Having completed the Black Country Ring over a two-week period in early October, I thought it might be helpful to post some reflections on our trip for the benefit of others thinking of narrow boating but lacking any experience.
I have boated most of my adult life, almost all coastal or ocean sailing and power boating. We hired our boat, Leo II, from Anglo Welsh in Great Hayward. The boat was spotlessly clean and well equipped. They mistook my boating experience for the ability to handle a 62 ft narrow Boat! I was OK going forward, but reversing was a challenge with our boat. I would strongly suggest that you allow the hire company folks to walk you through the whole going backwards (off at tangent: I quickly realized that using nautical terms like going astern drew disapproving looks from other boaters … narrow boating terms are more akin to a car than a sea going boat!).
I knew I needed advice, so one day in, I asked an experienced full-time cruising boater for advice: he told me to get the boat going backwards, and once under way, move the tiller as if going forward and goose the throttle in forward gear briskly in a short bursts: this will move the bow in the desired direction! Repeat as often as needed! He did add that he had owned a boat for 20+ years and still had the odd difficult reverse that tripped him up.
I planned the trip in advance so I knew roughly where we would be most nights. The two primary sources of information that I used were CanalPlanAC (what a superb tool! Give generously if you use this free resource), and Waterway Routes maps (not charts!). Since the maps are PDFs I was able to print the full colour pages that I needed on A3 paper and had them laminated back-to-back. I used the maps all the time! Once underway, I also used Open Canal Map app on my iPhone. Another great tool for confirming exactly where you are at any time.
We had planned to get a Tesco delivery to the boatyard but left it too late to get a slot. Luckily, our first stop in Rugeley was very close to a big Tesco’s. Book your slot 3 weeks in advance! When planning our stops, I used Google maps to ensure that there were nearby pubs/restaurants and if possible, a supermarket. We mostly ate out for dinner, apart from two nights on board.
I used CanalWorld extensively to work out safe moorings. If you search on the area you plan to stop, you will find very good advice on safe moorings. Rugeley was very busy and we ended up mooring south of the visitor moorings on the bank with pins. Since we were on our way to Gas Street basin in Birmingham, I was very conscious that we needed a safe mooring before we tackled the Birmingham and Fazeley Canal flights (13 + 11). I came across a post that mentioned Star City CRT 24-hour moorings: that meant a half mile reverse from Salford Junction on the Grand Union to the moorings. Thankfully, there was no boat traffic and with help from my first mate (daughter) on the tow path with the centre line, we pulled off our marathon reverse. The mooring was clean and safe, and could accommodate 2 or 3 boats. Access to the restaurants in Star City was via a CRT gate. I highly recommend this mooring!
We found a 48-hour mooring in Gas Street Basin. The first night was very quiet, but since we were outside a night club that opened on Fridays from 8:00PM to 2AM, we moved to the moorings on the BCN near the Lego Centre. Both moorings were very quiet at night, although the early morning traffic on the BCN did rock the boat a lot! (Must have been hire boaters who never slow down for moored boats!)
Our next stop was at the Black Country Museum. There are a couple of 24-hour moorings inside the CRT gated area, but it was busy, so we moored on the 24-hour mooring back along the canal near a park. Once again, quiet and safe.
It was too much to try and complete the Wolverhampton flight (21 locks) after leaving the BCM, so we moored in the centre of Wolverhampton at the CRT 24-hr moorings. I was very nervous about mooring here, but a couple of solo full-time cruisers were moored nearby and they said it was generally OK on week nights, and it was!
Once we cleared the Wolverhampton flight, our return journey was very leisurely, and the Staffs and Worcs is a lot quieter than the T&M. We stopped at Autherley Junction, Gailey and Penkridge. All very safe and near good pubs and food.
I’ll finish with an anecdote: although Brits, we live in North Carolina now, and we have become used to US style central heating, which is on 24 hours a day! The boat was equipped with a gas fired central heating, but without a thermostat: control being the adjustable vales on each radiator. We would leave the heating on once we moored through the night with the valves turned down … we burned through our Calor gas very quickly, and so went back to just wrapping up warmly each night!
Overall, it was a great experience that I would recommend to others, but bear in mind, narrow boating can be hard work. There are a lot of locks on the way to, and from, Birmingham, so you need a fit crew to handle all the work. Luckily, I had two able helpers: wife and adult daughter!