Wednesday 14 December 2011

New Phone

image
Three Bridges (Grand Union near Ealing)

Finally managed to get a new phone. Had to wait because the one I wanted wasn’t in stock.
It’s an Android and this its a test post with a photograph using it.
The picture is ‘Three Bridges’ on the Grand Union near Ealing (railway line underneath, canal aqueduct in the middle and a road bridge [Windmill Lane] above). Technically only two bridges, but locals know it as three bridges.
About half-a-mile away is a superb pub ‘The Fox Inn’, about 50 yards from the canal (plenty of mooring) well worth a visit. A regular entry in CAMRA’s Good Beer Guide.
Posted from Android

Friday 9 December 2011

Oct11 Trip - Friday and end of trip

Bit of a delay posting this. Several reasons (as well as just being lazy). Helped with the Birmingham Beer Festival and also involved with my local Unison branch in organising for the national strike on the 30th November.
Worked our way up Farmers Bridge locks during the afternoon and moored the boat in the Gas Basin just down from the Canalside Cafe, where we had arranged to meet some friends for a meal and a few drinks. A choice of 3 real ales, just a touch too warm, but otherwise all in excellent condition. The meals were very good. All in all good beer, good food and good friends made a very convivial atmosphere and we had a throughly enjoyable evening.

Vasthill
Vasthill Tunnel

On Saturday we had a slow trip back to the boat yard. Stopping at Birmingham University to wash the outside of the boat. We also saw some sloes and quinces, which we picked. Sloe gin for christmas – excellent. Spent Saturday evening in the Weighbridge at Alvechurch, another excellent CAMRA pub. Consistently in the Good Beer Guide and regularly voted as Pub of the Year by the local branch – not difficult to see why.

Kings Norton
Canal building at Kings Norton Junction

Sunday morning spent cleaning the inside of the boat, topping up with fuel and water. Nothing very exciting until the very last job of the morning. Whilst walking along the gunwale with the hose, after topping up the water, I managed to slip and had my first (and hopefully only) unwanted swim/wade in the canal. Fortunately Josie was inside in the boat at the time and I was able to get to the bank and out of the canal before any photographic evidence of the incident could be taken. No real damage was done (apart from my badly dented pride) but I did manage to water-log my phone and ruin it.

Cleaning Eos
Cleaning Eos at Birmingham University

Our next trip on Eos is in February, don’t expect we will be going very far, but at least it will give us the opportunity to test out the solid fuel stove.