Rain was forecast for the whole day but fortunately, although it was wet as we set off, it did not last very long.
Before we left Mike took a brief look at Star City, an entertainment complex with a variety of fast food outlets. OK, so it was a grey morning with little happening, but it did feel rather as if the whole area needs a revitalisation.
We had about half an hour run to the bottom of the Garrison Locks flight of six during which time the rain cleared and stayed away.
Although the surroundings of the flight are generally decaying industrial, with a lot of reclamation businesses, the flight itself, with two locks having had new gates in 2017, looks well kept and remarkably little litter.
Shortly after completing the flight Christine spotted a petrol station above the bridge just after Phoenix Wharf - and there were mooring bollards so we pulled in. As it happened, the Gulf petrol station was the other side of a busy dual carriageway and was a 24 hour fuel only stop with no shop. Fortunately on our side there is also a BP petrol station and Christine returned with both milk and newspaper, all that we actually needed to get today.
A little later we passed under this industrial unit that is built right across the canal - like one of the Birmingham and Fazeley to Salford Junction.
At Bordesley Junction we turned left to ascend the Camp Hill flight of another six locks. These too are in largely industrial surroundings but with rather more of the land given over to transport - roads and railways.
Shortly after midday we arrived at the top of the flight where we turned in to the service facilities and the site of the former Sampson Road Wharves. As well as the usual range of tasks, Mike also cleared the prop - as well as the usual assortment of plastic there were a couple of clothing items - or what was left of them. If people think that the plastic waste is just a problem in other parts of the world, seen by documentary cameras, then they should try taking a look at city centre canals. As with the oceans, once the plastic gets into the water there is little to remove it, apart from the occasional annoyed boater.
The next section is a long straight that passes through the areas of Small Heath and Tyseley, both once had famous industrial sites but much of which has now disappeared to be replaced by rather untidy units.
Part of the Tyseley estate has been redeveloped recently with several smart new units which look as if they have yet to be occupied.
As we gradually leave industrial Birmingham behind us the canal runs mostly in a cutting.
Two squirrels chased each other up this tree and into the branches overhead . At least we managed to capture one of them on camera.
A short section of collapsed towpath is under repair - or at least it is on weekdays!
We were heading with some determination for Copt Heath where a phone call earlier established there is diesel! Apart from this, there is a long run after leaving the centre of Birmingham. Our fuel gauge had started to malfunction and so we were uncertain of how much we had left. We knew that we should be about a third full but, until just before we reached here when Mike discovered is old Take Five dip stick, we were rather in the dark.
Just before the fuel stop we passed a canal maintenance depot - looks like this is where old gates come to retire.
A very friendly owner of the Copt Heath moorings came to serve us - and his price was very reasonable as well. From the amount that we were able to take on, our estimate of how much we had left was fairly accurate!
From there it was about half an hour to arrive at the nearest point for Knowle - we plan to walk into the village tomorrow morning for the service at the church. The towpath edge had the concrete piles topped with what looks like an old railway line, once popular as an alternative to the stone and concrete of the 1930's Keynsian programme that lines much of the Grand Union. Whilst is generally seem to last well, it provides rare opportunities to attached a mooring rope. Mike found one spot for the stern rope and Christine thought she had found one for the bow rope. However, although our chain went part way down it did not emerge below the rail and then would not come out again! However much we jiggled it one way or another it was stubborn. Mike decided the solve the problem by undoing the shackle that was the sticking point but first he had to attach strings to the various pieces to avoid losing them into the water. Some considerable while later we had all the bits back in our hands and reassembled. We opted for a mooring spike instead!
12.3 Miles - 12 Locks
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