Thursday 24 - Sunday 27 September 2015

Birmingham has been our home for the last four days as well as hosting the Rugby World Cup and it being Festival Weekend!  Lou went off on Friday to a cottage that she has booked to spend five days with the boys before coming back to us on Wednesday, and our friends Gary and Cinita arrived Saturday morning to spend the weekend with us and left at lunchtime on Sunday.  Fiona was working in Birmingham this weekend so she popped in on her way from the new store in the city centre to the NEC.  Lou and Sam came back Sunday evening and we went for dinner.  Another great City that we never would have bothered to visit but glad we have experienced it.  It has been noisy at night but nobody bothered us.

Chugging past the Canalside that became a bit of a regular for us during our stay!

The Mailbox - three floors of bars and restaurants!

These characters were all over the Mailbox - mum and daughter.

Dad.

We got this for Steve - it did make him feel better for a day - I should have bought him a weeks worth!

The Library.

The light fittings inside The Botanist pub!

There are so many canals that make up the Birmingham Canal Navigation - it's like Spaghetti Junction all over again!

Victoria Square.

New Street Station with John Lewis in the background - Fiona is in there working somewhere!

 

Most bizarre - on Saturday night we watched a guy holding one of these glitter balls then about 20 people would gather and circle him, then a girl would led them off in single file along the canal, this happened several times we were just about to follow them to see what it was all about but it seemed to be the last time, then Sunday morning when we were walking we spotted some of them dotted about!

Steve and Cinita walking along the floating market.

Happy!

Dad!

Cinita and Gary enjoying a stroll.

Outside the Cube.

Hello Fi.

Lou and Sam.

 



The Bull outside The Bull Ring Shopping Centre.

We were moored near the Registry Office - we must be in at least six couples' wedding photos!

Wednesday 23 September 2015

We woke up to brilliant sunshine this morning.  Lucy and I went shopping, well it would be a shame to be moored at a huge shopping centre and not get some retail therapy!!

We slipped lines and left at about 12 noon and made our way to Park Head Junction.  Through the first lock and there were loo emptying, rubbish disposal and water facilities so rather than taking the boat through three more locks to the gauge to see if we would fit through Dudley Tunnel, whilst Steve and Lou attended to the emptying and filling I walked up to see whether I thought we would fit – very doubtful and I think it would be extremely claustrophobic in there so we decided to abandon that idea and head for Netherton Tunnel instead which is 3027 yards but is a high, wide tunnel with a towpath each side, not that I would fancy walking through there – we did see a few cyclists but nobody walking.

As we entered the tunnel we disturbed several bats whom came to say hello!  There were a few ventilation shafts which provided us with a soaking as we passed underneath.  This is definitely the largest tunnel we have been through and despite its length you could see the other end when we entered.  We didn’t meet any boats coming the other way and it took us 50 minutes.

Once through the tunnel the weather was completely different which was weird, when we went in it was a mix of sunshine and clouds, when we came out it was very overcast, cold and threatening rain.  We crossed over the Wolverhampton Level and turned right onto the Birmingham Level Main Line – the tiller arm was juddering quite a bit so we pulled over and sent Steve down the weed hatch to check the prop – just as well as we had acquired a few lumps of plastic bags.  Once removed we were on our way again passing under the M5 and a railway station that was on a bridge over the canal – quite funny hearing the announcement that 16.47 was delayed!

Eventually we arrived in Birmingham City Centre at about 5pm and found a lucky mooring right in the heart of things looking up the canal to the Mailbox – three floors of bars and restaurants.  We got changed and went in search of a Chinese.  Unfortunately there wasn’t one so we settled for a restaurant called Red Peppers.

Shopping!

Out through Dudley.

Steve and Lou dealing with the poo!

There's the gauge for the Dudley Tunnel.  I will just get a bit closer.

Glad we didn't waste time doing the last three locks as there is no way we will get through there!

It's pretty narrow around here.

Did someone say Autumn?

Coming up to Netherton Tunnel - notice the colour of the sky!

Going in - Lou's first tunnel.

There goes a cyclist.

You can see the towpaths either side and we have a bit more head room than usual in tunnels. 

That's the other end!

Are you smiling - it's very dark in here.

Glider - see the sky now!

Birmingham Main Line - long and straight.

Suburbia and countryside beyond. 

The latest prop clear out!

M5.

Under the M5!

That's a railway station up there!

The outskirts of town.

Birmingham - that's the library that looks like a cake!

That's where we will go when we leave Birmingham.

The ICC and Hyatt Regency.

The start of lots of pubs and restaurants...

Tuesday 22 September 2015

Guess what – the sun was shining this morning – not really – it was raining!!  We set off about 9.30am – big day today – 24 Locks in two flights.  Thank goodness I had Lou helping me – we both ache tonight!!  We started off on the Stourbridge Canal, we stopped at Glasshouse Bridge and went in search of a shop to buy some supplies.  Back on board we completed the rest of the flight of 16 locks and turned right at Leys Junction where we joined the Dudley No 1 Canal and stopped for a quick bite of lunch onboard. 

Set off again and completed the 8 Delph locks, even though there is a bridge called Nine Locks Bridge and a pub called the Tenth Lock – we feel like we did 10 rather than 8!  We passed another boat half way down which was handy as the last few locks were in our favour.  Amazing how high we feel we have risen today and the views from the top were fantastic.  Although some of the areas that we have passed have been less pleasant but all in all an enjoyable day.

We called it a day at 5.30pm then Steve, who has manful, realised that he had lost his wallet.  We called his parents, the car hire company and Tesco in Dudley to see if he had left it at any of those – no – so Lou made a shepherd’s pie whilst we made all the calls to cancel cards etc.  We are now at Merryhill Shopping Centre which is where we got the cab to on Sunday to sort out Lou’s phone.  It took 15 minutes in the cab and 12 hours by boat!!  Now we are here I am going to buy a net before we move off tomorrow!  

This morning I called The Dudley Canal Trust about going through Dudley Tunnel – it is 3154 yards long but all passage must be booked in advance as internal combustion engines must not be used in this tunnel due to very limited ventilation, headroom is also limited.  The Dudley Canal Trust operate an electric tug which can tow us through or “escort those wishing to leg through” – think we’ll be looking for a tow if we are allowed.  The lady in the office told me that we need to complete the four locks leading up to the tunnel where there is a gauge which we must put our nose in to see if we fit (she did say that no hire boats fit) if so we can book the tug, if not we have to turn round and go to Birmingham via Netherton Tunnel which is 3027 yards long and is much wider therefore we can navigate this with no problem.  Guess we will have to wait and see.

Leaving our mooring near Middle Bridge.

View to the right.

View to the left.

Aqueduct.

Passing the Stourbridge Arm.

She's really got the hang of things now.

So much development going on near the canal. We went shopping - Steve lit the fire (there's a reason I am telling you this!)

The Glass House.

Looking up the flight.

Dove House.

Making progress up the flight - there's the Glass House in the background.

Magic mushrooms.

Very realistic - funny the things people put on their chimneys!

The locks are very deep here - quite spooky when you are at the bottom.

Come on Steve get winding.

It takes two baby, it takes two baby, just the volunteer and Lou, you know it takes two....

This lock wall was having a leak, I mean had a leak!

Entering the Dudley No 1 Canal.

This is the bridge where we nearly lost the chimney - whose idea was it to light a fire...?

Simple Simon says "stand on one leg" - come on Mrs Moorhen join in.

Oink!

Nearly at the top of the Delph Flight, well half way!

And looking back down.

Merryhill Shopping Centre by night.