On to the Shroppie

Today we made it onto the Shropshire Union Canal. Initially it is not how I imagined, I had thought it would be a very old contour canal, but quite the opposite it is a Thomas Telford canal therefore lots of straight sections with embankments and cuttings. Originally built to go to Liverpool.
It is also very difficult to moor at the side. The concrete construction has a below waterline shelf which means you cannot get into the side. We have found somewhere and are really pleased about that but someone who tried to more next to us couldn't get in. We shall have to remember this spot.



We have cruised for about 10 hours today, and very varied it has been too. We started off in Gas Street Basin at 8 o'clock and cruised through Birmingham out on the new mainline. Highlight of the trip, though it didn't photograph very well, was passing under Smethwick Galton Bridge.



I had to go down the weed hatch on two separate occasions, the first time removing plastic bags a kagoul and goodness knows what else. It was a horrible job. The second time there wasn't much there but we had significantly lost power. We had a couple of incidents of this but after some hard thrusts in reverse everything seemed back to normal for the rest of the trip. Quite worrying when the engine normally goes to two and a half thousand revs but on this occasion would only go to about 1000. We were barely making forward progress.

We came down we came down the Wolverhampton 21, which was hard work as two of the bridges needed Alison to pull the boat right over to the right hand side to maintain our chimney being in contact with the rest of the boat.



We thought once we were off the BCN that all of our problems with rubbish would be behind us. However at the first bridge on the Shropshire Union we came to this.



Tomorrow must be easier.

Made it to Gas Street Basin

After a long cruise from the Drawbridge of 4 hours we made it to Gas Street Basin.



It was further than I remembered but luckily we arrived early enough to get a good mooring just short of the Worcester Bar.

It was lovely having lunch on board in the centre of our home city.



We went to l9ok at the views from the 7th floor of the library but it was noisy as there was a festival just outside.



We had a real surprise looking the other way, the mooring we were aiming for and which had been totally empty when we did a reccy two weeks ago was totally full.



I hope it's not this full when we are back in 3 weeks time for T20 finals day.

Now time to go to the wedding do we are invited to attend the Botanical Gardens.

Deja Vu

Today we did the same as last year for the third day running however tomorrow will be all new.

No locks today. We came through Wast Hill's tunnel on tick over following a slow boat so the 2726 yards underground took forever. But we successfully passed another boat inside with no disasters unlike Shrewley tunnel last year.

Down the Stratford canal to the requested Drawbridge pub. The children really enjoyed it last year. Km had an extra large chicken New Yorker and polished it off.

We also operated the drawbridge for another boat.



It is operated using this panel. Warning lights flash for 20 seconds. Then barriers come down and finally the bridge goes up.



When we operated it one moronic driver decided to ignore all the warnings and narrowly missing the descending first barrier drove onto the bridge but had to emergency stop at the second and found himself stuck on an opening bridge. I was very tempted to keep going but feared breaking the whole thing so hit the emergency stop to release the driver. What a plonker.

Anyway another happy and tiring day. Tomorrow we turn round and head for Birmingham city centre.

Tardebigge in the rain AGAIN

We have still not done the 30 locks of Tardebigge in the dry. Maybe one day.
Today is Alison's birthday. We are celebrating by consuming vast quantities of pizza.
The day started with a view of a windmill.



Before ascending the locks.

We saw all sorts including children with no life jackets in the canal. Luckily they survived though I'm not sure it will be to the benefit of the gene pool.



Tardebigge is a right of passage but eventually we reached this.



Happily moored by Alvechurch marina and the Weigh Bridge pub we are enjoying guilt free eating having already burning off the calories.

Maybe one day we will do the flight in the sunshine.

The holiday begins.

Just like last year, our first day was coming from the Mirena and travelling fourteen locks towards Birmingham and a picturesque mooring basically in the middle of nowhere.
All has gone well, we set off a bit later and made good progress we are moored up, have done some repairs to

scratches and are about to settle down for the night. We have decided this year to use the microwave more to make quick meals which means we get more time together rather than an hour cooking a meal. That worked well though we do need our portable generator to do that. However it worked we've eaten, everybody's happy.
I got to do some locks today as Alison has done a steering coursr and felt more confident in maneuvering the boat. Interestingly the lock gear is very unique to this canal, amazing that it's over 200 years old.





As the sun goes down on our first day, we are all happy and looking forward to 31 locks tomorrow and hopefully a wedding in Birmingham on Saturday.

Things are better up north.

This week we had to go to Blackburn.

As we set off to Blackburn we were interested to notice that there were two trams outsidel Grand Central and if you can read the destination blinds you will find that although travelling in opposite directions there are both going to Birmingham!



Regular readers of this blog will know just how much we like our breakfasts. Well we couldn't believe it, when we got to Wetherspoon's at Blackburn to find out that they do an extra large breakfast.

Two were ordered and polished off.

Leeds

Today I drove Leeds 345.



It was meant to rain but didn't so it was like being in a greenhouse all day.

331 was in service. Hopefully one day I will get trained for this one.