Leamington Spa to Birmingham

On Wednesday 2 August Sarah joined us as Leamington Spa and as soon as she was on board we set off.  It was straight into action because shortly afterwards we climbed the 2 Cape Locks and then reached the foothills of the Hatton Flight.  The weather turned against us after 8 locks so we called it a day but later on we were able to walk up the flight.  

The Hatton Flight on our evening walk 

The next day we made short work of those locks and continued on to the embankment at Rowington.  It has become a tradition that Kev sets us a drawing challenge and we had our pencils out that afternoon to capture a set of allen keys with tricky handles.  

On Friday we sailed to Kingswood Junction and started ascending the Lapworth locks.  Once again we quickly found a routine and flew up the flight of 19 single locks.  

Looking back down the Lapworth Locks

We stopped for the day near Hockley Heath, an unremarkable village except for a McLaren showroom which was next to a Rolls Royce dealer.  

The next day brought heavy rain and the canal took us north-west; the shallow water made it slow work and ominous bumps vibrated through Brent III whenever she struck something on the bottom.  We moored up near Brandwood, just in time to miss a thunderstorm.  Later large hailstones pelted down, covering the towpath and floating on the canal.  

Happily the weather dried up and Sarah & I enjoyed an evening walk along the canal.  We walked up the footpath which took us up the hill at the eastern end of Brandwood Tunnel and were surprised to see a busy road junction and houses on top.  Finding the canal again was a challenge, it was hidden away down a side street. 

The western portal of Brandwood Tunnel

Our walk continued to Kings Norton Junction where the old toll house displayed the charges for transport on the canal. 

The canal tolls in 1894

On Sunday we sailed round to Bournville, the home of Cadburys.  The Cadbury family relocated their factory to the area and built housing and facilities for their workers in a village named after the local Bourn Brook.

Some of the original model village cottages with the factory in the background

Unfortunately a railway line runs alongside the canal and the next day we were woken up by the first trains.  We continued our journey into Birmingham and after some sailing round we found a good mooring on the Oozell Street Loop.  

Sarah & I enjoyed the sights of Birmingham including the new library and excellent museum.  This year Birmingham has a trail of colourful bears which are dotted around the city.

One of the bears on the towpath, in the background is the canal roundabout and behind that the Barclaycard Arena

The tour of the Jewellery Museum was enlightening and entertaining.  The owners of the Smith & Pepper jewellery factory closed the doors on their business in 1981 and it's just as they left it.  

The Smith & Pepper factory just as it was left

Later we walked down to the Bullring and as we looked down from a balcony a young starling landed on the barrier. 

The young starling

On Thursday we had the highlight of this trip - a day at the Festival of Quilts at the NEC.  To say it was busy would be an understatement but once inside the amazing display of quilts in a variety of sizes and colours was a feast for our eyes.  After admiring the designs and examining the techniques we looked around the trade stands and bought some lovely fabrics for our own creations.  

This striking quilt by Marjolien Paters was one of my favourites at the Festival of Quilts.  

Our journey from Leamington Spa to Birmingham