The Arena Birmingham to Black Country Living Museum

Misty start to the day as we headed back to the Black Country Living Museum.

New towpaths being laid alongside the New Main Line.

Moored at the Black Country Living Museum, first job, I joined the queue for fish & chips for lunch.

After lunch we wandered up to Racecourse Colliery, which has reopened today where the Highley Colliery Brass Band were playing.

There was a group of girls being made to carry the coal from one pile to the next, 1d a day for 12 hours work. They should think themselves lucky, kids did 16 hours a day on the canal boats.

Charlie the horse was demonstrating towing a coal hopper full of coal, until it derailed at the point.

Soon back on tracks.

Turning the hopper wagon on the turntable.

The tram was running again today.

Dan the horse was on wagon duties.

The single deck bus was also busy.

Keith.

Black Country Living Museum to The Arena Birmingham

Cracking mornings run into Birmingham City. They are still working on the M5 flyover.

Approaching Smethwick locks.

Had a slight problem with the top lock at Smethwick, having gone down through the lock we could not shut the gate behind us, quick call to C&RT to sort it out.

Approaching Sheepcote Street Bridge.

Now moored at Sheepcote Street Bridge.

Keith.

A Second Lovely at the Black Country Living Museum.

Keith.

Birmingham City to Black Country Living Museum

Things were going so well. until we got to Rylands Aqueduct on the Birmingham new line, Where there was a notice informing us the canal ahead was closed. Would have been more useful if the notice was at the Netherton Tunnel Branch junction so we didn't have to reverse back to it. Winded and diverted by the Gower Branch, made a nice change though.

Approaching  the bottom Brades lock on the Gower branch.

Entering the staircase pair.

 

Now moored up in the Black Country Living Museum for the weekend and looking forward to seeing all our friends who work here.

Keith.

Lapworth Top Lock to the Arena Birmingham

Disster struck this morning! We took on 200 litres of diesel and ended up with 30 litres in the bilges!!

We stopped and fixed the problem before carrying on with our journey.

Somewhere in the bottom of the Stratford Canal in this photo is my 1st wedding ring.

King's Norton stop lock.

Entering Birmingham.

Now moored outside the Arena Birmingham.

Keith.

Rowington to Lapworth top lock.

Ice on the canal when we set off this morning, lovely sunshine though.

Even some lying snow still around alongside the Lapworth locks.

Now moored below Lapworth top lock.

Keith.

Saltisford Arm, to the embankment Above Rowington.

This morning we set off on our Spring/Summer cruise. We paired up with our friends Ray and Caroline on "Tranquil Daze".

I breasted the two boats together and took them both up the Hatton flight.

We stopped in lock 33 for a tea/coffee and cake break as we were rapidly catching the boat in front of us. 

We stopped briefly above the top lock and Caroline served us all with home made soup and bread, very yummy. 

We then carried on to the embankment above Rowington where we have all moored for the night.

Keith.