Out of the city for some peace and quiet

Sunday 6^th October; Birmingham to King’s Norton junction

We put the port side porthole bungs in last night, as the light from the car park was so bright, but it didn’t cut out the sound of passers-by as the Arena show finished and the pubs closed.  Most had gone home by midnight but there were small chattering groups passing on and off till after 4.  One person thought it highly amusing to knock their knuckles along the boat as they passed.  We were up and about by 8, even so.

Flowers still blooming in Albert's Garden

 The engine started ok, and we cruised down to Cambrian Wharf to top up with water and empty the cassette – just to be on the safe side last night, we brought out the Porta-Potti in case the macerator toilet stopped working!  The flush uses quite a bit of power, so by not using that, and turning the fridge off overnight (luckily we don't have a separate freezer) we hope we can keep going back to Droitwich without having to work out which battery has failed and isolating it.  We were finally on our way south as the musical clock struck 11.

The wonderfully painted Botanist restaurant, across Gas Street basin

 The footbridge over the canal at the Mailbox turn is still festooned with padlocks.  I tried to take a photo showing the strange pointy affairs at the top of the block beside it, but pretty much failed.  We wondered if they were penthouse suites up there.

Pointy

We made our way down towards Selly Oak, where we moored at bridge 60, where the Lapal canal may one day be restored.

Watching us leave the city

I went one way to Sainsbury’s, and Dave went the other to Halfords to buy a foot-pump, as when he goes to fetch the car later in the week he may well find one of the tyres is flat.  We had lunch and set off again, having decided to leave going through Wast Hill tunnel for tomorrow, as it would likely be raining by the time we were through and looking for somewhere to moor.  This is a very familiar stretch of canal so I started looking for different things to photograph.

This railway enthusiast lives near Bournville

It drizzled lightly for most of the way.  This old chestnut still made me chuckle, lifting the spirits on a dreary afternoon.

At least as old as my schooldays but still funny!

And some autumn colour too.  A gleam in the gloom.

We didn’t go much further before mooring.  Usually we go much closer to the water point several hundred yards further on, but there are also rings not far from the junction – and no overhanging trees either.

That way to Stratford – maybe next year?

Even though the toll-house was attacked by arsonists some years ago, and the self pump-out machine that used to be here was removed because of constant vandalism, we have always found it fairly quiet round here.  Apart from a chap having a furious argument on his phone – by the sound of things it was just as well the other party was not physically present – there were only a few dog walkers.  Dave and Jess had just got back from a walk in the park when the rain started.  It continued for most of the evening. 

6 miles