Fear and Trepidation in the City

One of the navigation guides says unequivocally that you should not moor away from a recognised secure location in the city of Birmingham. We stopped for supplies near Tyburn bridge and while we were tying up were advised by a passing local boater that it would be a bad place to stop for the night. We pulled the pins and carried on - the Birmingham and Fazeley canal was deserted for literally miles after that. We passed under Spaghetti Junction and didn't stop at Cuckoo wharf. We were lucky enough to find safe haven at an office development half way up the Aston flight at Aston Cross where we were watched over by security guards and CCTV.

The Minworth and Aston flights are supposed to be secured with anti vandal keys but I found that most of the anti vandal locks are broken or can be opened with a light tap from a windlass.

Moored at Aston Cross.