Into Birmingham

Wednesday 8th September 2021

We winded at Park End and returned through to tunnel after a very peaceful night. Brenda’s concern that the Police were after us was heightened by a cycling policeman coming through the tunnel and ringing his bell at us as he passed, blue light flashing on the back of his helmet.  Ssssh! don’t tell CaRT but we saw bats in the tunnel!

 

There is a lot of graffiti by the canals in Birmingham area! Less is sexual or racist than a few years ago but our favourites were ‘pro NHS and Covid jab items as well as ‘ask your Mum, she’ll tell you’ alongside ‘stop mucking about!’ Strange times indeed.

 

Having met ‘the Cheese boat’ in the tunnel we then had a pleasant journey along the new main line into Birmingham where we met a traders ‘pair’ obviously heading towards Park End for a weekend at the festival.

 

We stopped opposite the NIA and Brenda held Jannock on the centre rope while Graham went to see if there was any space in the adjacent loop – it’ll be shadier there this afternoon. While she was waiting two chaps approached her to tell her that there was a boat selling cheese in that spot yesterday.

 

Seven minutes after we moored, NPAS was overhead again. Is this police harassment?

We had no particular plans for today and it was too hot to do anything too taxing so we set off on a circular walk around central Birmingham, hugging the shade where we could. The best entertainment was had at Centenary square, watching the children and their parents in the water splash fountains. We sat in the shade watching for a good 20 minutes, then into the library (aka the wedding cake) for tourist information – don’t bother!

 

Then onto the Mailbox to see the exhibition at the BBC – closed. Covid we presume, so we just plodded on making a circular route via the peace gardens and a Tesco Metro that didn’t sell individual ice creams despite crowds of school children who had just come out of school opposite. Back onto the towpath and under Black Sabbath bridge and past the ‘poshed up’ Tap and Spile.

For a sit down and a cool drink we went to the Sommar Brewery Tap (next to Lego at the NIA). The aircon was on, the music suited our taste and the beers were a diverse selection with many Sommar beers being brewed on site. We’d have stayed for food but burgers are not our thing. We’ll go back after dinner on Jannock.

 

We did and Brenda was presented with tasters and asked what flavours she found, and whether she liked the beers. They then moved on to what desserts and Xmas fare the beers would go well with. Meanwhile Graham was having lots of technical brewing discussions about hops and stuff. Worth a visit folks!

G&B