July12 Trip - Fri(Rain)day (Waterfront to Gas Basin)

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'.

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.

Josie steering in the rain

Arriving into Birmingham city centre via the canal provides a distinctive view of the City's new library.



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).

Urinals in the Prince of Wales

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.

July12 Trip _ Wednesday & Thursday (Stourbridge)

Wednesday morning we left The Waterfront and travelled down the Delph Locks (sometimes known as the Delph 9, although there are only 8 locks). Carrying on the theme of nine locks the pub at the bottom of the flight is The Tenth Lock. We were joined by our friend Paul just past the bottom lock. Another friend was supposed to join as well, but had cried off with a bad cold.

View from top of Stourbridge locks

Paul stayed with us until the bottom of the Stourbridge flight of locks. Originally he was going to stay until the end of the day and join us for a drink in Stourbridge, but a mutual friend was debuting in an am-dram play and Paul went to offer moral support.

View into Stourbridge Town Basin

We continued along the Stourbridge Town Arm and moored up just outside the town wharf. We then went into town to join the friend, Rick, who had cried off earlier with a cold, now recovered! We went to the Duke William, which is the where Craddocks beer is brewed. The beer we had was excellent, although we have since learned that the brewer and and the Duke William landlord have parted company. After a few beers we then went to a local curry house.

Moored just outside Stourbridge Town Basin

Thursday morning and we were heading back up the Stourbridge & Delph flight of locks (this time with no help) to spend the evening at The Waterfront again. Thursday was an excellent day, weather wise, bright blue shy and very hot. As we had a bit of time and the weather was so nice we decided to make a short excursion into the Fens branch & Stourbridge Extension Canal.

Stourbridge Extension Canal

Mooring in The Waterfront in the early evening sat on the quayside with a glass of beer was a perfect end to a tiring, but relaxing day.

Moored at the Waterfront

July12 Trip - Tuesday (Netherton Tunnel to Brierley Hill)

After yesterday a relatively trouble free day. The weather improved, with only minor spells of drizzle and even some sunny moments. The passage through Netherton Tunnel passed without incident. At the other side is start of the Dudley No.2 canal and TheWindmill End Junction to Hawne Basin on one side and the Bumble Hole or Netherton Park recreation area on the other.

Working boats at Withmoor Island.

 Just past the park is Withmoor Island, where we saw two working boats moored up. After this the canal winds its way round to the Park Head Junction where it joins the Dudley No. 1 Canal. At the canal side there is a series of metal sculptures depicting canalside life in the 19th century.

Depiction of a cooper

A shepherd? overlooking the canal.

 Even the mile markers are in the same style, and in one case a local car company has used the same style to advertise itself.

A 'mile' marker (-> 2 mile Blowers Green; <- 1/2 mile Bumble hole)

Advertisment for car company.

Depiction of Lloyds Proving House steam crane.

 The steam crane in the picture above was used to lift chains on to wagons once their strength had been tested.

Brewins Tunnel explanation.

 Although not the same series of sculptures the above is used to explain why what is now a cutting is called Brewins tunnel. The tunnel was opened out in 1858 "..saving the leggers a tiresome job" as the caption says.

Sculpture marking the end of the Dudley No.2 canal.

 The last scupture is by Blowers Green Pump Hose and marks the end of the Dudley No.2 canal.

Eos descending the Blowers Green lock.

The second part of the days cruise was down the lock at Blowers Green Pump House and then on to the Waterfront, which overlooks the Merryhill (or as some people call it Merryhell) shopping centre.

Merryhill(hell) shopping centre.

Fortunately the view coming into the Waterfront is much more to my liking.

Brewers Wharf, The Waterfront Brierley Hill

The moorings at the Waterfront are modern and provide plenty of room. There are plenty of office blocks surrounding the waterfront, but because of the recession many of them are empty, which means the area is also very quiet.

Empty? office blocks at The Waterfront.



There are two pubs on the quayside a Wetherspoons and The Brewers Wharf, both do meals. We had a pint in the Brewers Wharf, but were not tempted to stay for a second. Instead we moved on to the Vine, sometimes know as the Bull & Bladder and less frequently as The Delph. The home of Bathams bitter, a pub not to be missed, just five minutes walk from The Waterfront.

July12 Trip -Monday - Measured for the Dudley Tunnel

The aim for today was to reach the Black Country Living Museum (BCLM) about lunch time to be measured by their guage for the Tunnel. If we fitted then we would spend the afternoon in the Museum, if we didn't then there would be enough time to get back to the start of the Netherton tunnel, ready for tommorow.

Trip boat entering Dudley Tunnel

Everything was going to plan until about 11 o'clock. We had just come through the Factory locks and turned left towards the museum when we came across a British Waterways work boat stuck under Owen Street bridge. It was fully loaded with dredged spoil and appeared to have grounded. The BW tug eventually managed to push it through and we were underway after about 20 minutes. However as we passed through the bridge the prop was fouled and all propulsion lost. Eos was stranded in the middle of the cut, whilst I delved into the weed hatch to sort it out. Just under an hour later and one very torn bed sheet later we were back under way.

Me clearing the weed hatch.

Part of one very torn bed sheet.

 These delays however meant our arrival at the BCLM was later than planned. I went to the ticket office to enquire about the measuring, unfortunately a party of school children were about to be taken into the tunnel and there would be no one availble for the measuring until the trip boat returned at 2:45. So some 3 hours later than planned we were finally measured only to find that Eos was too large.

Dudley Tunnel measuring guage.

We then started the journey to the Netherton Tunnel, thinking we would be able to get there and moor up ready to through first thing the following morning. Then we came across this

BW/C&RT dredger at work.

Surprised not to see a trolley!

This held us up for another 30 minutes and after we were allowed through twice in the next mile the prop was fouled. Not particularly badly, but another 15 minutes lost each time.

Despite the holdups and the onset of rain we made steady progress, passing above Netherton tunnel branch.

Netherton tunnel branch from the Old Main Line canal.

We did think about stopping on the Old Main Line for the night, but decided to at least get to the Gower Branch and put the Brades locks behind us. The first two Brades locks are in fact a staircase lock and as Eos left the bottom gate the boat grounded on the cill. Another half-an-hour before we got moving, walking to the bottom gate, to make sure all the paddles were down, then back to the top gate to open the paddles to let water into the lock and pound to refloat Eos. Once we had sorted this out we went through the bottom lock and called it a day, mooring in the Gower branch for the night.

One of the most frustrating days on the canal I've experienced, held up by a boat stuck in a bridge hole, delayed by a sheet wraped around the propellor, Eos being too large for the Dudley Tunnel (not entirely unexpected though). Held up by a dredger, delayed twice more by the propellor being fouled and finally being grounded (through lack of water, despite it raining most of the day).

Gower Branch (BCN) looking back at Brades Locks.

July12 Trip - Sunday - Alvechurch to The Gas Basin

Prompt start from Alvechurch boat yard, no time for the usual pint in the Weighbridge. We want to get to the Gas Basin, in Birmingham, by this evening so that we can get a good start for the Black Country Museum in the morning. We arrived in Birmingham at 6pm, moored just down From the Canal Side Cafe. As usual the area is busy until mid-evening, but is then quiet through out the night.


Approaching the turn into Gas Street Basin - Mail Box on the right

Abergavenny & the Mon & Brec (June)

Managed to get away for the weekend and spent a couple of days at the Kings Arms in Abergavenny in the Brecon Beacons.



King's Arms Abergavenny

Whilst there, as the 'Mon & Brec' is only just outside the town, we decided to have a short walk along the canal. We walked along a short section which included the village of Govilon. There wasn't much to see, we only saw one boat moving during the two hour walk, but got a couple of pictures.

Mon & Brec footbridge Govilon June 12

Mon & Brec road bridge Govilon June 12

Holiday Rota

Great Excitement.

The draw for the 2012/13 holiday weeks had just taken place. We've been quite lucky with weeks in January, May, August & September.

However emails are now flying around with people asking for swaps. One couple wanted to swap their week in the school holidays for one outside. They have a week next to us and by coincidence our May week is also next to them. We suggested that we swap our May week for their August week. This gives both of us a two week cruise which they have agreed to.

Another couple drew the Christmas week, which they also had last year. They asked if anyone wanted to swap and we offered our January week, which was accepted. We were asked for one other swap, but as this would have meant moving from week when Josie had no teaching to one when she would have to go into the university we had to decline this.

At the end of the swapping we now have Christmas 2012 on Eos, two weeks in August and a week at the end of September.

Heron at Alvechurch

Towpath just before Garrison Locks

Canal boats at Eturia Festival 2011

Mar12 Trip - Tardebigge & Saints on TV - Saturday & Sunday

Saturday morning and Tardebigge to look forward to and then Saints on the TV away to Blackpool. Early start to ensure back in the boat yard in time to watch the football. Not a problem really as Tardebigge should only take about 4 hours and then about an hour to the yard and moor the boat.

Just getting started at Tardebigge bottom lock

In the end the flight took us four-and-a-half hours. No real hold ups, but we did meet a working boat and a butty coming down - on their way to a historic boat rally at Droitwich.

Heritage boat Nb Ilford

Nb Ilford entering the lock

At last a very welcome sight, stopped for lunch and then on to Alvechurch arriving just before 4pm. Plenty of time to sort the boat out, pump out, top up the diesel, check the gas bottles and start to clean the boat ready for the next owners.

A very welcome sight.

Then sit down and watch the football, that's when it all started to go wrong, Saints on the wrong end of a 3 - 0 score line. Never mind at least we can go across to the Weighbridge for something to eat and a few well deserved pints, unfortunately there was no chef so no food. Into the village for some fish & chips and  then back to the boat and start planning the next trip in July.

Mar12 Trip - Tibberton to Tardebigge - Friday

Joined by Josie's sister Maxine today. With both Alan & Maxine on board the day started with them both getting off again and driving their cars to the Queens Head at Stoke Pound. One of the cars was left there, they then drove back to Tibberton, stopping at a supermarket on the way to get some bacon & bread for breakfast.

Josie & Maxine working hard

The day went well with both Alan and Maxine taking a turn at the tiller and helping with the locks. As we reached the bottom of Tardebigge locks we moored for the night. Despite our best efforts both Maxine & Allan decline the opportunity to stay overnight and help us with the locks the following morning. They did however buy us a drink in the Queen's head before they set off home.



Queen's Head - Stoke Pound

We looked at the menu in the Queens and realised how fortunate we were on Monday, when we went to the Boat & Railway instead - similar meals, but at least 50% more. We did stay for a couple more pints (Wye Valley HPA - in excellent condition) before we decided to have a meal on board and get an early night ready for a prompt start on Saturday. Unfortunately Friday night is 'Disco night' in the Queens and it was quite noisey, even though we were not moored directly opposite the pub.

Mar12 Trip - Tibberton - Thursday

Got underway quite early. We were meeting Josie's brother Alan at Tibberton, although not that far ( 4 miles &15 locks - 4 or 5 hours) we did need to get some water and couldn't see any water points in the Nicholson's until Dunhampstead, another 2 miles past Tibberton. Although there was a winding hole between the waterpoint and Tibberton we estimated that part of the journey back to Tibberton would be in reverse.

Village of Oddingley

Made the watering point at about 3pm and then took just under an hour to fill up (we must have been very low). Got back to Tibberton at about 5pm, thinking just time to get a pint before Josie's brother arrived and then go for a meal. Unfortunately Alan was stuck on the motorway and didn't arrive until after 9pm, so much for our rushing around!