 mile pound between Tyrley and Wheaton Aston a bit much to do in one go after 20-odd locks in the morning/early afternoon. Somehow I find it an easier day doing the long pound first then doing all the locks in the afternoon and early eve before stopping at Audlem for the night.

Will be single handed most of the time. I did do Birmingham to Brewood via Factory/Wolverhampton in August 2020 with a quick detour through Netherton tunnel and back; it was still light when I reached Brewood. Next day was below lock 11 Audlem.

I'd like to do all of it but really depends on the weather and the forecast over the next couple of days. If it looks like the Soar might be in flood I'll be going to Leicester as an out and back trip via the West Midlands and the GU Leicester Section/Foxton.

I prefer to go long hours to get to the places I want to and see as much canal scenery as I can. I don't mind the odd day off or 'sightseeing' day, but generally I Iike to cruise from early morning to 6-7pmish and then go for a pint and a good meal (hopefully) once tied up. I could take another week of annual leave to allow for shorter days, but this means less leave for the rest of the year which I could otherwise use for another boat trip somewhere. Thanks, will have a look.

I'm hoping to do the Leicester ring in a couple of weeks, subject to the River Soar not being in flood. I've planned just over 2 weeks for it although I have some slack with extra days off at the end in case I fall behind schedule. The following is is a rough itinerary I have in mind, so I'd be be grateful if anyone could point to any days which look unrealistic please? The section from Derwent Mouth through to Norton Junction via Soar, Leicester and Foxton will be completely new ground! I'll just add that I tend to average 9-10 hours per day cruising most of the time at this time of year (not shy of the occasional 12 hour day), so I'm basing the plan around this. Day 1 (first full day): Middlewich to Red Bull Day 2: Red Bull to Sandon/Great Haywood Day 3: Sandon to Alrewas Day 4: Alrewas to Shardlow Day 5: Shardlow to Mountsorrel or Birstall with short trip up the Erewash Canal - about 2-3 miles before turning around. Day 6: Mountsorrell or Birstall to Kilby Bridge Day 7: Kilby Bridge to bottom of Foxton, including the Market Harborough arm. Day 8: Foxton bottom to Crick including Welford Arm Day 9: Crick to Stoke Bruerne Day 10: Stoke Bruerne to Braunston Day 11: Braunston to bottom of Hatton Day 12: Hatton bottom to Catherine de Barnes Day 13: CdeB to Birmingham centre via Ashtead/Farmer's Bridge Day 14: Birmingham to Brewood Day 15 (last full day): Brewood to Audlem From day 9 onwards it's a route which I did August year before last, also as you will probably guess the detour to Stoke Bruerne depends if the trip is going to plan and I how I feel at the time. If I can't be bothered then I'll just have a chill out day and go from Crick to Braunston and thus save a day. Any thoughts or advice?

Another unusual aspect of Beeston Iron lock is that it is a rare example of a lock to have a top gate paddle fitted after the carrying era came to an end - and to have a paddle fitted to the gate some time after the gate was fitted. The Chester Canal locks weren't fitted with top gate paddles as standard, except Hoole Lane lock which for some reason only has one ground paddle. I have seen photos of Beeston Iron lock from the 50s when the older top wooden gates were still in place and without gate paddles, and also a photo from about 1964 by which time it had steel top gates but with no paddles fitted. However, a photo from 1977 shows a paddle fitted to the towpath-side gate and this was still in place until the gates were replaced in 2013, albeit the rack had been disconnected from the paddle as long as I can remember going through (2001 onwards). The new wooden gates fitted in 2013 didn't have gate paddles fitted and this is still the case now. Here's a photo, the baffle in place looks a bit oversized and restrictive to the flow of water entering the lock..