Stern Bearing Remote Greaser

 Busy day today, this morning I rewired the battery charger which we use to charge the starter battery when running the generator, and fitted a new fuse holder to replace the faulty one. This afternoon I fitted a new remote greaser for the stern bearing, the other in the photo is the one for the stern tube, just need to fill it with grease and get the air out of the tube. 😊

Keith

Time to do the gardening.

 

Hi Everyone.

Having been out boating for 4 months, we came home to a jungle in the way of our garden. Why is it the weeds never die, but flowers and plants do? Anyway, it was time to tame the garden and get it into some sort of order.

I made a start on our second day home.

Time to fill the wheelbarrow. It was going to take quite a few full wheelbarrows to tame the garden, but hey I love a challenge.

There is a garden under all the weeds. 

Tonight, I got out there and did some more. The path really needed clearing, because people walk along it, so that was my task this evening.

Yet another full wheelbarrow, but very satisfying.

Hey presto, we can now see the footpath.

It is beginning to look better already. 

Jo

Hatton Top Lock, to Saltisford Arm

 A good run down Hatton locks today, with thanks to Chris who came and helped us down, and we met up with nb Meerkat halfway down which made life easier for us both. Safely back on our mooring in the Saltisford Arm.

2½ miles 21 locks in 2hrs 35mins. what3words ///crowned.unit.author 😊

Hatton top lock No.46, with Chris helping us down

Looking back at lock No.44 from lock No.43 with the Hatton locks café in view

nb Meerkat, who we shared half the locks with

Back home on our mooring, we have moored this way round as we have paintwork to do on this side

Keith & jo

Tom O'The Wood to Hatton Top Lock

 A brief dry run to the top of the Hatton flight this morning, now moored at the top of Hatton locks. Lunch at Hatton locks café, no beer. It did start to rain when we got to the café, and it has stopped and started ever since, but we do need it.

4 miles 0 locks 1 tunnel in 1hr 25mins. what3words ///neck.releasing.strut 😊

Approaching Shrewley tunnel

Towpath work on the other side of Shrewley tunnel

Now moored before the top lock of the Hatton flight

Lunch at Hatton locks café, no beer just coffee

Keith & Jo

Hockley Heath to Tom O'The Wood, Rowington

 A slow warm run down the Lapworth flight this morning, but nice to get back onto the Grand Union and deep water. Now moored at Tom O'The Wood, Rowington where we had a late lunch (2.00pm) and a pint each of Doombar, we needed that.

3¾ miles 19 locks in 4hrs 35mins. what3words ///riddle.spoiler.narrating 😊

1st of the 2 lift bridges

Rich on Roach at the 2nd lift bridge, about to take on diesel to sell

Looking back towards lock 4 of the Lapworth flight

"I love the smell of diesel exhaust fumes in the morning"

Have always loved this cottage, the couple have lived there since 1975

Looking back up the main flight of Lapworth locks from lock 14

Approaching lock 17

Last lock (No.19) on the Stratford canal

Making the turn to the last lock of the day (the left-hand one) onto the Lapworth link

Last lock of the day

Looking back at the last lock, and the shortcut through to the Stratford canal, used when passing to and from the link and the southern section of the Stratford canal

Kingswood junction and back onto the Grand Union

Now moored at the Tom O'The Wood moorings

Tom O'The Wood, where we were going for a late lunch and a well earned pint each

Keith & Jo

Birmingham City to Hockley Heath

 This morning we said cheerio to Birmingham and headed for the Staffs & Worcs canal then the North Stratford. We have been dragging the bottom of the canal all day with this pound being 4" down, and down the weed hatch twice. It will be nice to get back into deep water. Now moored at Hockley Heath.

16 miles no locks 2 tunnels in 6hrs 15mins. what3words ///remotest.polar.charm 😊

Edgbaston tunnels

TRAIN!!

The ever growing University of Birmingham

The new University of Birmingham railway station

A38 aqueduct

A38 aqueduct

New Selly Oak moorings

TRAIN!!

Didn't quite manage to get the whole sign in the photo

The refurbished toll house at King's Norton junction where we turned onto the Stratford

King's Norton stop lock

Brandwood tunnel

Nice off line moorings

Lyons Boatyard

Nice house

Leaving Shirley drawbridge

Now moored at Hockley Heath

Keith & Jo

A Short Walk Today

 We took a walk up through Brindley Place to Broad Street this morning, then up to Edgbaston Village, back down Broad Street, coffee in Wetherspoons, and finally back along the canal. 😊

Best graffiti I have ever seen, so far

Edgbaston Village, yes it is a Morrisons, that is all we could find here

Fiveways apparently

View down Broad Street

The Figure of Eight, Wetherspoons, where we had coffee

Broad Street entrance to Brindley Place, I know it is, it says so on the ironwork across the street

We couldn't work out what this building was in a previous life

More of Broad Street, no tram

Part of Brindley Place

Part of Brindley Place

Bridge across from Brindley Place to the ICC (International Convention Centre)

Same bridge but looking towards Broad Street

Keith & Jo