The Stables to Withymoor Island

 Groundhog day today, setting off from The Stables, down through Factory locks, again, through Netherton tunnel, again, stopped briefly at Windmill End to fill up with water before pressing on to Withymoor Island where we will spend the night.

5 miles 3 locks 1 tunnel in 2hrs 35mins. what3words ///danger.sleep.flat 😁

Factory top lock

Factory bottom lock

Caggy's yard

Turning into the Netherton branch at Dudley Port junction

Tividale aqueduct, again

Netherton tunnel, again

Approaching Windmill End

Temporarily moored at Windmill junction to take on water

Temporarily moored at Windmill junction to take on water

Bumblehole branch

Approaching Withymoor Island

Now moored at Withymoor Island for tonight

We are moored on front of our friends boat

The clubhouse

Bbq and patio area

Far end of the clubhouse, bbq and patio area

As seen from across the open area

Another patio area

Keith

BCN Cleanup Weekend

 A good day yesterday on the BCN Cleanup weekend, unfortunately I didn't get to take many photos, I was too busy hauling stuff out. Today Jo and I were too pooped to go out again, so we stayed behind and helped Maria preparing lunch, and after everyone had returned from the mornings work, we had lunch then packed everything away into the 3 vans and everyone set off for home, we will be staying here for tonight. 😁

Post breakfast mugs of coffee/tea before setting off

Safety briefing at Ocker Hill

My 1st haul, a double buggy

Lunch time back at Ocker Hill

Lunch time back at Ocker Hill

Lunch time back at Ocker Hill

Everyone busy grappling

Jo Posing

One of the workboats we were loading with what we had pulled out

Keith

Neptune's Wharf to The Malthouse Stables, Factory Junction

 Shortest run this trip, now moored at The Malthouse Stables, Factory junction.

½ mile no locks in 10mins. what3words ///intend.hobby.funds

Keith

Birmingham City Centre to Neptune's Wharf, Tipton

Well that didn't go to plan. When we arrived in Birmingham Monday I meant to clear the prop as we had picked something up on it. Forgot to do that, so after we had set off we had to stop again to clear the prop. Then we attempted to go up Smethwick locks this morning. Got to the bottom lock to discover the locks are closed, reversed back to the junction, picked up another bladeful which didn't help and I ran into the bank and lifted the rudder out of its cup. Got it back in on the second attempt, then fought the wind for the rest of the morning. Popped into the BCLM to empty our toilet cassette, then returned out onto the old main line and now moored back at Neptune's wharf, Tipton. 😊 

10½ miles 3 locks 1 tunnel in 5hrs 10mins. what3words ///dishes.remind.spots 

Turned into the Old Main line below Smethwick locks

Smethwick bottom lock

Stuart's aqueduct and M5 Motorway bridge

Very colourful display

Pudding Green junction, but no fisherman today, he was there each time we passed last week

Turning into the Brades branch at Albion junction

Approaching Brades bottom lock

Jo being busy

Approaching the 2 staircase locks

Entering the bottom lock of the staircase

Going up in the bottom staircase lock

Top lock

Just about to turn onto the Old Main line at Bradeshall junction

Approaching Dudley Port

Dudley Port

Dudley Port

Another wide bit

Turning into the BCLM at Tipton junction

Having emptied our toilet cassette, we returned back out onto the Old Main line

Tipton Green

Now moored back at Neptune's wharf, Tipton

Keith

Birmingham City Centre

 Jo was feeling better this morning, so we had a good day in Birmingham City centre, shopping, eating and photographing.

The finished Centenary Square

One of Birmingham's trams on the new section along Broad Street

Chamberlain Memorial in Chamberlain square

The iconic front of Selfridges

Looking across the markets to where the wholesale markets were when we were last here

Our favourite tea stop at the open market

One of Birmingham many starlings that reside at the open market, especially around the sandwich bar

The Birds!!!

Brightly painted pavement outside the Hippodrome Theatre in the Chinese quarter

Part of the Chinese quarter

Moor Street station, the original GWR building, platforms etc.

The Square, built in the 1960's

Birmingham's St Philip's cathedral

Where the wholesale markets used to be

We found this Chinese Buffet on the edge of the Chinese quarter, as the Big Yok we used to use closed down before Covid

Sitting down to start our meal

Returning back to our boat via Centenary square

Keith