Tardebigge locks between locks 1 & 2 to Tardebigge Bottom Lock (Worcester & Birmingham Canal)

Working through the Tardebigge Flight

Passing the Fishing Lake

The forecast for today wasn’t great, so we thought we might get a bit of rain, but we were lucky as although it was abit overcast when we set off, the sun came out and it was really warm again.  We are tackling the Tardebigge flight today, all 29 of them, oh what joy!!  Actually they are really nice locks set in nice countryside and are close together so quite easy to work through, but hard work.  Set off at 8.45am, the middle of the night for us!! And onto the first lock, had to set it, and the next few , but got through them okay as we got a nice system going.  Then a boat came up, so that was good as the next ones were set for us.

We were going down one lock and Kev said that he would try to shut the gate on the off side when the boat was out the lock as there were some steps at the end of the lock and a hook to put the rope on, so we opened the gates and Kev drove the boat out, stopped at the steps, put the rope on the hook and went up and shut the gate, so far so good, he went back to the steps and the boat moved and the rope came off the hook just as Kev got there and slipped into the water, and the boat moved on!!  This meant that I was on the tow path and Kev was on the lock, so who was on the boat!!! Well you have heard of the Mary Celeste, well we now had the Gordanneus Celeste, Marys brother!!  Well, what do we do now, we ran some water through the lock to try and bring it over, but it seemed to stay in the middle for ages, then went towards the pound sidewash by the next lock, Kev went across the lock and waded on the top of the weir to try and push the boat to the lock, meantime I decided to let a bit more water through but on reflection maybe shouldn’t have as it raised the water level and instead of being at Kev’s ankles, it was going up towards his knees, needless to say I got shouted at!!  The situation eventually got under control and we got the boat in the lock and Kev back on board.  Luckily no-one was around to witness Laurel and Hardy at work, but five minutes later, a boat came up the next lock and two CRT workers came walking down the tow path, phew, that was close!!  Needed to say, Kev didn’t offer to shut the gates on any of the other locks, can’t understand why not!!

Not too far to go now

Hurray, Tardebigge Bottom Lock

On down through the rest of the locks with no more incidents and soon we were at Tardebigge Bottom lock, 4hrs later, I must say I was really glad to see that sign, through that lock and we moored up just around the corner opposite the Queens Head pub.  Last time we were here, it was being refurbished, but it is now open, so we chilled out for a bit, then went up to the pub for a drink and a meal. 

Moored just past Queen's Head Pub

The Queen's Head Pub

It is really nice inside and out and we had an excellent meal, if you eat there Monday to Friday between 5.30pm and 7pm, you get 25% off main meals, and they have happy hour with discounts on certain drinks between 4 pm and 7pm, so really good value.  It is such a nice place and well worth a visit.  Walked back to the boat and chilled out after our busy and eventful day.  Chugging off again tomorrow. 

Hopwood to Tardebigge between locks 1 and 2 (Worcester & Birmingham Canal)

The sun was shining this morning and it was really warm for this time of year.  We set off along the canal, under the M42 and on past Alvechurch.  We were just going around a bend and past a moored boat, well we thought it was moored when it pulled out right in front of us, they then lost control and went hurtling across the canal and almost hit a boat moored on the other side, the woman was steering, she shouted and her husband grabbed the tiller and just managed to straighten the boat but the back of his boat glanced the moored boat, why they didn’t wait until we had gone past, god only knows and then the whole situation could have been avoided, they were going along really slowly in front of us, then he pulled over and beckoned us to overtake, very strange!! 

Entering Shortwood Tunnel

Leaving Shortwood Tunnel

On down the canal we went and then we were at Shortwood Tunnel, it is 613 yds long, in we went and was soon at the other end, on along we went and stopped at Anglo-Welsh to get some diesel, its really easy to stop there and it was a good price.  We also bought an ice-cream, then we went on our way.

Entering Tardebigge Tunnel

 

Coming out Tardebigge Tunnel

We then came to Tardebigge Tunnel, this tunnel is 580 yds, in we went and was soon out the other side.  We then stopped at the services for water, etc.   

Entering Tardebigge Top Lock

On we went to the top of the Tardebigge locks, we went through the first one and moored before the next lock.  We are staying here tonight then tackling the flight, all 29 of them tomorrow, something to look forward to!! 

Moored at Tardebigge

Birmingham (Birmingham Main Line) to Hopwood (Worcester & Birmingham)

Going onto the Worcester & Birmingham canal

Passing the Mailbox

There was a produce market on in Brindley Place this morning, so we walked up to have a look at that, there were a few stalls there but not that much, it was okay though.  Walked back to the boat and chugged off down the canal to turn around.  We turned around and chugged back up, past the ICC and turned right through Gas Street Basin and onto the Worcester & Birmingham canal, around the corner and moored up at the services to fill up with water.  On we went, through Edgbaston and Selly Oak, none of these areas are very nice, you wouldn’t want to stop especially overnight!!  Past Bournville where Cadbury World is, there are moorings there behind a gate but it still doesn’t look very inviting. 

In Wast Hills Tunnel

Passing King's Norton Junction

Getting near the end

On past King’s Norton Junction where the Stratford canal joins the Worcester & Birmingham, then before we knew it, we were at the entrance to Wast Hills Tunnel.  All 2,726 yds of it!!  Tunnel light and inside lights on and in we went.  This tunnel is not so bad as it is quite wide, you can pass in it, but luckily we didn’t meet another boat and it is quite high.   

Almost out

Out into the sunshine

We were following another boat so Kev went quite slowly at first as when we were following them down the canal to the tunnel, they were going really slow, but seem to speed up once they were in the tunnel, so we speeded up too and soon we were coming out the other side.  It was a bit wet in places in the tunnel so Kev got a soaking, but as I was inside, I was nice and dry!! 

We chugged on a bit further and moored at Hopwood as we haven’t moored here before.  Staying here tomorrow as well, then will chug off on Sunday.

Moored at Hopwood

Day in Birmingham and Day Trip to Lichfield

Wednesday 24^th September

Me and Bully

Rodizio Rico Restaurant

Today we are just having a lazy day.  So got up later, then walked up through the Mailbox and to the Bull Ring shopping centre.  Had a picky with Bully who was dressed already to go to Uni!!  Looked around the shops and the indoor market, then walked back to the boat.  There is a restaurant in the Cube called Rodizio Rico serving Brazilian food which we wanted to try, so early evening we walked back up and went in.  We were given a table overlooking the canal which was nice.  It is really a buffet restaurant, you help yourself to cold and hot dishes.  You are given a cardboard disk with a red side and a green side.  When you are ready to have some meat, you turn your disk over and the meat carvers are wandering around the tables and will then come to you and carve some meat for you.  There was a large variety of meats, including beef, steak, beef rib, pork, lamb, chicken and sausages.  When you want a rest, you turn your disk over to the red side and the carvers won’t stop at your table until the green side is showing again.  You can go up to the buffet as many times as you like and have as much meat as you like.  It was really good.  The only strange thing was that they had fried breaded banana for the main course, but we had some after our meal for dessert.  They also had cheese and some lovely breads.  It was a really nice meal, but don’t go there if you are a veggie!! 

Thursday 25^th September

Lichfield

Lichfield Market Square

Today we are off to Lichfield by train.  So walked up to New Street station and got on a train, it took about 35 minutes and the fare was £6 return each.  Got to Lichfield and went into the city, it is really nice with lots of shops.  Had a wander around, then went for coffee in a really nice bakery/coffee shop where they bake all the cakes, bread, etc  and you can sit in the café and see them baking the bread.  We bought some walnut bread. 

Lichfield Cathedral from Minster Pool

Lichfield Cathedral

Inside Lichfield Cathedral

We then walked down to Minster pool, a really nice area and sat on a bench for a bit watching the world go by, then walked around to the Cathedral.  It is really impressive and huge with three spires, it is the only medieval Cathedral in the country with three spires.  The Cathedral is covered in ornate carvings on the outside.  We went inside, it is really lovely.  Had a nice walk around and saw the Lichfield Angel and St Chad Gospels.  The world famous Staffordshire Hoard is the largest hoard of Anglo-Saxon gold ever found and there was a small collection of it at the Cathedral which was nice to look at. 

Left there and walked back to the shops and caught the train back to Birmingham.  Lichfield is a lovely city and well worth a visit and they are trying to restore the canal which runs through Lichfield and if they ever do, it would be really great to be able to moor there, but don’t think it will be in our lifetime, shame!!  Staying one more night in Birmingham, then chugging off tomorrow.