Hopwood – Birmingham Gas Street Basin (Mon 5th Aug)






















Left at 09:10 arrived at 15:00.
Not too bad a night, its still wet and threatening more for today.  Some of the hire boats have gone to their homes and Derek says there are 6 pointing same way as us?  The garage is running out of milk? So this must be an unusual occurrence, there were boats either side of us as far as you could see!!  Just before we set off, a lady told Derek that a tree had fallen just before the Wast HIl tunnel and just ahead of the way we were going.  Well, as we got there it was massive, worse still it was right across the canal, its top branches sticking up out of the water.  We tried to go through, avoiding a large broken branch that was pointing dangerously in the  direction of the side of the boat, we got stuck.  We have a large prop 24inches drawing 30ins, Derek reversed out and then a hire boat came up behind us, I told them the situation and that we thought  they would be able to get through, they got through ok then another boat came, they did the same.  The Tunnel entrance is just a few boat lengths in front of us. I told Derek to ring BW/CT to report it as it was quite dangerous, he did and then we tried to get through again, stuck fast, right in front of the tree.  I was getting really worried as I didn’t want it to fall on the boat of us for that matter.  We rang the BW/CT number again, the lady who answered tried to get the supervisors office but no reply? I put the kettle on  and then a voice from the banking, behind were the tree had fallen, it was the cavalry(tree surgeon as it turned out) had arrived.  The next boat to come along behind us, The Aussies in a Black Prince boat from yesterday, gave us a tow backwards and with much hilarity, mostly about salvage rights etc, pulled us out so we could reverse further down and moor up to wait for the problem to be solved.!!!  We explained the situation and told them they would be able to get through, like the others that had gone before.  It was really funny watching them, the ladies videoing the proceedings and the men shouting banter from front to back of the boat, they got through and gave us a cheery wave as they entered the tunnel.  At the mooring I heard a rustling above us, on the tow path side, a young man was coming down through the foliage with a Men at work sign, he put it just before the bridge on the towpath and one at the point of the tree in the canal.  We had a cuppa and Derek was drawn to the sound of the chain saw, they were clearing a path down the very steep banking to get the other guys to the crack in the tree so they could fell it properly.  It was 11ish by now, we had to stop 2 more hire boats, they seemed to have got to the offending tree, Derek signalled that they weren’t to go any further as it was to be pulled out of the way.  We were swarming again, three in a row by now, safety in numbers is Dereks answer to that.  The men and boys from the two boats had to go and have a look at the problem, like Derek.  They all ran back to get their boat hooks and pulled the large pieces of debris on to the tow path, they came back punching the air, the caveman in them was showing through.  The two hire boats pulled forward, we reversed further down, then another boat came up on our rear, we let it through and then we all set off in a flotilla to vanquish the beastly tree and go through the very long tunnel. Yippee, it was a success, we got through for 12:15.  We filled up with water at Kings Norton and on to Birmingham, we had bacon sarnies for lunch. The rain has stopped and the sun was coming out, we passed the gate, or should I say it floated passed us, I said to Derek we had seen it so much we ought to take it home.  I had a little steer of the boat into Birmingham, till it started to rain, I got back into the cratch, it was getting close to 2.  The large trip boat was in the winding hole, it does seem very long, Derek says its about 70ft. It has windows down each side of what would be the cargo hold and there were lots little kids waving out of the windows with purple balloons in their hands, maybe a party.  Arrived at 2:50ish mooring at  Brindley Place.  We were finally moored by 3:15.  A man came back to his boat which was moored up in front of us, he was moving off and said it would be better if we moored there as it was quieter, we did, Derek felt better then.  I had this mad idea to get  fish and chips for tea, got changed put face on and set off to find somewhere and maybe find a shop or two.  No such luck, its all expensive bars/eateries, I found my way to the main street but it looked too daunting to venture up.  I  rang Derek outside Carluccios and told him I was on the way back, very disappointed, it was also pelting down by now.  I got back quicker than I expected, Im not sure how, used less steps and bridges I think.  Derek said there is a little provision shop somewhere near but I didn’t want them, I really fancied fish and chips, hes gone for a look see armed with the brolly.  I made a cuppa, Derek found Sainsburys, he went back and got himself and Indian and me a braised steak dinner plus a lemon tart and cream for pud.  Cheered me up anyway, we will decide what to do in morning as Im feeling a bit fed up with Birmingham.  We have tele though, that’s a bonus we thought we wouldn’t get, and choc for later.

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