The Big One (16-6)

Tuesday 31st of July 2012

Black Country Museum to Autherley Junction.

The weather overnight was continuous rain and so this morning when we spotted a break in the weather - we decided to go for it and head for the Wolverhampton flight. Which is just a small climb down 21 locks. From Tipton almost all the way to the Wolverhampton locks the canal is quite shallow in places and weed growth is becoming a problem.

The Big One (16-5)

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. 

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......

Tumbleweed on the canal!

It's the last day of July - you know the month with the well worn description of  flaming-July. An ominous overcast sky and the wind blows in from the west. Cue a large ball of tumble-weed which rolls by. It could be the opening shot in a Spaghetti Western. However, it's the state of the canals. There is a an almost complete lack of hire boats and holiday makers. It's the school holidays and yet it is so quiet. That's what gives the canal this almost deserted eerie feeling.

Trades Description Act

Moored as we were near to Gas Street Basin and watching the various trip boats go and down the canal from this "historic" site. I can't help but wonder if the trades description act would prohibit using the word historic as most of the old canalside buildings have been replaced since the 1990's by high rise flats.

I'm all for redevelopment of any old industrial area's. However where those areas have some historical merit. I only favour redevelopment as long as the historical context is maintained. This can be done by redeveloping the existing buildings or where new builds incorporate the look and feel of the area. I fail to see how some of the developments in and around Gas Street have done either. 

The Big One (16-4)

Sunday 29th July 2012

Birmingham

What a changeable sort of a day. We started out with bright sunshine but with a cool breeze. At lunch time we went out for a Thai meal which was only a few hundred yards from the boat. The meal was a wonderful one shared with daughter Steph and boyfriend Scott. On the way back it started to rain, then it became quite heavy and everyone stood under the shelter of a building trying not to look to wet as everyone was without a coat or brolly.