Wiggins Hill Bridge, Birmingham and Fazeley Canal

Yesterday, David was interviewed again by a local radio station. Don't ask which one, we've got a bit blaze with all this (local) fame. James wanted to know whether it would be better to be on a canal in Venice, or a canal in Birmingham. Now that was a no-brainer! I'd rather be in Venice - even if the locals don't want tourists.

We decided on a mini-cruise to meet up with Ed and Julia on Wildflower to discuss France. So we set off at 0530 this morning and had a great trip down the two flights of locks. We stated with clear blue skies and nearly all the locks for us.

I suffer from vertigo - so this picture was painful to take.








We came upon this lock on the Aston Flight. Where is Health and Safety? The new wooden bollard takes up 1/3 of the narrow walkway on the of-side of the lock and the ladder takes it all up. David had to squeeze past to get to the bottom gate.

There were only 2 boats on the Aston Flight and another at Milnworth bottom lock, but by then it was 10.30, and quite a few boats have gone past since. Birmingham was very busy last night with boats on all the available moorings.

Mooring up just after the winding hole at Milnworth, I was ready for a snooze - well it was 27 locks. Later in the afternoon we had a telephone call from a lady at the BBC who wants to film on a boat for a spin-off of the Antiques Road Show. (Not sure if she meant us or the boat as antique.) So, for the second time in 2 years we have come down these locks and almost immediately turned around and gone back again. We will get off the B&F at the northern end one of these days.


Yet another Birmingham City Fan. I made the backing paper on the computer and decoupaged the badge. Using the Bend It font I typed out the name and sentiments and matted everything onto silver and blue paper.