Our mooring at Cambrian Wharf has one advantage in that we are about twenty yards from the Flapper bar , a music venue so we get to listen to the bands for free .We have spent the last few days exploring around us , Thusday had a walk down to the Bull Ring we were going to get a breakfast at a cafe we used the last time we visited  but got there and found the building almost gone nine stories of it being chopped up by machines ready for redevelopment, Friday Mark and family came to see us for my birthday we had a  walk   out and went to the library a good place to explore , had an ice cream etc.Today we went to the museum , free of course loads to see just got back now foot sore and ready for tea .


                                                A view of us from the top of the library

Gates in the bridges so that the fire brigade can dangle suction hoses down if they need the water

 

That was where we were going to go for a breakfast you can just see the concrete cruncher reaching up from behind 

A little addition this area was called Paradise and housed the old library built in the sixties , renamed by Prince Charles a carbuncle on the face of the planet

Tonight we are in Birmingham moored at Cambrian Wharf which is only yards from the city centre to get here it has been a heavy day , twenty eight locks and ten miles we initialy were going to stop half way at Typhoo basin but when  we went in to have a look at it and found it a dismal place surrounded by high brick walls no way out except by water so we decided to press on to the top of the Farmers flight and central Birmingham , through the last few locks we were helped by a CRT volunteer which we were very glad of .

                  This is Typhoo basin very secure but we still didnt fancy overnighting here

the swans very protective parents

Three polish gentleman some of the very friendly happy people we met on the way up

they took pictures and said we would be on facebook tonight

nearly at the top with the BT tower in the background

This was the sight that greeted us at the start of the locks once a nice lock keepers cottage

A two hundred year old junction under the concrete of the M6

Moored up tonight in the city centre

Passing underneath the BT tower

Approaching the city centre

My athletic assistant about to cross the lock

Forgot to say that the meals were two for one so ended up paying £9.95 for both of us  , suitable for a yorkshire man ?? well until some one said you have to leave a tip so it cost me £10.95          The pub

Today on the Birmingham And Fazeley has been a little more strenuous for us , well for Hilary really eleven locks and seven miles but the bottom lock gates are a different design to that which  we are used to as they only have one full width gate which weighs two and a half tons plus and can be difficult to get moving .
Tonight we have stopped at a pub the Cuttle Bridge Inn ,and gone for a meal as a treat.
Tomorrow we will be in the out skirts of Birmmingham but we have a problem in that the route we were going to take is closed due to a damaged lock but we have found a different way to go , a little longer and more locks to do but it is to be expected anyway as Birmingham is on top of a hill so which ever way we go we still have to get to the top.

After a few days spent in Atherstone we set off yesterday morning doing five locks upwards to the turning point where we stopped to fill with water and get rid of waste and rubbish then turned around and went back  down eleven locks and a few miles later stopped for the night out in the countryside near Polesworth .Today we did the last few miles back to Fazely  with only two locks to do so tonight we are moored on the aquaduct at the edge of town almost back to where we were just over a week ago .
Tomorrow  we shall probably go to the junction , turn left and head up towards Birmingham.
We have received confirmation today of our entry into the Birmingham cruise one of nineteen boats ,
so we have to make our way up to the top of the Wolverhampton flight ready for the start on June tenth.


                                         Moored in Atherstone halfway up the flight of locks

One of the fighting swans taking a rest

Back at Fazely tonight taking the sun

atherstone

We are now in Atherstone moored up just on the edge of town it is a grand place for watching boats , people and Swans having territorial sort outs just the swans not the boats or people , done some shopping for the more bulky stuff and of course checked out the charity shops , we hope to move on this weekend and start heading up to Birmingham.
I am looking at the possibility of joining an eight day guided tour of some of the lesser known canals of Birmingham , this is organized by the BCNS  starts on June 10 and takes us to areas we would not normally consider going to , this is  as a chaperoned group of boats .

Last night we were in Fazeley , as we came into the town  there was a floating market so we decided to moor up and go for a look round but despite seeing a lot of nice stuff including some old brass and copper,nothing was  good  enough to persuade me to part with my brass , however we decided to spend the night here  and walked into town and got some essentials like milk bread steak etc.
Today we have moved onwards through Polesworth , had a walk round the village and went to see the abbey but guess what it was closed and locked up .oh well ..
Tonight we are out in the countryside again , glorious sun shine again .



                                         Polesworth Abbey secure from invaders

                                Moored out in the country tonight with late afternoon sunshine

Last night in Fazeley, the two boats in front of us belong to the same family , the furthest is occupied by mum and dad ,grown up daughter lives in the other

Grandma on guard

Following our two week break back home we are now on the move again leaving Mercia Marina on Thursday and heading back up the Trent Mersey to Fradley Junction where we have now turned towards Coventry, it has been glorious sun shine all the way and tonight we are moored in the country side just outside Tamworth .


                       This is Nigel our colourful commentator for the Kirkbymoorside 10 K

And they are off the start of the 10K

Same day as the 10K the Tour De Yorkshire passes through Kirkby

This was the weather we had on the boat two weeks ago , white over with hailstones

Saw this this morning in Alrewas perhaps an observatory , an alien landing , a magic mushroom or what ?

This was the sight when we got up  this morning a fishing competition stretching up the canal in front of us they all had to raise their rods for us when we set off later on 

On the way up today we had a stretch of  river to travel with just a string of bollards between us and the weir and quite a strong current pulling us sideways

Legal graffiti in Alrewas

Mercia marina  with the Willington power station in the back ground now shut down and awaiting demolition ?