What an awful day. Rained buckets all day (well at least until about 3:30, but we'd moored up by then). The rain was so bad that we decided to take turns steering the boat, whilst the other one stayed inside in the dry and warm. Fortunately between the Waterfront and the Gas Basin there is only one lock (Blowers Green at Park Head junction) so no real issues about only having one person 'on deck'.
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| View through the bow window. |
I volunteered for the first shift and took us to the moorings by the Bumble Hole Nature Reserve visitor centre. This is just outside the Netherton Tunnel. After a shower, change of clothes (the rain was that bad) and a very welcome cup of tea I had warmed up enough to take Eos through the tunnel. Josie then took over for the afternoon shift. We had decided to plough on until we reached the Gas Basin rather than stop again for lunch.
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| Josie steering in the rain |
Arriving into Birmingham city centre via the canal provides a distinctive view of the City's new library.
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| New library building in Birmingham (The one that looks like it is covered in barbed wire) |
After arriving at the Gas Basin we had a bite to eat and then, as the rain had stopped, prepared for a walk to a couple of pubs. As we stepped off the boat we met Erica, another member of the boat's syndicate. After a brief catch up we agreed to meet again in the morning when we would be able to show the boat to a friend of Erica's who was staying in Birmingham.
We walked to the Prince of Wales in King Edwards Road at the back of the Symphony Hall. The pub had been closed for refurbishment and we wanted to see if it had reopened. Unbeknown to us, today was the re-opening day so fortunately we were able to stop and have a couple of pints. The new landlord is just good as his predecessor in keeping the beer in excellent condition and the two pints we had were superb. The refurbishment has not changed the character of the pub, except in the gents where the photo's below show the surreal urinals and hand basins against a backdrop of trees (forest & bears came to mind).
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| Urinals in the Prince of Wales |
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| Hand basins in the Prince of Wales |
After the Prince of Wales we made our way back to the Gas Basin and the Canalside Café for another couple of pints. Again, as I've mentioned before the beer here although in very good condition is kept just above an acceptable temperature. After the beer we walked about 10 yards to Eos for a sandwich for supper.
