Feb12 Trip - Artic Weather Sets In - Tuesday to Saturday

The slight thaw on Monday proved to be a false dawn. The ice refused to melt and we were frozen in for the rest of the week. We spent the week walking along the canal or into Alvechurch village interspersed with the occasional visit to the Weighbridge

Boat stranded further along the cut

The following pictures provide some idea of the conditions outside the boat. Inside we were very comfortable and in the end only had to leave the boat on the Saturday (a day early) because a pump out was required and the water in the boatyard had refrozen so we couldn’t even move the boat a few yards.

Kids tobogging outside Alvechurch

More ducks

Towpath Alvechurch (1)

Towpath Alvechurch (2)

Towpath Alvechurch (3)

Boats iced in at Alvechurch Boatyard

Feb12 Trip - Monday Still Frozen in

Monday and despite a slight thaw and the ice in the yard starting to melt away, a few yards along the canal it’s one to three inches thick from bank to bank. It looks like we will be here all week going for walks instead of cruising along the canal.


Ducks on Ice - Taken from front cabin window

Feb12 Trip - Sunday Frozen in

Nb Eos Moored at Alvechurch

Sunday, first day back on the boat. Heavy snow in Birmingham on Saturday evening. Spent the early part of evening watching Saints draw with Brum and the snow get thicker and thicker. Not very good game, but compensated by a few decent beers in the latter part of the evening. First at the Anchor in Digbeth and The Post Office Vaults (a new Real Ale pub) in Birmingham city centre.

Arrived at boat on Sunday to find it frozen in, but previous owner (after ringing us) had left fire going in stove, so boat cosy & warm. Couple of friends (Steve & Maggie) staying overnight. We were hoping to have a couple of hours cruising down to Tardebigge top lock & returning to the boatyard, but no chance with the ice. Once boat was loaded we nipped across to the Weighbridge for a couple and then spent rest of afternoon playing crib. Before returning to Weighbridge for evening meal.

New Trip

Nb Eos

Next week is our second trip on Eos. As Josie is committed to a couple of meetings it means we will only be going as far as the Gas Basin in Birmingham and cruising around the BCN.

Broad Street Bridge - Looking back at the Worcester Bar

Gas Basin

The plans as usual change on an almost daily basis. One of the trips we had plan was along the Titford branch, but BW have decided to do some work on the Smethwick locks, which has put paid to that. Instead we wil explore the Ridgeacre branch.
We are also hoping to cruise down the Upper Stratford as far as Hockley Heath if possible. All this assumes the weather is OK, with snow forecast for the Birmingham area (38% chance) on Saturday we may find ourselves iced in at Alvechurch. Oh well if that happens I’ll just have to console myself with a pint (or two) in the Weighbridge.

New Hat

Received a new hat for Christmas from my sister. Bit of a cheek really as she is only ten years younger than me.



The hat will get its first airing in February when we’re next on the boat. Will have to reconsider her invite to a days cruise on the boat though, until she shows a bit more respect for her older brother.

New Phone

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

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 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.

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 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.

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

Trip Planning (Sep 11)

Been thinking about next weeks trip and what was going to be straight forward has turned into a bit of a logistics nightmare. Initially the week was clear and we were going to cruise from Alvechurch, down to the new Droitwich ring and back.

Then my wife, Josie, had to go into work for three days, fortunately only for half a day each time and it is in the centre of Birmingham, but it was the Monday, Wednesday and the Friday. That was the first change, instead of heading for Droitwich we are now going to go in the opposite direction towards Birmingham and cruise around the BCN. On the positive side however it did mean that we would not be going down and then back up the Tardebigge flight of locks.
We have also invited a couple of friends to join us. Originally they were going to join on the Tuesday stay with us for the turnround point on the Wednesday and leave on the Thursday, when we got back to their car. Unfortunately they now can’t join us until the Friday. On Friday we will be in the middle of Birmingham, so no where to park their car for three days. Revise the plan again so that they are able to join us at a place safe to park their car.
It will be interesting to see if the plan works out, probably not, but that is the point of narrow boats – go with the flow, but not too fast.