Friday 2nd June
On the move by seven thirty, weather rather overcast, turning to rain about nine o'clock. There were an extraordinary number of boats going our way. We stopped to let one past — then, before we had got going again, another one has slipped through. There were no locks in prospect, so there was no point in rushing to keep ahead of the pack. Today we're aiming for Gas Street, renewing our acquaintance with Birmingham. The advantage is that it was within easy reach by lunchtime and would offer a good selection of pubs and eating places.
We were through the stop lock and turning right at King's Norton by a quarter to eleven. I can't report much of the morning, as I was engrossed by Post Captain. I'd reached the part where a duel is threatened between the two major characters, but this was unresolved by the time the clock tower of Birmingham University came into view, showing that Gas Street was not far off. At this point, in a fit of enthusiasm, June got out the vacuum cleaner and hoovered all the carpets — another use for the 240 volt supply, apart from computer and hairdryer!
We tied up at about half past twelve and strolled into town. The first pub we passed was the Tap and Spile, so it was natural that we should trek round the various pubs in the Gas Street area before discovering that the first one was the best after all. The beers were quite decent, and our table had rather a good view of the canal. It didn't look all that promising for food — and in any case Nick and Penny were rather keen to visit Pizza Express — and I must say there weren't any objections from the rest of the party. After starters, pizzas, desserts, coffee and liqueurs, we were talking about remaining in Gas Street and starting back early on Saturday! Duty calls, however, and we returned to the Buzzard, setting off back towards Alvechurch about half past three.
In Pizza Express, Birmingham
We had a leisurely and comparatively uneventful final leg of our journey. At one point we noticed three scruffy urchins throwing a traffic cone into the canal. As we went past they were watching to see what happened to it, looking somewhat sheepish when they saw they were observed. I was reminded of the 'Outlaws' in the William books by Richmal Crompton. The Wast Hill tunnel was the main feature of the afternoon, nearly two and a half kilometers. At any rate, it was quite busy that afternoon — there was a rather slow boat ahead of us, which I was anxious not to crash into in the dark — and another boat behind us, which as far as I could judge from its headlight was gradually catching us up. We also passed three boats going in the opposite direction. Another item of interest was a rather curious sculpture, made of metal, in the shape of what we presume is supposed to be a dragon's head.
'Dragon's Head' by side of canal
We arrived back at Alvechurch at twenty to eight. There were very few boats back at the boatyard at that stage, so it was fairly easy to reverse into the same position from which the boat started out last Saturday. Since we'd had such a good lunch, we abandoned our original idea of driving into Birmingham for an Italian meal. Instead we went back to the Weatheroak, where we'd had lunch on Saturday. This was our last chance (at least for a while) for a Midland Balti. Opinions differed as to how these ones compared with those at The Navigation — both pretty good anyway.
After the meal, we moved out into the garden, as it was rather hot indoors. A final 'round' included two requests for drinking chocolate. Nick was reluctant to order this at the bar (though it was on the menu), so Penny went in with him. There was rather an interesting old open-top car standing in the car park. As we were sitting at the table, its owner drove away, with a 'poop, poop' rather reminiscent of Mr Toad's performance in Wind in the Willows.