Black Country Museum to Catherine de Barnes (Grand Union)

9 July – Black Country Museum

After a day of rest, we said goodbye to Marion and Chris from the other Mustnt Grumble whom we had a little tow path party last night.

And off we go to see the Black Country Museum, it was great, well worth going to. http://www.bclm.co.uk/

Pete found vehicles straight away and then we headed to the mine which you can go down and to get the experience of coal mining. 

This house is made from steel.

 Queuing for the famous fish and chips

The citizen of the town are dressed in period costume and are extremely knowledgeable. It is similar to our MOTAT. We had the famous fish and chips for lunch and more exploring of the museum before heading back to the boat at 2.30 to run engine and do a load of washing.

TOTAL – 0 miles boat, lots of miles on foot

10 July – Back to Birmingham Central

Up and about by 7.30 for breakfast and moved across canal to fill up with water and back on the canal.

We set off down 3 locks – Factory Locks which takes you back to Birmingham Main Line and to find shops. The Co-op found and boat filled with supplies we had a quick smoko and headed off for Birmingham Central.

This is the 3rd time we passed this way, there is Motorway on top Rail on the right and 2 levels of Canal lower down, this shot is from the lowest level

 View for night, hair done and waiting for roast to cook

It was a quiet run and we moored not far from Shelborne Wharf on 48 hours moorings. Put put a roast chicken on and settled back to watch the sights of Birmingham pass us by.

TOTAL 9 miles, 3 locks, 7 small aqueducts and 1 tunnel

11 July – Central Birmingham to Catherine De Barnes (Grand Union)

A big day today we had a cooked breakfast and off by 9.30 going down and out under Central Birmingham through 13 locks - Farmers Locks which go under buildings - quite an experience.

Someone was on our side today, we had all locks filled. Pete would drive into locks and close gate and I would open 1 paddle to front gate and then go and open gate to next lock and come back and open gate to lock being emptied. System worked well. It was a slow trip through industrial waste land of Birmingham and majority very grotty.

We took the day slow and easy and it went well. We transferred on to Digbeth branch and did 6  more locks and finally stopped for lunch at 1pm at the start of the Grand Union junction where the locks start to climb again - up 6 locks - this is where we met boats for the first time again.  Cruised for another hour or so in much prettier countryside to moor at Catherine de Barnes for night.

 Grand Union

Stopped for the day 4.50pm and off to the pub for a quick drink before back on the boat and settling for the night exhausted - an early night for both of us. We looked at the menu at the pub and decided to cook on the boat, the pub food is starting to get a bit boring, Lamb, spuds and salad on the boat 10/10.

TOTAL – 11 miles, 25 locks, 2 small aqueducts and 1 tunnel