It was an early start 07.00 on Wednesday morning for our final dash into Gas Street Basin. The BW man on Lapworth flight recommended not to moor past the lift bridge 8 at Major's Green until you reach Gas Street basin. So we covered 15 miles in 6 hours, so to get here we have done in total 65 locks of which 19 were narrow and 41 miles in 6 days. Tomorrow we start our return journey weather permitting.
It was well worth the effort as the centre of the UK canal network is very good although it can be noisy near Worcester Bar. We are moored near The Sea Life Centre just past the entrance to the Oozells Loop. Although subject to a major redevelopment there are a few parts of the old still around, with some of the new buildings trying to recreate the old.
Some images of the trip in
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| Something you would expect on The Thames near Canary Wharf- this development is at Dickens Heath on the North Stratford canal |
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| I do like junctions as they always have an air of excitement on the journey. This is Kings Norton Juction where the Stratford meets the Worcester & Birmingham Canal with its Junction House. |
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| As you approach Edgbaston you can see the Italian style tower of the University called "Old Joe" |
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| Approaching Worcester Bar which used to be a stop lock protecting the water between two independent canal companies. In the late 1700's all goods used to be transferred between narrow boats of different companies.Gas Street Basin is on the right. |
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| Old Turn Junction or Malt House mini roundabout. We came in from the right and are moored behind me, straight ahead is Farmers Bridge lock flight. |
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| Some of the old buildings are still around |
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| This is at the restored Moor Street Station, closed by Beeching in the late 1960's and reopened by Chiltern Rail in 2003 as it used to be,for which it won several awards. The loco is a GWR 2-8-0 which would have run through the station in BR steam days. |
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| We went to see a most unusual National Trust property. A group of back to back houses giving a glimpse of life from 1830's to 1930's- well worth a visit and only 200 metres from the Bullring Shopping Centre |
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| A view down Farmers Bridge locks which are the start of the Birmingham and Fazely Canal |
