myText = new Array("As we were climbing through Minworth Locks in the rain the sun came out and with it this rainbow. Apologies for the rain on the camera.", "This strange looking footbridge bridge and swing bridge, that is left permanently open, are at Drayton Manor.", "Approaching Fazeley Junction.\nWe've included this especially for the Little family. On our very first canal boat holiday we took Jill and Adrian along for the first week. It was here that we met up with Derek and Thelma to off-load them.", "At Fazeley Junction the Canal meets the Coventry Canal.", "The toll house at Farmer's Bridge. Where the BCN ends and the Birmingham & Fazeley starts is a matter of some debate. This is my starting point.", "Farmer's Bridge Locks, or the old 13, is a flight descending 81' right through the heart of Birmingham's financial district.\nThere are pictures taken at most of the locks of our descent under 'Along the cut, Locks' or select 'Farmer's Bridge Locks' from the '2003' drop down box below.", "Going down we meet a 72' boat coming up. It's a bit of a squeeze.", "An office block has been constructed above and around several of the locks. Note the balance beams appearing through the pillars.", "A glimpse of Aston University.", "At Aston Junction the Digbeth Branch leaves to the south while the main line goes through this towpath bridge to ...", "... descend the Aston Locks, a flight of 11 locks.", "The canalscape has changed to industrial but note that the towpath and locks have been restored.", "Rocky Lane Bridge is another of our frequented bridges from the early 1970's when it was on our commuter route from Pelsall.", "Most of the area is unrecognizable from then, yet this view, taken looking east along Rocky Lane, is more or less unchanged.", "The decorated wall celebrates the creation of Heartlands, the redevelopment name for the area.", "At Salford Junction the canal meets the Tame Valley and Grand Union Canals and above Junction 6, or Spaghetti Junction, of the M6.", "The descent continues through Minworth where the Tyburn Road crosses and ...", "... on through Curdworth Tunnel and ...", "... Curdworth Locks where at the bottom lock there is this swing bridge.", "At the top of Farmers Bridge Locks outside the BW Midlands Offices. In the background can be seen (on the right) the National Indoor Arena with Old Turn Junction through the bridge.", "This view from the top lock has most of the classic views. On the right is Cambrian Wharf. The flight itself drops through the heart of Birmingham's financial centre dominated by the BT Tower.", "Aston Junction is where the main line carries on (on the right) towards Fazeley.", "The branch leaves the main line at Aston Junction.", "There are 6 locks, the Ashted Flight ...", "... and a 103 yd. tunnel.", "Below Curzon Street Bridge the canal burrows under the main London to Birmingham Railway Line opened in 1837.", "Beyond the railway bridge straight ahead is Typhoo Basin, a dead end. The through route to Bordesley is through the bridge on the left.", "After the bridge is Warwick Bar, now left permanently open.", "The branch ends at Bordesley Junction where it meets the Grand Union Canal.", "Entering Farmers Bridge Top Lock.", "As the flight of locks descends through Birmingham City centre the surroundings are one of contrasts of old and new.", "A modern block of flats faced by ...", "... an old retaining wall.", "This futuristic looking bridge ...", "... built into a wharf access bridge.", "And 2 locks buried below buildings. This original and ...", "... this modern one.", "We are delayed at Aston Junction.. .", "... As the crew of the boat in front have discovered that the water level in the pound below the top locks is too low to proceed.", "Together we decide to re-fill the pound by letting water flow through the top lock. Having done this all is well and we both can descend the flight of 11 locks.", "This elegant cottage is beside Lock 10, almost at the bottom of the flight.", "Alongside are many side arms mostly with no or hardly any channel left. There is just one where a good impression is given of what all these were once like.", "At what is now known as Spaghetti Junction the canal, on an aqueduct and the bridge carrying the original road both over the River Tame are dwarfed by the M6 motorway.", "Also here, again dwarfed by the M6 motorway is Salford Junction where the Birmingham & Fazeley Canal meets the Tame Valley Canal (behind the picture) and here on the right the Grand Union Canal.", "Descending Minworth Locks. The bridge in the back ground carries the A38 on its way from Birmingham to Burton and Derby.", "Curdworth Tunnel has a towpath.", "Curdworth Bottom Lock is the last one. From the top at Farmers Bridge there are 38 locks with a fall of 150' 6\".", "At Fazeley Junction we meet a boat coming our way. They wait for us to go first.", "Looking, through the junction bridge, back at the Coventry Canal at Fazeley Junction.", "Drayton Swivel and Footbridge near the entrance to Drayton Manor Park.", "Curdworth Locks are beautifully decorated by the lock keeper. This is the flight sign at the bottom lock. The bridge in the back ground carries the M6 Toll Motorway over the canal. There are pictures of our ascent under 'Along the Cut' or see the link under the '2007' below.", "The lock cottage at Minworth Top Lock. The countryside more or less ends here.", "Industry and trees beside the canal passing through Birches Green.", "Salford Junction is below the M6 motorway at Gravelley Hill. Although nothing like as complex as the motorway junction above the canal junction has 4 parts. The Birmingham & Fazeley Canal where we are on the photo turns left beyond the brick canal bridge to end in the centre of Birmingham. Through the brick bridge is the start of the Grand Union Canal heading off south to finish up at Brentford and the River Thames in London. Heading off straight ahead under more of the motorway bridges is the Tame Valley Canal.", "Farmers Bridge Top Lock marks the start of the canal in Birmingham. Note the lock keeper standing in the doorway of the toll house.", "Seemingly buried under the buildings between locks 7 & 8 we pass a boat coming up.", "A wall mural near the bottom of the locks.", "At Aston Junction we turn right on to the Digbeth Branch.", "Turning on to the branch from the main line at Aston Junction.", "There are 6 locks that descend 35\' 1\". This, the top lock, is immediately followed by ...", "... the very narrow 102 yd long Ashted Tunnel.", "At the bottom is the 159 yd long Curzon Street Tunnel created by many railway lines.", "Seen straight ahead here is Typhoo Basin. The through route is under the bridge on the left.", "We have just past through Warwick Bar Stop Lock. These days it is left permanently open.", "Bordesley Junction where the branch connects to the Grand Union Canal.", "We have just joined the canal at Fazeley Junction from the Coventry Canal", "Drayton Swing and Footbridges.", "Approaching Curworth Bottom Lock. This flights is very prettily maintained by the lock keeper, see inset lock sign & swing bridge. This is the start of the climb up in to Birmingham.", "At Curdworh Top LOck. In the background is the bridge that carried the M6 Toll road over the canal.", "It takes us 2 minutes to pass through the 57 yd. long Curdworth Tunnel.", "The canal passes beneath a factory in Erdington.", "Salford Junction lies below the M6 at Gravelly Hill. The canals below the two bridges on the left are firstly the Grand Union and secondly the continuation of this canal in to central Birmingham. Straight ahead is the Tame Valley Canal. The 'normal' road bridge carries the Lichfield Road.", "Aston Bottom Lock. The climb now starts in earnest with 23 locks in just over 2 miles, a rise of 151'.", "This photo is taken at Aston Top Lock. The gentleman assisting is Mr. Jim Shead. He has been helping us from the second lock. He is a canal enthusiast and has a very imformative website.", "Us in the lock. Above the lock is Aston Junction. We are bearing right to continue in to central Birmingham. The Digbeth Branch leaves on the left.", "Mr. Shead heads off towards Farmers Bridge Bottom Lock. He is going to assist us all the way to the top.", "Locks 10 and 9 are busired under a building.", "We only meet one boat coming down. Unfortunately in a place with not much space so this has to use a side pound to allow us to pass.", "Having completed the flight we have moored just before the canal ends at Old Turn Junction (under the bridge).") myPix = new Array("_01","_02","_03","_04","_05","_06","_07","_08","_09","_10","_11","_12","_13","_14","_15","_16","_17","_18","_19","_20","_21","_22","_23","_24","_25","_26","_27","_28","_29","_30","_31","_32","_33","_34","_35","_36","_37","_38","_39","_40","_41","_42","_43","_44","_45","_46","_47","_48","_49","_50","_51","_52","_53","_54","_55","_56","_57","_58","_59","_60","_61","_62","_63","_64","_65","_66","_67","_68","_69","_70","_71","_72","_73","_74","_75","_76","_77","_78","_79")