Monday 30th of July 2012
Birmingham to the Black Country Museum.
It's been a day for very changeable weather. It was on and off rain after lunch. However, it was a late start that saw us leaving Gas Street after a we had been waiting for a midday visit from daughter Steph.
A few boats were on the move first thing. They were obviously aware that in the afternoon the rain would arrive. After a while we were caught up by one of the few hire boat that we have seen. However, this one had the engine going flat out. Complete with a huge bow wave and the beginning of a rooster tail at the rear. We were doing a good steady speed between 3 and 4 mph so I estimate that the hire boat was going at 6/7mph. A half an hour or so later we saw the boat turn left at the next junction towards Netherton tunnel. It took us 14 mins to reach the junction so that put the boat about 1 mile ahead. When we looked down towards the tunnel the boat was already inside and out of sight.
The Tipton flight of three locks was short of water. The two middle pounds of the flight were very low. There was no water passing over the bywash. Add to this - all of the locks were empty. So we had to flush some water down just to make the passage. We also dropped the top lock down after we had cleared the lock. The pounds still looked low.
The moorings at the Black Country Museum were full and we had to wind in the basin entrance. Most of the boats on the moorings were ones that we recognised as being moored up last night in Birmingham. We plodded back down the canal a short distance past the museum and moored up next door to Eric and Allison on Nb Swansong. Nb Harnser is moored in front.
A trip to a nearby pub for a rare treat - a pint and a chip butty. The pub we went into was holding a games night. The teams slowly filled the pub. People were milling around and tables were being set up in readiness. As we sat eating in a corner we could tell that we were occupying seats that are used on games night. We were obviously about as welcome as a fart in a space suit! We decided to move on and to relinquish our seats. We even saved some of the meal leftovers to feed the ducks on our way back. Even the ducks demonstrated how welcome we were, by ignoring our offerings!
Tomorrow it's the Wolverhampton flight - maybe - all depending on the weather and how good the Black country Museum turns out to be.
A trip to a nearby pub for a rare treat - a pint and a chip butty. The pub we went into was holding a games night. The teams slowly filled the pub. People were milling around and tables were being set up in readiness. As we sat eating in a corner we could tell that we were occupying seats that are used on games night. We were obviously about as welcome as a fart in a space suit! We decided to move on and to relinquish our seats. We even saved some of the meal leftovers to feed the ducks on our way back. Even the ducks demonstrated how welcome we were, by ignoring our offerings!
Tomorrow it's the Wolverhampton flight - maybe - all depending on the weather and how good the Black country Museum turns out to be.
Daily Total
Miles: 8.4
Locks: 3
Swing/Lift Bridges: 0
Tunnels: 1
Pump Outs: 0
Engine Hours: 3.8
Diesel: 0
Accumulated Totals
Miles: 1005.7
Locks: 725
Swing / Lift Bridges: 119
Tunnels. 16
Pump Outs: 12
Engine Hours: 2293.0
Later......
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