Bumbling along 13 - 14th May 2026

So here is our mooring spot
And just beyond that bridge was this;


A swirling maelstrom of cars and people, a shock to the system, I can tell you. What is out of view to the left is the new Metro tramline being built. Heavy duty steel piling being sunk into the hillside.

  We ventured down on  the evening of 12th, because we had a CO monitor to replace, and my airbed was not holding air, so we figured we'd get a replacement which if also unsatisfactory we could bring back for a refund next morning.  And we has a meal at wagamama: first time for both of us and really good.

The weather in the morning was very unsettled, so we treated the exploration as our daily exercise, keeping the wall to our right to make sure we inspected everything, but mostly maintaining a brisk pace. The airbed was a success, hurray! But I was tempted by some Skechers shoes and a fleece, and then it was lunchtime.. Ask Italian, also really good. Back to the boat to digest and watch a film and YouTube, as well as the weather going bonkers outside.

Thursday morning, and we only had a couple of hours to cruise. It was a mostly dry morning despite some threatening clouds, past the continuation of the Metro works
and then along the deceptively green corridor.. roads and industrial estates hidden by hedges. The geese doing a great job of keeping the grass down while leaving the flowers intact.
One lock to rise,
A pause to dispose of rubbish, but here's something a little more photogenic
We are well into the black Country now, with disused wharves and arms striking off in all directions. Some explainer boards along the way.
Our destination was Bumble Hole Nature Reserve, which had mixed reviews: we should be cautious in case there were drug dealers and other light fingered people about, but is fine if there are other boats around.
There were indeed other boats, and we took comfort in the occasionally awful weather: skallys less likely to be out in the open.
And
Had been thinking of walking to Ma Pascoe's, which has amazing reviews, but 15 minutes, should we meet another of those, was not attractive. So bacon, eggs, beans, mushrooms and onions on board it was. Not so bad!

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