We told him of our plans to go from Autherley Junction,
up the Wolverhampton Flight and on into Birmingham in one day.
He assured us that it was too much to attempt in a day,
and suggested that we stay overnight at the Black Country Museum.
It was a very useful piece of advice, as there was nowhere else on the whole stretch
between Wolverhampton and Birmingham which would have been a safe mooring.
We pulled in to the Black Country Museum, feeling rather like intrepid travellers
who've just braved the greatest perils!
It's not obvious from the outside that there are visitor moorings at the museum,
and we went right in to the basin.
The staff there were really helpful and found us a spot to moor.
One of the things that has amused me since we came into the Black Country area
is the response when we pass the time of day with people on the bank
as we travel through.
We always say hello, comment on the weather, etc. as we meet people.
Here in the Black Country, when you say hello,
they respond with "Alroight?" in a sing song fashion.
It's as though they're really interested in how you are!
We had a really peaceful night at th Black Country Museum,
though we were moored about one hundred yards in front of the Dudley Tunnel entrance,
and I had to get grip on myself and convince myself there weren't any ghosts in it.
Things take on a different perspective when it's dark!
Tuesday, 30th September
When we eventually surfaced, at about 9.15, Trev opened the side hatch, and guess what?
There was a Museum workman on the opposite bank,
and I bet you can't guess what he said as Trev opened the hatch?
YES!!!! He said,-------"Alroight?"!
LEAVING THE BLACK COUNTRY MUSEUM
We set off for Birmingham, along the Old Level.
This was the line of the original canal, but it was too twisty for work boats
and so a new one was constructed which was almost straight.
We only met a couple of boats yesterday after we left Wolverhampton,
and today was just the same.
It's not a pretty route, though it is a fascinating insight in to our industrial past.
Again the canal was filthy, with loads of debris.
Motorways and ringroads had been built over a lot of the canal,
and it was quite dark and dismal in places.
PASSING UNDER THE MOTORWAY
As we approached Birmingham, it began to look cleaner.
Around Winson Green, there was a lot of work going on to reconstruct the towpath.
I was taking some pictures, when one of the workman said,
"Don't take me photo, I'm still signing on!"
He was joking, I think! Brummies are well known for their sense of humour!
Then it began to get exciting as we came in to the very centre of Birmingham.
COMING IN TO THE CENTRE OF BRUM
It was something Trev, in particular, had been looking forward to doing.
We'd walked the area often and thought how good it would be
to arrive in our own boat, and now we were doing it!
We moored up outside the National Indoor Arena,
in company with quite a few other boats.
Just around the corner were Gas Street Basin and the waterfront area,
with bars and restaurants, and the Symphony Hall and The Rep.
We were certainly in the middle of it all, in our own hotel!
Shortly after we arrived another boat moored up and we got talking boatie talk-
the way we boaters do, y'know!--with the owners.
They were called Cherry and Russ and were living on their boat,
which was called Cherus Two--work it out!
We got to know them well over the next few days, and were sorry
to eventually have to say goodbye.
In the evening, our postmen--Catharine and Mamdooh, plus Catharine's sister Janet--
came to see us, and they took us out for a meal at the Tin Tin Restaurant,
a great Chinese place in the centre of town, overlooking the canal.
Now, tell me, does your postman take you out for a Chinese meal?
No, I thought not. It's just another bonus of living on a boat!
Wednesday, 1st October
Today we went in to the shopping area.
We went to see the new Bullring shopping mall, and Selfridge's.
Selfridge's is an architectural wonder, though it seems to be a shrine to consumerism.
But the view from the end of the mall is amazing.
You stand up high above the south of the city and it's quite breath taking.
It's been so designed that, as you approach, St. Martin's in the Bullring
is right in the centre of the landscape, and it's spectacular.
All I can say is go and see for yourself.
We love Birmingham, and every time we go it gets better!
In the afternoon our new found friends from Cherus came
to help us run down our alcohol stocks!
Then in the evening we went to see "Calendar Girls".
I thought it was great, but Trev thought it was corny!
I must agree with him that the part where they went to Hollywood
seemed a bit far fetched. I don't know all of the real story, so I don't know
if that part was true, or added on just for the sake of the film.
I think it's a woman's film--or, as I heard it described--a chick flick!
Since we were in Birmingham, we HAD to take advantage of the restaurants,
and so had an Italian meal this evening!
Thursday, 2nd October
We walked to the Museum and Art Gallery, and spent a very pleasant few hours there.
Later in the afternoon, we walked down to the Farmer's Bridge Locks,
where we shall go tomorrow on our route homewards.
Phew, it's not the most glamorous of places.
It's very enclosed, the high rise buildings along it completely tower over it.
In some parts there is very little daylight.
We had been advised to make sure we get through these locks, and the next set,
called The Aston Flight, and out to Minworth in the daylight.
Fortunately, Cherry & Russ were going the same way, so we arranged to travel together.
In the evening, Trev went to see "View from the Bridge" at the Rep.
I didn't fancy seeing it--I didn't want to wear my brain out.
And it also gave me a chance to use the computer!
We've had a great stay in Birmingham.
I had been reluctant to come in to the city,
I had heard too many stories of other boaters' misfortunes.
But I must say that there was never a worrying moment and we really enjoyed ourselves.
Friday, 3rd October
The big push today! Farmer's Bridge Locks (all fifteen of them) and Aston Locks (all eleven of them.....)
and out to the safety of Minworth!
We set off with Cherry and Russ and it took us four and a quarter hours.
Cherry and Russ were in front and they set every lock for us after they'd finished.
What great friends!
There was a BW workman cleaning the towpath along the Farmer's Bridge flight.
It has to be done every day.
It goes through the most depressed area, there are hostels for the homeless,
and I found a hypodermic syringe by a lock.
The BW man has a special pair of tongs and container to put them in.
He also has copious quantities of Jeyes fluid, which he pours along under the bridges,
which are used as urinals at night.
I felt really sorry for him. What a job, to have to do it every day,
and know what you're likely to find when you start out each morning.
But when he'd finished it looked really clean and cared for.
When I mentioned to him that everywhere looked so clean, he really brightened up.
I was glad I'd bothered.
Then a BW woman came along, asking if we'd seen a hire boat ahead?
Apparently, the hirers had had half a house brick dropped on them
from one of the high rise buildings, and she was trying to sort it out.
So we were pleased to have company on our way, and glad to be off out of the situation.
We moored up in a pleasant spot called Minworth Greaves.
Tonight it was our turn to drink Cherry and Russ dry!
Saturday, 4th October.
We set off with Cherry and Russ, but we stopped at a pub for lunch and they went on.
Today we have eleven locks to do to get to Fazeley Junction.
Here the Birminham and Fazeley canal--the one we were on--
meets the Coventry canal.
The countryside was pretty, and it was good to see it
after nearly a week in the urban jungle!
We turned right at Fazeley Junction, on to the Coventry canal, and moored up.
It was difficult to tell how the mooring would be.
It didn't really have a safe feel about it.
But, of course, we didn't know the area,
and couldn't be sure of what our surroundings were.
Three boys were sitting on a low bridge just ahead of us,
looking as if they were ready to jump on the next boat that came through.
But in fact they did nothing when a boat did come through,
except to hold out a hand to ask to touch the people on the boat!
Firework bangers were exploding in the distance, and we began to wonder
if this was just the Saturday night warm up!
However, all was well, and we spent a quiet night.
Sunday, 5th October
Before we left this morning we walked back along the towpath to say goodbye to our friends.
They're going north for the winter, on to the Macclesfield.
Then we set off on the last leg of our journey.
Our intention was to make for Hartshill, near Nuneaton, tonight, but Trev was tired.
He's done almost all of the steering, standing on the back for hours at a time,
and we'd had several long days.
So we moored up early in the afternoon and turned up the fire and stayed put.
In a couple of days we shall reach our journey's end--our moorings at Braunston.
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