Cruising on the Birmingham Canal Navigations
Again an early start, 7:10am, to try to beat the hot weather. Down the rest of the Wolverhampton flight was reasonably OK, though we did have to turn a few of them. Two locks before the end an upcoming boater had emptied the lock before us without me noticing. He didn’t bother to look ahead.
Another early start as the weather forecast is for another hot day. We left at 6:50. It’s been a really quiet day boatwise. All the way through the centre of Birmingham and out to Wolverhampton we have only passed three moving boats. Since we moored up another has passed us. We came along the old
Another early start down the rest of the ’21’. We didn’t see another boat until we were approaching Autherley junction, then we were in a queue. First for the temporary stoppage round some dredging, then for the junction itself. A stop at Wheaton Aston for fuel (47.9 p/l cheapest on the network?) then on to
A lazy start today. Our niece Emily, her husband Jim and their two boys live in Birmingham and we had arranged for them to come and visit. They arrived about ten, bearing muffins and cakes. So after a tea and cake break we took them for a short trip. First around the Oozells loop then
The weather forecast for today was for rain most of the day. So when we awoke at 6 o’clock and it was dry a decision was made to go for it. So we set off at 6:30.In fact the weather wasn’t too bad. We had a few periods of drizzly rain but it was mostly
Hot day today! though it didnt start out that way. We woke early so decided to get going and were on our way by 7:00. It was grey and overcast. A pleasant cruise round to Windmill end and then through Netherton tunnel. We chose to take the Old Main Line route into Birmingham rather than
Now moored just above the Merryhill Shopping centre. 30 locks today, mostly in the rain! Part way up the Stourbridge 16 a guy turns up on a bike and starts to help us. He came with his own windlass and anti-vandal key. It seems that he just likes helping out boaters. He worked ahead for
Back on home waters of the Staffs & Worcs. After two days of early starts we had a lie in this morning and a leisurely breakfast at about 9:00. Then at 10:00 we went to the Black Country Living Museum. This is a large site of reconstructed buildings depicting life in the Black Country from
We are moored outside the Black Country Living Museum. It’s been a long day with lots of contrasts. We started out early again, before seven o’clock to try to beat the weather. Three more locks of the Birmingham & Fazeley canal and then we turned onto the Tame Valley canal. This junction of the Birmingham
A lovely warm day today. Surprisingly few boats about. The sky was clear and bright so we made a start before seven o’clock. There was a bit of panic when we got to Netherton tunnel. Our tunnel light didn’t work! Normally Heddi steers in tunnels. She doesn’t like tunnels much and finds that concentrating on