1 July – Lapworth Lock to Earlswood
Up and off by 8.30 to beat the heat hopefully and get up the last
13 locks.
Unfortunately not as lucky as yesterday as first 10 locks are set against us. Harder work you have to fill the lock in front of you, so we had a new routine set again. I would drive into the lock ahead, leaving last gate of lock open, climb out of boat to open paddles and raise the boat and then open gate while Vicki went back to close gate and open paddle of gates in front lock meaning we could do it all again.
At lock 4 we finally started meeting boats. Vicki jumped on
to a British Waterways vintage boat to have a look while we passed each other.
The last couple were the same, meeting boats makes it a lot easier, we then had
two swing bridges and finally stopped for lunch at Hockley Heath at 12.30.
Off to The Wharf Tavern for lunch, Vicki had whitebait
(nothing like we have at home) and I had Farmhouse pate, the salad looked a
week old and the pate was out of a packet and tasteless 1/10
We moved on and moored at 2.30 as the heat (32) and humidity was
getting ridiculous. Found a nice cool tree covered area and had a Barbie for
dinner later. Steaks from a butcher not supermarket, you can definitely taste the difference.
Interestingly enough people we spoke to on the towpath did
not have a good word to say about The Wharf as an eatery, so it is not just us.
TOTAL – 5 miles, 13 locks and 2 lift bridge
2 July – Earlswood to Central Birmingham
Moved off just after 9 in much more pleasant weather and NO
LOCKS.
Just 1 powered Lift Bridge and on to the water point at Bridge 5 by then
washing had been done and did a quick clean of boat while loading water so we
left completely full of water
That done we cruised onto the end of the Stratford Avon Canal and through the stop lock which is a wooden Guillotine Lock at King's Norton Junction and turned right onto Worcester & Birmingham. 25 miles
completed and 56 locks all up so we have risen again.
King Nortons Junction
Some people obviously hit this bridge hard
Definitely heading into a city, tagging is all over the place
again, we stopped at Bourneville and walked to the Cadbury factory for a tour,
it was to take 3 hours and would be 16.50 each. So we had lunch a chicken wrap
for me and Pete had sausage and mash 8 out of 10.
Back to boat and headed for central Birmingham, rain
came in as we hit the suburbs and into centre of town. Moored up between The
Mailbox and Gas Street on Granville St Wharf, lots of eateries and people
strolling past in the rain.
What a difference two hours can make, top is nearly 5pm below just after 7pm
Rain lifted and we headed out to The Tap & Spile for dinner and had a Shared mixed grill for dinner, excellent value and very tasty 8 out 10. Great view and lighting just got better these photos where taken at 9.30pm
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