Oct11 Trip - Tuesday to Thursday

Spent the next few days cruising up and down the Birmingham & Fazeley (B&F) Canal. This was to enable Josie to get to the office for Wednesday morning and then again on Friday morning.

Eos tied up at Faraday Wharf

Tuesday down the Aston locks (11, 1Hr 50 Mins) and then along the B&F to just past Minworth Greves, where we turned round. We managed to get as far as Tyburn before stopping for the evening and Josie caught the bus to work for Wednesday morning.

Coming down Aston Locks

Tyburn Mooring

Whilst Josie was in the office I cruised down to Salford Junction to wind Eos, and then back to Tyburn to meet Josie.

Passed by Willow Wren whilst waiting for Josie

In the afternoon we cruised along the B&F and almost reached Bodymoor Heath. Unfortunately time was against us and rain had set in at about 4 o’clock, so we were quite wet when we finished at about 6. The village and pub were only about half-an-hours walk away, but we decided not to get any wetter and spent the evening in the cosy warmth of the boat.

Moored at Curdworth

The following morning we went through the last lock to Bodyheath Moor and immediately turned round to begin the journey back to Faraday Wharf, so that Josie could get to the office first thing Friday morning.

Eos crossing between two locks on way back to Birmingham

On the way through the locks at Bodymoor Heath & Curmoor we kept pace with two BW contractors who were cutting the grass. They were very friendly and helpful – closing and opening lock gates for us.

BW grass cutters move on to next set of locks.

The only other thing of note during the journey was a need to stop and clear the propeller. Part of a blue plastic tarpaulin had wraped itself round the propellor and took over 15 minutes to cut free – the worst problem I’ve ever had clearing the
weed (Peoples’ rubbish) hatch.
Luckily most of the locks going up the Aston flight were set in our favour and we ascended them in 1 Hr 45 Mins (5 minutes quicker than when we came down).

Oct11 Trip - Monday – Gas Basin & Farmers Bridge

I had intended to update the blog via my phone, but that hasn’t been very succesful. Especially as all the draft blogs I’d save on my phone were lost when it became water-logged – more about that later. Instead I shall post some short excerpts that will cover the weeks cruising.

On Monday afternoon Josie had to go into the office. That meant, as we were slightly behind schedule, an early start to go through Birmingham’s Gas Basin and down the Farmers Flight of locks.

Cruising through the Gas Basin

After topping up with water by Old Turn Junction (why does filling up the water tank always take ages, even if you only topped up the day before?) we then went down the locks (13 in 1 Hr 55 Mins) and moored at Faraday Wharf at the back of Aston University. The mooring although busy, with pedestrians, during the day is quiet at night. The area is well lit and we felt quite safe leaving the boat to go the Sack of Potatoes for our tea.

Framer's Bridge Locks - Passing under an office block

Farmers Bridge locks pass under several blocks of flats and offices in the centre of Birmingham. These include the Assay Office, the BT Telecom Tower and the train lines as they emerge from Snowhill Station.

Faraday Wharf

The Sacks is a CAMRA Good Beer Guide listed pub and only 5 minutes walk from the mooring. The beer as to be expected from a GBG listed pub is always excellent and it has just recently increased the range of beers on offer ( the number of hand pumps has increased from 3 to 6). Of those 6 on this occasion 3 of them were ‘hoppy’ beers all under 3.8% in strength, just right for quaffing. The food although just ‘standard’ pub grub is filling and just what is needed after working through the Farmer's Bridge flight of locks.

Josie with our friend Keiren outside the Sacks