Tardebigge to Birmingham

We awoke to persistent rain but nevertheless set off up the Stoke flight of six locks as a prelude to the famous Tardebigge flight of 30 locks. It continued to rain throughout the flight but we had a good passage through - just a few boats coming down with none ahead of us going up. We managed an efficient operation - achieving 10 locks an hour. Near the top of the flight we could see the Tardebigge Reservoir that feeds all but the top few tops.



It was with quite some sense of achievement that we arrived at the top lock at this rate but were thwarted at the last minute in completing the flight in under three hours by a slow boat coming down the last lock!



At the top we called at the facilities (eating bacon butties whilst waiting for the water tank to fill!) before setting off into the first of three 'real' tunnels on the level pound into Birmingham. The longest is Wast Hills, over 2500 metres in length, which we completed in half an hour. Before long the rain cleared and the afternoon was very bright and sunny - although very cold. Late afternoon we passed Norton Junction where the north Stratford Canal joins in, with the sun creating stunning lights and shades amongst the trees which were just turning to their autumnal colours.



Two hours later and we passed through Worcester Bar in Gas Street Basin (camera flashes from the 'crowds' recorded our transit!) before finding the same mooring spot that we used last year, right in the centre of Birmingham night life! Shortly after we moored, Andrew left us to catch a train from New Street back to Great Malvern to pick up his car. The journey was not as straightforward as normal because the West Coast Main Line was closed for the day for engineering works, which we had a good look at as we cruised alongside the railway line near Bournville and the University.