Thursday 23rd September 2021
We set off from our overnight mooring outside the University Advanced Transport and Infrastructure College building in slight drizzle. Luckily it soon stopped and the sun came out, however the wind was fierce.
At the end of the Digbeth arm we turned left and headed for the Farmers bridge lock flight. These locks are mostly subterranean, passing beneath the BT tower and other office buildings and some very interesting cross winds on the canal are created by the high rise buildings.
At the third lock up, the pound with least room for boats to pass, we met a descending single hander being assisted by a CaRT vo-lockie. His boat was 58ft and Jannock is 62 foot. There is room for a 50ft boat in the layby between the locks and so Graham got the 58ft boat bows in and then moved Jannock passed whilst the other boat was shifted slightly forward so that his bows came out after Jannock had passed to allow his stern into the layby to let Jannock enter the next lock. The single hander didn’t seem to have much boating nowse and the volunteer had just had a fall on the slimy shiny engineering brick path. First aid was offered to assist the lockie.
Next boat down was nb Pyrton, Graham had sold him a Di Blasi motorbike a few years ago and he remembered him well. Small world.
We moored in our favourite spot opposite the NIA after filling up the water tank at the top of Farmers Bridge locks. Shortly afterwards we were joined there by nb Harnser so it was tea and cakes all round.
After dinner we decided to take a little ‘off canal’ stroll to see a bit more of Birmingham, we ended up watching the fountains in Centenary Square outside symphony hall in the dark – excellent! Over the other side a chap had set up a full drumkit and was drumming along to backing tracks. I suppose it reduces the chance of him offending the neighbours at home practicing.
G&B
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