The Birmingham Level

It's amazing. After all that work, there are now no locks until the other side of Old Turn Junction, over 14 miles away and right in the middle of Brum. There are still hills, but now the story is of tunnels, deep cuttings and embankments. 

Starting from just around the corner from our mooring:

Since no hands were required on deck, I did some long overdue study:
Concert is in a week! Need to make sure I know what's coming at every page turn!

The canal forms the wall of a reservoir at one point, giving splendid views: sadly, I must have hit macro mode as all my next photos are blurred. 

Situation rescued as we approached Kings Norton to complete the Avon ring.. those of you with keen memories will remember approaching this house from the other direction:
And from there it was only a short distance to our pause for the night: Bourneville.  We decided that rather than visit Cadbury World we'd rather spend £38 on chocolate, or beer and chips. So, once we'd waited for a thunderstorm to go by, we went off to find one of three local micro breweries in the area.
and despite the unprepossessing entrance, the joint was buzzing and the beer excellent. And of course, chips..
Back to the boat, just before the rain set in again. It's just great, listening to weather going bonkers outside from a snug berth.

Monday Morning and a trip to Aldi, then back away down the cut. Cooler but dry, a lovely day for a cruise.  Met with canoes again at Selly Oak, but only two this time.
Still plenty of greenery and wildlife as we approach the centre.
And back over the A38 with the spire of Lapworth's Museum of Geology in the background.
There's a flight of locks over there too, but that's not for today.

The last leg extremely slow as we had caught up to a boat which was going on tickover all the way.  Yawn.
In canal terms, this is nose to tail. Eventually we are able to hail them and ask if they would pull over to let by. They were fine with that and we were liberated, back to a stunning three miles an hour!
Late getting my camera out, but giant hogweed really is giant! That thing is a good 2m tall.
Still following an avenue of trees, by now a few hundred metres from the Mailbox and Gas Street Basin (the clue is in the graffiti).

And passed friends on the way!
Gas Street Basin, sprucing up for the main season.
Coming into the city centre under Black Sabbath Bridge never fails to amaze me. How lucky are we to be able to do this. 
The Old Turn junction and a couple of bridges later, and we moored on 14 day moorings. In fact, behind the very boat which I helped moor up while the skipper was being unwell.  Hang on.. 24th May. Doesn't look to have moved at all.. hope he's OK.

So, lunch, then the city awaits!  Actually, I decided I wanted to go for a walk in the nearest countryside available. 
Edgbaston Reservoir, 10 minutes bike ride from the centre.
It's really pretty. The map showed a basin but while there was definitely a typical canal House
but the harbour is filled in. Found its entrance:
and also the Feeder canal down to the canal.
and there's the 18th century workshops by the Iknield loop, still used by CRT.
So a splendid walk and interesting too.
Dinner on board and binge watched Staged. Marvellous. 

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