Birmingham City Centre to Windmill End Junction

 A good start to the day but it got chillier as we went on. 

 15¼ miles no locks 4 tunnels in 6hrs 45mins (we did Gosty Hill twice).

 what3words ///enable.grin.panels

Icknield Port & Soho loops junction

Smethwick junction

Engine branch aqueduct

Smethwick new pump station

Galton tunnel

Galton bridge and behind it Galton station built on a bridge

Stewart aqueduct and M5 bridge

Looking back at Bromford junction and Spon Lane locks

One of the refurbished toll islands

A lot of new building work going on

Pudding Green junction

Albion junction and the Gower branch

Turning into the Netherton tunnel branch at Dudley Port junction

New towpath being laid along one side of the Hatherton tunnel branch

Tividale aqueduct

Netherton tunnel

Inside Netherton tunnel

Turning onto the Dudley No.2 at Windmill End junction

Entering Gosty Hill tunnel

Inside Gosty Hill tunnel approaching the 1st low section

Inside Gosty Hill tunnel and the ghostly painting 🧛

Inside Gosty Hill tunnel 1st low section

Inside Gosty Hill tunnel central higher section

Turning into the entrance to Hawne basin at the end of the Dudley No.2 canal

Moored up in Hawne basin to take on diesel

We took on 382 litres at 89p a litre, not as much as I thought

Re-entering Gosty Hill tunnel from the other end

One of the ventilation shafts

Inside Gosty Hill tunnel approaching the second low section, the first from the other direction

Approaching Windmill end junction again

Having negotiated the junction I reversed back to the mooring outside the visitor centre where we will stop for the night

Keith

Shirley Drawbridge to Birmingham City Centre

 Chilly start but the sun soon warmed things up a bit to make a pleasant run into Birmingham City.

10½ miles no locks 2 tunnels in 4hrs. what3words ///pocket.flag.linked

Shirley drawbridge

Entering Brandwood tunnel

Exiting Brandwood tunnel

Approaching No.1 Guillotine lock and bridge No.1

Leaving No.1 Guillotine lock and bridge No.1

Toll house at Kings Norton junction repairs are in progress

Turning onto the Worcester & Birmingham canal at Kings Norton junction

Part of the Cadbury's factory

We know it is Cadbury's, it says so on the building not on the tin!

Racing trains

Edgbaston tunnel

Approaching the Mail Box

Worcester bar at Gas Street basin

Now moored near the Utilita Arena

Keith

Wedges Bakery to Shirley Drawbridge

Today we completed yesterdays journey by getting to just before Shirley drawbridge, between bridge 10 & 9 close to the railway bridge, we wanted to moor somewhere where we were not overhung by big old trees due to the windy conditions today. We did go to Wedges Bakery this morning before we set off and well worth it was too with a nice granary loaf, 2 Cornish pasties, and the meatiest sausage rolls ever, we shared one for lunch.

3¾ miles no locks in 1hrs 25mins. what3words ///funds.trendy.upset

Wedges Bakery, Jo with our purchases in hand

Lady Lane wharf

These apartments are called Waters Edge

Now moored safely just before the railway bridge

Keith

Tom O' The Wood to Wedges Bakery

Quiet day up the Lapworth flight today, now moored near bridge 20 on the Stratford Canal, we were hoping to get to Shirley drawbridge, but my back has had enough and was going into spasm, not a good thing when steering. We will go and investigate Wedges Bakery in the morning.

5½ miles 19 locks 2 lift-bridges in 5hrs 10mins. what3words ///soon.exact.learns

Turning into the link between the Grand Union and Stratford canals

1st lock onto the Stratford canal

I recognise that bow

We moored up briefly between lock 14 & 15 for a coffee and a rest

The main part of the Lapworth flight

My favourite lock side cottage at lock 7, but my least favourite approach to a lock

2nd lift bridge No.26

Wharf  Tavern, Hockley Heath, the wharf is very overgrown

M42

Now moored near bridge 20 near Warings Green

We will have to investigate Wedges Bakery in the morning, they open at 8:00am

Where else would you dry wet firewood you pick up on the way?

Keith

1st Day, Saltersford Arm to Tom O' The Wood, Rowington

 Good 1st day run up the Hatton flight, which took 3 hours. Now moored near the Tom O' The Wood, where we have just had a pint and dinner. 

5½ miles 21 locks in 5hrs. ///makeovers.succumbs.firm

Reversing out of our mooring

On our way at last

A little bit of thin ice

Now we know this is the middle lock

Hatton works depot

Hatton top lock café

Now we know this is the top lock!

Leaving the top lock and the Hatton flight

Entering Shrewley tunnel

In Shrewley tunnel

Leaving Shrewley tunnel

Now moored near the Tom O' The Wood where we went for a pint and dinner

Keith