We had a great evening with Andy and Helen last night, and their son. After G&T on Wand’ring Bark they came to BR for dinner. There was a lot of laughter. This morning, we were ready to go at our usual time of 8; as Wand’ring Bark and the Jam Butty were moored outside us, Andy released ropes, pushed all the boats out, and we slipped away, leaving him to pull his boats back into the side.
We went round the corner to Holliday Wharf, where a boat was moored on the water point. Fortunately the boat which had been on the mooring in front had gone, so we were able to get close enough to the tap. Then we retraced our steps back through Edgbaston and Selly Oak to King’s Norton Junction, where we carried straight on. The junction house is still covered in scaffolding and tarpaulins.
Shortly afterwards we went into Wast Hill Tunnel, passing three boats inside.
The other side of the tunnel is in Worcestershire. At Alvechurch, we’d arranged a meeting with Carole and Nick on Debdale. There were lots of empty pontoons at Alvechurch Marina where they are based, so we were able to reverse in beside them, so we could have tea on Debdale’s front deck before showing them BR.
Two more tunnels followed, first Shortwood then Tardebigge.
At the moorings above the locks we found Jubilee, and John came to open a gate at the lock for us, despitan ankle injury. Tardebigge top lock is one of the deepest narrow locks on the system.
We moored below the lock, and a little later went for tea with Jan and John, needing a decent catch up because he’s so behind with his blog! While we were there the sun came out, for seemingly the first time in weeks. We headed off for a walk, going up first to the church which has a very impressive spire. Inside, there are some narrowboat-themed pew cushions.
We did a circular walk across some fields and back to the canal beyond the reservoir.
14 miles, 1 lock. (86 miles, 86 locks)
1 comment:
That's a rather satisfyingly equal number of miles and locks.
Pip
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