Back in the City.

Tuesday 31st August.

We left the Bournville mooring at 0950 and set off to Birmingham. It was fairly quiet and we encountered no problems; even the Selly Oak diversion seemed easier to navigate- but maybe that's because we're getting used to it after having passed through several times! The construction work is coming on and we could see quite a difference since we were there in June. We arrived in Birmingham about 11 o'clock and were very pleased to see a mooring space in Oozell's Loop so were all tied up by 1110.
After lunch we went to the shops and decided to have a meal at the Yo! Sushi bar in Selfridges. We love Japanese food and have been to this bar before. Tonight's meal was equally superb as the previous one we enjoyed there. Brindley Place looked as pretty as ever as we walked back to TQ and I must say that it was really lovely to see all the beautiful flowers and plants everywhere we walked, on this last day of August.

Family time!

Monday 30th August

It was a great day! Stephanie, Chris, Tamsin and Sasha arrived at 10:45 and we had such fun. It was their first visit to TQ and we enjoyed a leisurely cruise to Bournville. The weather was fine- quite a miracle for Bank Holiday Monday- and all went well. The girls thought it was very exciting. We moored the boat at the BW site opposite Bournville station and left TQ late afternoon to walk with them to the station so they could get the train back to Alvechurch to get their car. Sorry to see them go...
Afterwards we walked into the town and it all seemed rather quiet. However, we found Selly Manor to be open on BH Mondays (until 5pm) and were delighted as last time we were here we arrived too late to visit. Well worth visiting. We walked round the village a bit more before returning to the boat and having a meal on board and a quiet night.

Last Trip on Tranquility This Year.

Sunday 29th August.

We arrived back at Alvechurch this afternoon, on a sunny Bank Holiday weekend, for a week's holiday. It was good to see Tranquility again. We've decided to take it easy this week as we've had a very busy year and could do with a rest! After unloading the car, we went down to the local supermarket but were thwarted when there was a power cut and the alarm went off just before we finished our shopping- everyone had to leave the shop at that time. We waited a few minutes for the All Clear and went back in to continue where we'd left off. However, shortly afterwards the same thing happened, just as we were making our way to the cash till. Having been turfed out again, we decided to hedge our bets and go on to Sainsbury's instead. Just made it before closing time.
Staying in the marina tonight as our daughter, son-in-law and two gorgeous granddaughters, aged five and three, are coming tomorrow to have a little trip on the boat with us! It will be a new experience for them so hope they'll like it.

The last leg.

Spent the morning chatting to people in between carrying on with cleaning - or was it the other way round?? Steve also went up to the winding hole so he could reverse TQ back to our spot in order to see to her other side. I walked up to the garage as I’d found out that they now sell newspapers- very handy, as is the postbox next to Hopwood House Inn!
As I cleaned the oven this morning, I discovered that the top oven/grill is missing the inner door glass. This, of course, is the new cooker which was only installed on 16th May. I do not use the cooker very much and hadn’t used the top one at all, so I hadn’t noticed this before.
Another visit to the winding hole so we could set off for Alvechurch about 5.30pm- just after the gas bottle ran out. Tranquility’s berth was waiting for her, so we are now into the last stages of packing up so that all will be ready for an early start homeward bound.
Very much enjoyed our trip as always and look forward to the end of August.
Final tally: Stourport Ring (almost!) and Black Country Ring (almost!!), 127 miles, 149 locks in about 78 hours of travel.

Notice the shine on TQ

Oozells Loop to Hopwood

Forgot to mention that when we were doing the Aston Locks on the way into Birmingham, we crossed paths briefly with Firefly going the other way. This morning the weather was fine, so Steve cleaned the exterior of TQ. I walked to the Mailbox to get the newspaper and a Get Well card and discovered there is a postbox if you go down one floor from Tesco Metro and turn right out of the side door of the Mall.
We cruised round to Sherborne Wharf for a pump-out (£9) and water; also ice creams as it was really hot by then! It was about 12 when we left the wharf and started back towards Alvechurch. We have been through the canal diversion at Selly Oak a few times now, so have noticed the progress of the works. In spite of the lovely weather, Wasthills Tunnel was still very cold and wet… We arrived at Hopwood about three o’clock and moored in the last space available before the water point. As we pulled in, we met David & Margaret ( TQ syndicate members who also have a share in a different syndicate. )
After mooring, Captain continued the work on the exterior while I began on the inside. Later we had a barbecue and pleasant sit down in the evening sun.

Day of rest?

We had a quiet night with no disturbance, followed by an easy-going morning, (apart from his lordship cleaning the outside of TQ!) then went to town. It was lovely and warm so we joined many others and sat outside for lunch. Summer weather…. The three hours of shopping only increased the aching in the bones, which had started after the 36 locks had been completed yesterday. No more locks till next time now. By the way, if you are in a hurry, don’t go to the Post Office in the centre of town. I had to have a card weighed and went to get an ‘order of service’ ticket from the machine, but was given a ticket (Number 127) from a customer who’d got tired of waiting. On it was printed that there were 86 people in front of me! In fact by this time of the day that wasn’t correct as there were only 37. However I quite soon got tired of waiting too, what with the heat and backache- and just put two First Class stamps on the envelope and hope that our son gets the card in time for his birthday on Sunday. I’m sure he’ll be very understanding if he doesn’t. By then we’d had enough of the High Life we’re not used to, so returned to TQ for the evening.

A June morning..

A misty start!

As you can see, we set off on a foggy morning (7a.m.). It was very quiet and not too cold -for a change- and by 0920 we had finished the Curdworth locks, only bumping (figuratively) into people at the last lock. Not too long afterwards we came into the urban area and I took a walk at Dickens Bridge in order to get a newspaper. This entailed a walk alongside a very busy road, plus a complicated detour over to the far side of the traffic lights in order to be able to cross the road safely, as there was no chance at all for pedestrians at the first crossing I came to. Having purchased the paper and some milk, I retraced my steps over this busy, noisy road but made a slight detour to a post box as I had a birthday card to post. (Always looking for a postbox!) Unfortunately in the excitement of finding one, I made a slight mistake in the choice of the two roads available and ended up on the wrong one, heading towards a roundabout that I didn’t remember. Only a few minutes’ delay, though, as I could se the Captain on the canal bank from where I was.
Oops, back to the blog. We were out of the Minworth locks at 1130 and ate our sandwiches on the go before cruising under all the motorway roads of Spaghetti Junction. What a delight that is- although at one place there were some beautiful wild lupins in the middle of it all. From Aston locks I walked into Birmingham while the captain cruised. We shared the lock work and had no problems apart from BW chaps painting some of the lock gate handles, though they did help work the locks at one place. By afternoon the weather had changed and it was very hot; of course we were then on the Farmer’s Bridge locks, which were rather difficult to say the least, but we got through them and tied up in the only place available in Oozells Loop at 1645. Quite a busy day followed by a good meal and good wine at Pizza Express in Brindley Place.

Easy, easy, easy...

The prettiest footbridge on the cut? (Drayton Manor)

Tuesday 1st June.
We spent a quiet morning on board at the mooring as heavy rain had been forecast and we didn’t set off until 2pm. It was still raining, but a bit lighter. Went through Fazely Junction into the Birmingham & Fazely Canal. At 1710 we moored after Bodymoor Heath bridge. We had tried to moor before the bridge but the water was too shallow to get alonside. Went to the ‘Dog & Doublet’ at the next lock; had a delicious meal and enjoyed chatting with some fellow boaters who were on their last trip after 25 years of boating.

Busy, busy, busy....

The Swan at Fradley Junction

Bank Holiday Monday.
Very peaceful when we set off at 0720, but gradually got busier. Didn’t seem to be many boats around until we approached narrow bridges, aqueducts and locks; amazing how that happens. At Great Haywood Junction we turned into the Trent & Mersey and had an interesting time in the Narrows, with a queue of boats at each end. In Ravenshaw Wood, the masses of beautiful purple rhododendrons were a delight to see. Fradley Junction was extremely busy, not only with boats but hundreds of gongoozlers gathered round the locks. In the evening we found a mooring space right outside the Tame Otter at Hopwas, where we had a good meal. Incidentally, a very quiet place to stay in spite of being so close to the pub’s big car park. (25 miles, just 6 locks).

A Long Day…

Round House at Gailey

Sun 30th May.
Set off at 0720 and before long, reached the highest point on the canal at Compton. As we came to the junction with the Shroppie, a boat turned out of it in front of us- and went rather slowly for a long way! The canals were a lot busier today, probably because of school holidays and Bank Holiday. We passed a boat where there was actually a BBQ burning on the aft deck! Stopped for water at Gailey and a visit to Eileen in the roundhouse shop. We moored after the lock and walked down to Dobbie’s for lunch and a new waterproof jacket! Got the newspaper from the small shop at the roundabout there. No trouble with any locks but as usual it wasn’t easy to find a good mooring so we finally tied up near bridge 98 at 2040, having covered 19.6 miles and done 14 locks.

Up to date at last!

Wightwick Manor

Up at 0600 and moved the boat up to first position for the Bratch locks. Open at 8, we were told. However, another boat arrived at the gates at 0720 and the lockkeeper let him through - and us afterwards- and he helped us a lot on our way through. Unfortunately, this was the rainy day and it was quite heavy at times.
At 1020 we tied up near Bridge 56, in order to visit Wightwick Manor, which was just a short walk away. This is a National Trust property and well worth a visit, very interesting. The tearoom does not serve hot meals like some NT properties do, but the soup and sandwiches were delicious.
Later on we walked along the towpath up to Compton to a supermarket near the traffic lights there; we were very lucky as we managed to get our bit of shopping done a few minutes before the shop closed at 6pm. Back to the boat to eat again!

The best made plans........

Friday 28th May.
Well, we were up early as usual but the morning did not go to plan. Unfortunately the Captain was not feeling at all well, tummy-wise, (probably the sausages from the evening before) and spent all morning lying on the bed. He still didn’t feel right when we finally left the mooring at 2pm in glorious sunshine. Combined with the Crew, who has had back trouble since the day we left home for Alvechurch, we made a sorry pair struggling with the locks and tied up at The Bratch at 4.30. We used the moorings on the left side and then went for a (slow) walk to Wombourne, where we got a newspaper and cold drinks. There was a pub nearby, which would normally have inspired us to go back later for a meal, but of course Steve didn’t feel like eating, so it was cup-a-soup time on the boat and an early night for a change.

Barbeque Day!?

Thursday 27th May.
We set off at 7am, round to the water point first just before the lock for leaving the basin and entering the Staffs. & Worcs. Canal. (For anyone like me, who always seems to ‘need’ a post box, don’t miss the small one in the wall of the last building in the basin.) We soon came across swans with seven gorgeous little fluffy babies!
At Kidderminster on the right hand side, there are several shops including Tesco and M&S, then a little further on there is Sainsbury on the left, both with mooring places. We got a good cup of coffee at the latter and food for a BBQ in the evening- the weather being good again.
We were delayed in our travels today as we ended up at one lock behind three boats which were all close together, so at the next six locks we had a long wait. We were hoping to moor at Greensforge but found that there was actually only one visitor mooring, which was occupied, so we had to carry on. There wasn’t anywhere suitable to moor for a long time- until we were near Hinksford Lock, so we stopped there. It was a very quiet area but not particularly good for a BBQ and by that time (8pm), it had gone cooler so we decided to cancel the eating out experience and try out the new cooker instead. All was ok.

The magnifficent Severn

Wednesday, 27th May
TQ on the Severn at Worcester

Our night at The Commandery mooring was without disturbance, just as it was two years ago.
At ten past seven we went through Sudbury Lock, then on into Diglis and out into the Severn. It was so peaceful with beautiful trees lining the river. We saw a kingfisher in flight- a glorious sight! Hadn’t seen one for a long time. We arrived at Stourport about 12 o’clock and went through the two sets of staircase locks into the basin, which is quite large and accommodates wide beam boats as well as narrowboats. There were a few visitor mooring berths available.
We walked into town to see if we could find a restaurant for the evening, but didn’t find anywhere we liked; just did some shopping and had a coffee at the Courtyard Café - a great place with friendly staff and nice coffee. Came back to the boat to eat onboard.

Arrive Worcester

Tuesday 25th May.
It was much cooler this morning when we set off at 0720, stopping at bridge 25 about an hour later to walk into Tibberton village. I like the artist’s postcards on sale at the post office/village shop. There wasn’t a lot of movement on the canal again today and we had a fairly quiet day with just 13 locks to get through. We arrived at The Commandery in Worcester at 3pm and TQ was the only boat moored there until late evening, when another one turned up.
We had a quick walk into town and bought some caps, as ours appear to have been left at home. If anyone else has that problem, we found good plain beige lightweight baseball caps at M&S, in the Men’s department. Later on that evening we went back into town for a delicious meal at Pizza Express.

Tardebigge here we come

Monday 24th May.
Set off at 0640 for the first lock of the day. It was a scorching day, so not the best weather for getting through 42 locks! Traffic was quite light and the ‘journey’ was fairly uneventful except for one crazy lady. Steve had prepared the lock ahead, with gate open and waiting for TQ’s grand entrance. As I walked down and had almost reached the lock, the said Crazy Lady got her windlass in position to open the paddle and let the flood begin. Fortunately she heard my third shout and stopped. Couldn’t believe it. She said she hadn’t noticed the other gate was open.
Apart from a quick coffee break, an hour for lunch and forty five minutes for filling up the water and getting a newspaper, we were busy all day until we stopped at 1820 at Hanbury Wharf, where we enjoyed a very good meal at the Eagle and Sun- and we were very glad to get to bed that night.

1st day of holiday

Sunday 23rd May.
Arrived at Alvechurch about midday in searing temperatures and found TQ looking in a far better condition than on our last trip. As we began loading everything but our kitchen sink onto TQ, we had a visitor. It was the Boat Safety Inspector, who had carried out a check the previous Sunday on account of the installation of the new gas cooker. He said that the boat had failed on a few points; he then reassured me that this is the usual case which involves a re-check. After he had finished the check, he said that everything was fine now.
We set off from the marina at 1530 and arrived at Tardebigge an hour later, tying up before Top Lock and enjoying a delicious BBQ in very peaceful surroundings. The extreme heat had abated then, so the temperature was very pleasant.

Our last day.

I moved TQ to another mooring this morning with intent on polishing the port side and I'd picked my spot but there was an underwater obstruction preventing me from getting close to the quayside. So I did a "180" and moored in the same place, and got to grips with the polish and elbow grease. I'd been at it for a while when David from NB Mr. David came by and said hello. We had to laugh, a chap from the narrowboat moored some ways back strolled up and said "Excuse me, I wonder if you'd mind doing up my zipper for me." I looked, (not wanting to) at his zipper and seeing it was already done up (phew!), and then looked at David to see he was looking at me, and then this fellow showed us his plaster cast around his wrist and thumb, and clearly he was unable to grip the zip on his jacket. David zipped up his jacket for him and we all laughed when the guy saw the funny side of what he was asking. (All in broad daylight as well).

While I finished off the polishing, Lin disposed of the rubbish, went shopping, and filled the drinking water supply, and when she came back we strolled over to see David and Brenda aboard Mr. David for a chat.

Then it was Alvechurch bound, I fired up TQs engine and we headed off up around Oozells Loop and up to the former transhipment yard where we winded and cruised back to Old Turn Junction where we turned right, through Broad street Tunnel and the Worcester Bar and down the Worcester and Birmingham Canal to our mooring at Alvechurch. There is a temporary diversion in place at Selly Oak where there is a new road being built under the canal. Great care should be taken here as there are a couple of dog leg turns to negotiate through the diversion. The lifting bridge is still in place.

Approaching the first dog leg, Birmingham side.

View down into what will be road

The narrow bit before the next dog leg.

So now we're back on our mooring at Alvechurch, cleaned TQ through inside and out and partially vacated. Lin went over to The Weighbridge and brought back a couple of pints. There was a beer festival going on there and all the festival ales were sold out by 2o:oohrs (they'd been open since noon) and the queue for the pub ales was outside the door. What a way to finish our holiday. Tomorrow its finish off the cleaning odds and ends and packing the car and then a sprint down the M5 back to home, picking up the cat on the way.

Thanks to you all for reading this drivel, until the next time...

Busy going nowhere.

Took a stroll into the City Centre this morning, and paid a visit to The Bull Ring and the adjacent market. Picked up a few odds and sods, and then we went to O'Neils in Broad Street for lunch. Graham and Jill from NB Matilda Rose, went in there when they were here in February. So we thought we'd try it out. We had Blackened Chicken and Bacon Salad, and it was great. We'll be going back in there again, I think.

Spent the afternoon polishing the starboard side of TQ and I also cleaned out the hatch gutters and drain pipes. Lin ran round with the vacuum cleaner and cleaned the windows.

Showroom shine? Well almost.

You never know who you're going to meet!

We slipped our moorings at Cuckoo Wharf at around 09:00hrs and made our way up the eleven locks of the Aston Flight. All very uneventful, there wasn't even a boat coming the other way. Turned right at the top if that's how to explain it, its really straight on as the turn to the left is very acute. Not much further on and the bottom of the Farmers Bridge locks is looming. We opened the bottom gate and this well dressed fellow arrives and gives us a helping hand. He didn't have a boat, which we thought was a bit odd, anyway this kind fellow assisted us all the way to the top lock at Cambrian Wharf.
A very big thanks to you, Jim Shead, for all your hard work.

Scenes along the way:-

Our current location.

Lunchtime, and we installed ourselves in our favourite location under the security cameras in Oozells Loop, and then a stroll over to The Malt House for a pie and a pint - excellent.

Just as I'm writing this, something occurred. We could hear voices for some time outside the boat and wondered what was going on, so we looked out the window and saw this:-

Tranquility - with added glamour.

I tell thee, you never know what's going to happen next...