I don't know what name the boat carried. (I forget now...) I immediately christened her Spacewarp
even before I had a minute on board - because the boat had space, warped all over the place.
She was bare, excepting for the cabin, cratch, top-planks and mast.
She was moored to the outside, the other side from the towpath, a little way up from Autherley
Junction on the Shropshire Union. The Hostelboats firm had moored her as if they were going up the
Shroppie, unfortunatly. We towed her backwards to the stop lock, and wind her in the junction of the canal at
Autherley. We turn right on the Stafford and Worcester and go only one mile and go up the Wolverhampton flight.
Bow-Hauling....
Oh Yes! We ordered a Outboard motor, to go on to the rudder, but it wasn't delivered in time!
You see, I was on leave from the RAF, consequently I had only a limited time to get the boat
from Autherley Juction to Coventry, or alternatively the Nene. I had relatives in both places....
We, I say we - I took on bystanders on the bank for the days - bow hauled the spacewarp up to " top of the town," Worcester Bar. We voyaged around the western BCN , leaving the path that was obvious, the Main Line, favouring the other way - passing Dudley Tunnel, (my grandfather was born in Tipton, Dudley in 1882,) and decending in the end by the locks at Bradeshall, and Incidentally seeing the tunnel Netherton Tunnel in close up! I moored at Worcestor Bar, and returned to duty!
The next weekend, I carried on with the trip! I decided that I would have to chose Coventry, instead of the Nene!
I discovered that the way through the direct route, direct to Kingswood Junction was barred - a three week stoppage - and I decided that I had to go the other way!
Down the Old Thirteen to Aston Junction, and up the Digbeth, 6 Ashstead and 5 Garrison locks! We spent seven hours in the downward trip, two short pounds were without water until we met a boat coming up - it was plain sailing after that! I remember the "three bridges", canal, railway and road! I took various photos too, but they were lost as I was employed by the circus - and that's another story!
At Kingswood Junction, I realised that the stoppage was over! But overall, taking the other way was an advantage because we saw much of Birmingham that was not seen by other boats!
I was taken by Kingswood Junction! I took photos of the scenes around, one of which I sent to BW! That was incorporated in a Calendar! I wonder what happened to it?
We voyaged wider, but the earlier enthusiasm had gone. We carried on - down the Grand Union, Braunston Turn and North Oxford. I was without help at the finish, I left the boat in Hillmorten Workshops, and I just had time to catch the IWA boat rally at Coventry!
I did not fetch the boat! Instead I offered this to various Scout Troops and the like - but it was not moved - instead it was Broken Up by BW.
It was the Last Voyage of the Spacewarp.