Autherley Junction

 

Here I am Rune

Distance 4 miles 

Total 5229 Locks  431 Tunnels

Running total mileage 7,926.4miles

 

Managed to get everything done at Bentley Bridge Retail Park that I’d intended. Got my swim in at the pool, a bit of shopping (stocked up with beer and wine) and a quick game of 10 pin bowling (scored 113 and 117). Today it was the day to take on the Wolverhampton 21 flight of locks, which all went pretty well. We were actually seeing some boats on the move, unlike our trip from Hawne Basin to Bentley Bridge when we only passed 2 on the move.

The plan will be to stay here until Saturday to get the weekend shopping in tomorrow and then head up to Gailey for Saturday night ready to present the Eberspacher heater for servicing on Sunday morning.

New Cross,(Bentley Bridge)

 

Here I am Rune

Distance 12.8 miles 

Total 5208 Locks  430 Tunnels

Running total mileage 7,922.4miles

 

So, after the winter break, here we are again back out onto the canals. Something of a ‘baptism of fire’ since, once again when we got to Bumble Hole we once again got a bl**dy tent around the propeller again, complete with poles!! The water levels also seemed to be a bit down as well since at both Powke Lane Bridge and Dog Lane Bridge we had the same scenario repeated. Whilst turning to line up with the bridge hole, suddenly we weren’t turning any more even with the tiller hard over. Avoided bumping Powke Lane bridge by astute use of reverse but at Dog Lane Bridge we were almost lined up when suddenly we just started going straight ahead, I can only assume that it was too shallow on the right hand side (starboard!) so it just pointed the boat towards the side.

Despite the long hold up to cut the tent from the prop, we got to the intended destination, Bentley Bridge,albeit later than intended.  I’m hoping to be able to get a swim at the local pool tomorrow.

Hawne Basin

 

Here I am Rune

Distance 12.4 miles 

Total 5205 Locks  427 Tunnels

Running total mileage 7,909.6 miles

 

After a few (cold) days in Birmingham we have now made what is almost certainly our last cruise of the year back to the basin. Whilst in Birmingham we had a wander around the Christmas Market, a go on the skating rink, a swim,steam and sauna at Aston University and a trip across the Leicester to visit Sister in Law. We pretty much got everything done that we wanted.

The trip back could have been better, weather-wise, drizzly rain most of the way in contrast to the bright sun of the trip into Birmingham. On the plus side, the tree that had been down at Galton Tunnel had been fully cleared.