Birmingham City Centre

Here I am Rune

Distance 0.5 miles

Total 780 Locks 33 Tunnels

Running total mileage 1184miles

Well another Christmas over and done with! Took the opportunity to take a short break from the boat and travelled by car back to Torquay for a week. It seems that it was a pretty cold week in Birmingham where we left the boat with a bit of snow falling.  Unfortunately upon our return to the boat it seems that the central heating system got some ice in it and when I tried to fire it up there was a rather worrying whining noise coming from the Esbacher. I will give it another few tries over the next few days to see if I can get it to fire up. In fairness it is really our ‘reserve’ heating system since we have the coal fire which keeps the boat warm for us in the evening, the Esbacher is just handy if we need some boost in the heating (like over the past few days).

The plan at the moment is to remain in and around Birmingham City centre until into the new year then possibly head down towards Cadbury World for a visit to the chocolate factory.

Birmingham City Centre

Here I am Rune

Distance 11.8 miles

Total 780 Locks 33 Tunnels

Running total mileage 1183.5miles

The plan to get to Birmingham City Centre has come off and we are moored alongside Brindley Place. Going back through Gorsty/Gosty Tunnel was a lot easier this time with the chimney taken off, although it is still quite slow because it is so narrow. Netherton tunnel was OK although a bit boring because it is a straight line, they  claim that the time to travel through the tunnel is about an hour but I can only assume that dates back to the days of horses, it takes us about 35 minutes and that is without particularly rushing. The other tunnel we passed through was Galton Tunnel, which only just qualifies for the name since it is only 122 yards, it is more like a long bridge. 

We are also back into the region of moving boats! Having not seen anyone on the move for over a week (except a guy in Hawne Basin pulled his boat across the marina to empty his pump-out, but I don’t think that really counts!) in Birmingham City centre there are a number of trip boats doing floating dining trips upon which various groups are obviously having their Christmas parties. So now to take the opportunity to explore the City Centre.

Wind trapped in Hawne Basin

Here I am Rune

Distance 0 miles

Total 780 Locks 30 Tunnels

Running total mileage 1171.7 miles

The cunning plan to head into Birmingham City Centre today rather fell at the first hurdle. When we got up this morning the wind was blowing a decent Force 5 (about 20mph) which would have made trying to manoeuvre out of Hawne Basin a bit unwise.  There are quite a lot of boats in here and not a lot of space to move around, it was obvious to me that any attempt to leave would have resulted in our boat being blown onto other moored boats and, in a 20mph wind, being pinned there. The wind is due to drop tomorrow to begin with down to about 10 – 14mph, still a bit challenging but more achievable than today. We’ll see what tomorrow brings.

Hawne Basin

Here I am Rune

Distance 0 miles

Total 780 Locks 30 Tunnels

Running total mileage 1171.7 miles

An extra day at Hawne Basin and we are now fully stocked up with diesel ,coal, water and empty toilet cassettes, things don’t get any better than that.  Tomorrow may well be the day to head back towards Birmingham city centre, dependent upon the weather, we shall see.

Hawne Basin

Here I am Rune

Distance 7.7 miles

Total 780 Locks 30 Tunnels

Running total mileage 1171.7 miles

Hawne Basin, I think I’ve died and gone to the narrow-boater’s heaven! It may have been a struggle to get here through Gosty Tunnel (more later) but it was certainly worth the effort. The trip started through the three Factory Locks on the New Main Line which my crew tells me she quite likes and if we are to return to the Dudley Port area that is her preferred route rather then up the Brades Hall flight. Then it was through Netherton Tunnel which is probably the highest and widest that we have so far travelled through. To be honest it was a bit boring since it is as straight as a die and there isn’t much to at this time of year since there are no other boats to avoid. The tedium of Netherton was however contrasted with the ‘excitement’ of Gosty tunnel which does carry one or two surprises. To begin with you enter a tunnel which is probably as high as Netherton but only the width of a single narrow-boat (just!). Halfway through however the height suddenly halves  and all of a sudden you find yourself ducking to avoid the roof and trying not to rip the chimney pot off the boat (note to self: must remember to take the chimney off for the return trip!). As an added ‘excitement’ we then managed to wrap a length of rope around the propeller halfway through the tunnel. Despite a number of attempts to free it (forward and reverse propulsion) it would not come off so in the middle of a long and dark tunnel we have to switch the engine off and take the weed hatch up to free the prop, getting a few thorns on my hand from the compulsory brambles as I do so!

Once we’ve cleared the ‘excitement’ of Gosty Tunnel however it is pretty much all downhill to Hawne Basin (although I managed to break the ‘navigation’ light that I’d fitted on the roof to see me through tunnels entering the basin). And when we get to Hawne Basin, well, what can I say. Refuel the diesel tank at 103 litres of red diesel for £64, replace the gas bottle for £24 and get another bottle of Elsan Blue for £12, life just doesn’t get any better! I'm told that the mooring here is free for 7 days and then just £4 a day thereafter.Then we have the evening Inland Waterways Association meeting in the clubhouse where they serve good beer for a mere £2 a pint and I’m in heaven, I think I’ll just hibernate here until spring!

Dudley Port day 3

Here I am Rune

Distance 0 miles

Total 777 Locks 28 Tunnels

Running total mileage 1164. miles

One more zero mileage day today although the plans for tomorrow are a bit more interesting with a trip through Netherton Tunnel to Hawne Basin to refuel and possibly get a replacement gas bottle since the current one has run out. Although it was a lazy day in terms of movement it was quite busy in terms of servicing the boat since I took the opportunity to carry out the 250 hour oil change, recharged the stern gland greaser and recovered the coolant which had dripped into the bilge. I have dipped the fuel tank and reckon that if the price at Hawne Basin is reasonable I should get about 100 litres in, that should keep us supplied until the middle of January I would hope.