Halesowen (Hawne Basin)

Here I am Rune

Distance 12.1 miles

Total 3949 Locks  248 Tunnels

Running total mileage 5773.3 miles

After a pleasant meal out in Bottega in Birmingham last night, today was a trip back to Hawne Basin which seemed to pass quite quickly although it still took us our usual 4 hours. 

We seem to possibly be starting to have battery issues since the monitor, whilst recording 100% charged in the evening, goes blank by the morning, this could either be a battery issue or a monitor issue, neither of which will be cheap to rectify. If it is the batteries, it wouldn’t be that unexpected since they are now over 6 years old, which is considered a reasonable life for a battery. If it is a monitor issue, I’ll need an electrician since I know nothing of how they work.

Not sure just how long we are going to be in the basin on this occasion, we’ll work that out later.

Birmingham City Centre

Here I am Rune

Distance 8.2 miles

Total 3949 Locks  245 Tunnels

Running total mileage 5760.2 miles

As planned an easy cruise into Birmingham City Centre on a fine and sunny day, perfect autumnal cruising conditions. I’ve logged 3 tunnels today since Broad Street Tunnel is marked as one on the map, even though it is little more than a long bridge (now called Black Sabbath Bridge). Once into the City centre, finding a mooring was dead easy, there were two available in Gas Street basin if we’d needed them but we first aimed for our preferred mooring by the Arena where there was also plenty of space.

The plan will be to remain here until early next week when we’ll be heading off back to Hawne Basin.

Yardley Wood

Here I am Rune

Distance 7.1 miles

Total 3949 Locks  242 Tunnels

Running total mileage 5752 miles

It had been my half intention to get to Kings Norton Junction as I am aware it is a reasonable mooring there with plenty of space, but we stopped a bit short. After the last few days of locking the boat has got quite dirty, mainly from water coming off the ropes along the side so we stopped at Yardley Wood to take on water and give the boat a bit of a wash, and didn’t get started again.

We should still make it into Birmingham fairly easily tomorrow, barring any disaster, and will stay there until sometime next week.