Leaderboard

Thanks to @cheshire~rose and @Capt Ahab for putting this together plus the judges and all the teams.

Agreed. I gave up watching about a third of the way through. Just a continuous monotonous whine which didn't seem to be going anywhere. If she had a point to make it was lost on me.

I realise no one will have followed my story even if they had wanted to. In summary the folk we met along the way and the provenance: Monday We met Stephen Littlemore, his wife Sarah Ann and their three daughters on horseboat Scotia at Huddlesford on 28th March 1911. The details of the boat and it’s occupants are taken from the 1911 census that was taken two days later when the boat was moored at its home location of Middlewich. Whether they ever worked through Huddlesford is unknown. Tuesday We met Sam Lomas and his wife Alice. The date used was that of the 1939 Register when they were at home with their children at Autherley Junction. It was later established that Mrs Lomas was the daughter of Sarah Ann Littlemore. Wednesday In the morning we passed Sutherland Dock, a boatyard owned by Charles and Thomas Hendley. They were from a boat building family that go back to the early days of canals at Measham and have got to Wolverhampton via Banbury and Brinklow. The Hendley’s are recorded at Heath Town in various records dating from the 1890s up to the 1939 Register. In the evening we encountered William Grantham at Moxley. These details were taken directly from the 1881 census when he was recorded at Moxley with his wife Ellen who was the niece of boatman James Neal. The name of the boat was not recorded however he is believed to have been an employed boatman at this time. He later owned his own boats amongst which were Britannia, Hannah and Perseverance. He was always recorded by later censuses at a location on the Oxford Canal. It was revealed that William and Ellen were grandparents of Bill Grantham, Doris Collins and Sarah Franks who all worked on the GU/BWB fleet. Thursday A visit to the Hen & Chickens in 1841 found the Turton family and their lodger Henry Perry. The sixteen people referred to are listed on the 1841 census. They include Mr Perry, listed as a boatman and likely a relative of William Perry the Tipton Slasher who was known to have links to the Hen & Chickens amongst other nearby pubs and who became a canalside publican himself. It is was revealed that landlord Joseph Turton’s daughter Martha married boatman Richard Bignall Neal and was the mother of Sarah Ann Littlemore and grandmother of Alice Lomas. Richard Bignall Neal was the son of James Neal and therefore cousin of Ellen Grantham. Friday I bumped into William Neal and Clara Marlow at 3 Charlotte Street, Birmingham on 25th November 1889. The address is taken from the wedding certificate of David Marlow and Clara Neal that occurred at St Pauls, Birmingham on that date. The Thomas Clayton (Oldbury) Ltd horseboat Leam, skippered by Henry Drakeford, was seen at Steward Aqueduct. Mr Drakeford was recorded with the boat Leam in both 1891 and 1901 censuses. William Neal appeared again at The Ropery, Spon Lane. It was revealed that he was also the son of James Neal. William Neal is recorded at the Bromford Junction canal house in both 1891 and 1901 censuses and at Spon Lane in 1911. A detail I dropped from the narrative when we omitted Spon Lane locks from our original cruise itinerary was that he is also the father of Harry Neal of windlass fame, who later lived at the same cottages. The M5 now passes directly through the site of the cottages. Saturday Our last visit was to Ocker Hill Road, family home in the late 1850s of George Neal and wife Elizabeth. This information is taken from Neal family records and is known to be the birthplace of their son David Neal. George Neal was the brother of James Neal. Both were born in Banbury. David Neal was the brother of Ellen Grantham, and also of Harriet Neal referenced in Team Urban Moorings thread earlier in the week. Elizabeth Drakeford was the brother of Henry Drakeford from the boat Leam. They were the children of John Drakeford, a boatman who lived in Cropredy for his entire life. David Neal married Rebecca Thompson in Banbury in 1880 and despite her being born and raised largely in the East Midlands her father and grandfather - and possibly beyond - were BCN boatman. I had intended to include an encounter with the earliest Isaac Thompson but time, fatigue and lack of a good story got the better of that idea.

You should have said, I could have diverted Swift Photos from Heritage Working Boats carrying Pedigree from Burton to Crick.

I didn't know that Greta Thunberg had a narrowboat.

Day 5 Friday 8th May - Cruising Log of Augmented Reality Indigo Dream (ARID) Day 5 Challenge and Poetry Corner Today's challenge was, well, challenging, because, as this limerick describes, Indigo Dream has a pretty uncluttered roof - mainly because I'm only 5' 2" and struggle to helm if I can't see - even Richard's ike has folding pedals and handlebars. A wise woman from Wales once said “Don’t put stuff on your roof you don’t want on your head” For low bridges and branches Will sweep and dislodge them And wearing your chimney will wreck your street cred! However, that’s hardly in the spirit of the challenge so here is our video entry (text below) Note: We found the robin’s nest abandoned in a shed last year – no birds were harmed in the making of this video. I've been tinkering with the "script" below... Indigo’s Dream Roof Were all bridges as tall as titans And trees were all well-trimmed Our roof would soon be brightened And with wondrous items brimmed. *** For all important navigation A sundial points us to the light, Signs (port and sherry) lead us to libation, The telescope will guide us home on a starry, starry night *** To help us breathe and stay alive We have mushrooms that will satisfy. Defibrillators do save lives But may work better if kept inside. *** The oils are there to keep us loose, The mooring rope will keep us tight. The scrap will pay for some fine foods For the barbecue tonight. *** We should flick the feather duster, The mop and bucket should be cleaning. But is dirt such a disaster? To be honest, we’d rather be boating! ** We have chainsaw, logs and chimney, Complete with robin’s nest on the top, So until they’re hatched and flying free The fiery stove will be on stop. *** We’re equipped as per regulations With lights, anchor and fender, The flag of our proud nations Enhances our roof’s splendour. *** We have a bicycle made for two. The barometer’s set for fair. We have some dodgy homebrew, You’re welcome to come and share.

I think this comes under the heading "act of God". Malicious bastard.

We were trying to get some decent music as well and I thought I had secured these guys: But it turns out they were in the wrong Birmingham and there are no flights from Alabama at the moment due to Covid-19

I think you will find Woking is on the Basingstoke Canal, which unless your time machine has altered the time and space continuum, most definately isn't part of the BCN. ???

There was an interesting thread on FB at the beginning of the lockdown. Again a lady boater saying she had only been moored for a week and already she had received 3 complaints about the smell from her engine and whats wrong with these house dwellers. Another boater replied that if 3 people told him he had BO he would check his deodorant not ask them whats wrong with their noses

Just to report back on this. We are now on the Macc, moored just beyond the final winding hole before the Boseley stoppage, with access to water at Buglawton and somewhere to park the car which is necessary to commute the last stretch to Alderley Park. Toilet cassettes will have to be transported by car to Boseley sani station. MoominMama is due to report in at nine am sharp tomorrow for a days training and then she'll be hard at work in the COVID mines. The trip went pretty much to plan. The main problem was hopping the car. Many thanks to Mrs Tawny Owl for a lift back to Lapworth to collect it after the Birmingham transit. After that a combination of one driving and the other single-handed boating, and use of the ship's bike got us by. There was one dry pound on Camp Hill flight, and even more rubbish than usual down Garrison and Minworth. The Royal and Ancient Tawny Owl keb was put to good use. Single-handing a lone boat through Harecastle tunnel is not an experience I'd wish to repeat: it's very lonely when the doors close behind you and you're all alone. For the first time, I wore a lifejacket, just in case. Total moving boats for the 75 miles and 60-odd locks is four, and to prove that the law of Sod still lives, one was coming round the blind 90 degree bend at the end of Rugeley aqueduct, one was going very sllooowwwlly back from Etruria services to Westport Lake in front of me, one nipped into Hall Green stoplock just as I was approaching, and the final one raced me for a bridgehole at Congleton. The towpaths, on the other hand were generally busier than I've ever seen them. Lots of gongoozlers who had clearly never been near a canal before lockdown and mentioned that they'd not seen a boat going through a lock until we turned up. Lots of bikeists, lots if bikeists going fast. MP.

She is just a child, at least she is doing something with her life, not just grumbling and farting under the blankets like so many on here.. ?

Poor Tardebigge the Tardigrade, reduced to a life on the bottle thanks to lockdown redundancy meaning liveaboards are cleaning the algae off their rooftops themselves instead... (if not apparently cleaning it from their roof hatches. ) There's no government funded furlough scheme even for a self-employed phylum moss piglet. He's certainly let himself go and gained some weight compared to his notoriously microscopic brethren. Poor Tardebigge...

Well that's put me right off.

As a mere onlooker to this event, my thanks to those who organised it and to those who took part and really entered into the spirit of virtually cruising. I must admit to not having read every word of all the cruise diaries but I did read a lot and I was so impressed with the knowledge and facts and figures which the teams came up with. I don't know who had the original idea - Cheshire Rose? - but it was inspired and the organising team put on their thinking caps and came up with a superb event. Thank you everyone! haggis

That must be worth a point or two

Sounds fair and reasonable to me ..............but then I'm not German??? Enjoy the boat - I wish I could enjoy mine right now...........

So back to the real world of "Goat Zooming" VID-20200509-WA0004.mp4 For more details see and booking https://www.cronkshawfoldfarm.co.uk/goatsonzoom-1 also read https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater-manchester-news/no-kidding-farmer-hiring-out-18183020

Middlewich Folk & Boat 2018. We were lucky they had two glasses left to be honest, but it did tickle me that we ended up with an amber ale in a guinness glass and a G&T in a coke glass. Enough so that I moved 4 people to get the photo.

That was Tuesday. Today is food.

I’m off to visit the home of George and Elizabeth Neal on Ocker Hill Road. This was probably their home from sometime in 1850s to the late 1860s and was likely rented since George was a boatman. Like his brother James who we’ve already heard about he came to the boats in adult life. He married Elizabeth Drakeford, the sister of Henry Drakeford of the Leam we saw yesterday. That was in Banbury in 1848 and within 10 years they were making a living on the BCN. By 1871 census they were based in Middlewich but in 1881 were on a boat at Polesworth. The house is of interest because it was the birthplace of David Neal in 1857, possibly the only one of their children not born on a boat. He was also the only boy amongst seven siblings. Working the canals around the BCN as a boat boy from a young age he later became an owner boatman with his pair of horseboats Sunflower and Water Lily registered on the BCN, Grand Junction Canal, Oxford Canal and the Pool of London. I’m told the latter was quite rare for such boats. He married Rebecca Thompson, herself the daughter of a boatman and who had been raised on boats, but who after marriage flat refused to bring up her children on a boat as she had been. They rented a house close to Sutton Stop in the 1890s and remained there. At face value Rebecca Thompson was from the Leicestershire/Northamptonshire area but was actually the daughter of Isaac Thompson of West Bromwich, himself the son of Isaac Thompson of Smethwick, boatmen both. It’s even possible she was the great great grandchild of an Isaac Thompson recorded as steerer of boats on the Birmingham Canal in the 1795 Warwickshire boat registrations. I’d like to think so, it would make me an eighth generation BCN boater and a first generation virtual one. What chance our ancestors will be cruising the BCN in the 23rd century, and will it be real or virtual?

How delicate, thank you for this pearl of wisdom.

Fact - you don't own your view - and if you have half a brain you don't buy a house by a canal and then complain about the disturbance/lack of privacy as so many seem to these days........... Oh and we pay £ '000's to use the canal system................

See post 60. From Safeshore’s website: That is complete nonsense. What ‘legislation’ are they referring to? If they think a realistic transient is 20% above the rated supply then they’re miles out. If their GIs can handle 5000A transients then why on earth don’t they say so? It’s a good selling point, surely?

Minion's log (supplemental) Apparently I need to up my game if I want a biscuit. Luckily I've been keeping myself amused with a bit of a project to do a map of the canals of the BCN, including the old bits. Hopefully this will get me a biscuit. Possibly even one without squashed flies. I've had a lesson from the rest of the crew about posting the GPS route, so hopefully I've been a Good Minion and this link will work: My map of the BCN

I've found our old Monopoly set, the one that we were given as a gift when we collected our Chinese take-away meal. I still can't work out how to play the game, and it doesn't seem to be much help with the quiz either.

…....message starts 1101Z May 9th, 2020 !!Stop Press!! Tamworth Herald Time Travelling Tamworth Virus Authorities are actively investigating the spread of the 'Flu pandemic that killed over 500 million people in 1918 that was started in Tamworth, early May 1918 by a time traveller originating in 2020. It is now known that a cluster of infected cyclists, who incidentally all had their bicycles stolen near a canal, in 1918 had spread the disease. The Sars – CoV – 2 strain of the virus is confirmed as the virus both in 1918 and 2020. Authorities, working closely with the Tamworth Institute of Time Travel (TITT) and the Tamworth Institute of Tropical Science (TITS) have made significant progress in the past 24 hours. The pair of TITS have confirmed that the theft of 15 'Laundromat' units from TITTs 6 months ago was conected with the outbreak. The Laundromat units allow limited time travel but are notoriously unreliable so were outlawed in 2019 as they keep breaking down leaving unsuspecting users in the wrong time period. It now confirmed that an illegal sporting Challenge involving canal boats has been organised by a well known Fence (responsible for the selling of all sorts of goods) who goes under the pseudonym 'Auntie Waitrose'. The Challenge involved Time Travel and thus the premeditated transmission of the virus from one of the Challenge crews back to 1918. The Hawaii 50 team think that this now might be accidental. Research has named the crew member responsible for transmission of the virus as Alan de Entrail, who contracted the disease in Tamworth late April in 2020 but he is not he is not thought to be of interest to the Authorities. The Challenge committee is made up of Auntie Waitrose and Cpt Ahab which we believe are pseudonyms and a number of others who's names are not in the public domain. Competitors in the challenge are asking for a Stewart's Inquiry and Judicial review to publish these names. Warrants have been issued for the arrest of the two known committee members on suspicion of causing 500 million cases of murder but it appears they have gone to ground and are in hiding. Our reporter spoke to Mrs Elsie Dee, who repeated “U’s a daft wun, spouting tripe yer jessie, kitties got a bitoff llury. Ofter quack with little shite ”. We did manage to speak to a representative from TITS who said again “ you'll have to ask the other TITT”. ….....message timed at 1040Z ….....message ends.

Yesterday's route added to the map, https://drive.google.com/open?id=1bdLHaX5oOvFoixfSFpaVXz7xppOSaPVm

It's as plain as day to me why this young lady is complaining. She is 100% correct. Bunch of idiots on this thread though. Pretty much par for the course on this forum unfortunately.

I was just about to comment the same point about only hearing one side of the argument and making a judgement on that basis.

Day 5 Friday 8th May - Cruising Log of Augmented Reality Indigo Dream (ARID) As always, it was an interesting day on the canals and we used the time machine to flit about several eras, even attempting to save a drowning man - we vouldn't help ourselves, despite the risk of disrupting the laws of time travel. Our first historic canal was Danks - seen here on an old OS map: It's surrounded by iron works, though the name "Golds Hill" is a misnomer as it was a rich seam of coal that they found here. Golds Hill ironworks has a fascinating history - it was a family-run business, you could almost call it dynastic, and in the sprit of yesterday's philanthropists, the crew found a few etracts from the obituary of James Bagnall, sixth son of Joh Bagnall, whom I believe owned Golds Ironworks along with many others. JAmes Bagnall apparently "took great interest in the moral and spiritual welfare of his work people. Schools were built by the firm at Gold‘s Hill for the benefit of their children, which were licenced for Divine worship, and a chaplain was appointed in June, 1853. These institutions he continued to support until his death; and while others similarly situated, when they had acquired a fortune, left the smoky district and retired into the country, he continued to reside among his own people to the last." I particularly liked this quote from a eulogy delivered at his funeral - "...And I recollect, also, on two or three occasions, being present at what was at the time an annual Christmas sight, viz., the giving away in great profusion blankets, sheets, shirts, flannels, and other things to persons represented to him as being deserving of his benevolence; and at that time his eye would sparkle with pleasure, his whole Countenance would be beaming with benignity; and, as the recipients of his bounty, one and all, thanked him, I have heard him say, 'Don’t thank me, my friends, but thank God for what I give you - He gave it to me. My father was at one time a man of the people, and see how greatly the Lord has blessed him and his children!’" It seems that Cadbury's great reform in Bourneville was more representative of the spirit of industrial Birmingham than I'd ever imagined. I'll share a few photographs before we move on from this fascinating branch: And how it looked in real life... This an etching of the Leabrook Works - for all the good deeds, ironworking was still a hard, polluting industry.

Day 5, the last overnight stop. More adventures upon the wild Bradley Arm today, starting off at the crack of noon we headed off North to re-explore some of the sights we had seen yesterday. While passing Pothouse Bridge, a young entrepreneur offered to sell us some of his fine herbs. As the dry stores are starting to get low, we took him up on his kind offer and he handed us not rosemary but a bag of what looked a bit like oregano. When MrsBiscuit checked this with him he assured her it was the best pot 'erb we were likely to find in the area. We carried on our way, and decided to stop for a spot of lunch at Highfields Colliery. The new seasoning went very well in the pasta sauce, although we all had to go back for seconds as we were strangely hungry. Feeling a little tired now we turned around three times and headed home, until we saw the chap from earlier having some trouble at Glasshouse Bridge. Stopping to make sure he was OK, we noticed he was trying to lift one of the flagstones into a plantpot. Tragically while I was trying to help him lift this, it slipped, injuring his foot quite badly. The moral of this tale is that "People who lift in Glasshouses shouldn't go stoned." Surprisingly, we have ended up at Loxdale Sidings tonight. https://canalplan.org.uk/cgi-bin/canal.cgi?quickroute=yes&where=Junction with Bradley Old Loop (closed),Pothouse Bridge,Highfields Colliery Coal Wharf,Glasshouse Bridge,Junction with Bradley Old Loop (closed) This is a trip of 1.59 miles from Junction with Bradley Old Loop (closed) to Junction with Bradley Old Loop (closed). This will take 38 minutes. (at 2.5 mph) 1.59 miles, 0 locks, 0 points. Looking forward to the big finish tomorrow evening, and if we get there before you we'll get the beer in.

Here is today's Cabin Top Challenge from Firefly.....

I have found a modern-day supplier of marbles, old and new, but in Devon. I want an old-time Midlands factory preferably with canal access. I will pay in real gold sovereigns. Even those will be suspect if the seller looks at the modern dates. I might have to melt them down. I really do need marbles.

I found him! He was really enjoying exploring the old canals, and heard me talking about the old canal that used to run behind my house, so he snuck into my bag to come and see that one too!

After visiting Ocker Hill Road I walk up Gospel Oak Road to where it meets the line of the Bradley Locks branch. I’m back in the present so I can walk the lower part of the line as it now is and then retrace it in the past when it was operational. I’ve joined just above the second lock and looking up the hill I see a sight redolent of the Black Country. Photo from Bradley Canal Trust It’s the lower two locks that are the only ones with visible remains. Photo from Wikipedia (cos it’s a lot more useful than it’s credited for) Below the former locks the channel still holds water so I follow the path along the northern bank and on reaching Moorcroft Junction cross the main line of the Walsall Canal to gain the towpath on the far side. The boat has beaten me here and the crew are waiting impatiently. They wait for me to reboard before we move back in time. We ascend the locks at a highly uniform pace and at the top stop to take a view down the flight. At face value there’s a number of places this photo might have been taken. Photo from Bradley Canal Trust (other sources are available) As we depart the branch an argument breaks out as to whether we did eight locks or nine locks. We settle on nine. I’ve no idea where anyone got the idea there were only eight from. The layout of canals is very complicated here and even looking at the score sheet we’re still not entirely sure which bits we need to use to get home. Anyway, we know it’s a right turn at the top and we’ve got to rejoin the old line of the Wednesbury loop before looking for the site of a junction on the right side bank before we get to Bradley Lane bridge. The Bradley Marr branch was an early casualty but having found the signs of the location of the junction we realise we’ve been a bit lacking in our research so have to take to scanning back through the years with the Automat Sehnsucht. First the tow path opens up to reveal the exact line of the junction, a bridge springs up and an overgrown channel appears, next the land ahead literally rises up and a canal appears. Off we go. The reason for coming here is locks. The locks are a staircase. We’ve checked our scoresheet and we don’t expect any more but did we dial up a time unknown even to Capt Ahab? It seems not, unless he’s nicked one from Bradley Locks branch. So we check that we have enough time spare in our schedule should the organisers wish to award us two more points for the additional lock and continue through it, then to the end of the branch and turn round and come back up again. We’re weary now so when we get back to the main line it’s good to see we’ve only got to pass through Bradley Lane bridge and we’re there. Phew! It’s a lovely spot to finish. Photo from Bradley Canal Trust

I wouldn't want @smudgepuss to be called a bad minion when she's made such an amazing map! Here's a version of the link that works for me. She put it together last week while we were all still figuring out where these historic canals had been and it's allowed us to plot the GPS track through the week. It's a wonderful piece of work!

He looks like Sonic the Hedgehog in that statue.?

We’re now on the last leg of our journey for today. We’d love to go the scenic way and tell you all about the loops but I’m sure someone’s already done that and anyway, you can cruise them for yourself. We’re going to cut to the chase and head straight down the main line to get to the interesting bit. For the umpteenth time we pass ourselves, this time we’re heading over and under the Engine Arm aqueduct at the same time. A prize to anyone who can identify the CRT trustee on board. To get a feel for how the Birmingham Canal used to be we decide to travel in 1911. As we approach Steward Aqueduct a horseboat passes overhead. It’s Thomas Clayton tar boat fleet No 7, the Leam, registered in Birmingham as number 800, or is it 868? Blame my astigmatism, or some iffy transcription, or the fact it maybe carried both numbers. I’ll try and find out more about this boat later. Photo credit: Neal family As we pass under the aqueduct there’s a man looking down from the canal cottage. He looks familiar and he also looks at me like we’ve met before so we slow down. I realise it’s the man who’s daughter was getting married, he must have a very good memory. We decide to stop and talk. He’s tells us his name is William Neal and that he was once a boatman but for over twenty years now has been an employee of the BCN working at Bromford Junction and the Spon Lane flights. Photo credit: Neal family We tell him we think we’ve met some people from his family and he confirms that he is also a child of James Neal and that the family came to the BCN from Banbury as they had a family connection there through a cousin who had married an apprentice boatbuilder many years before in Banbury. He told us his daughter had married David Marlow and was now a long distance boatwoman. And indeed census records tell us they were at Deptford on the Royal Surrey Canal in 1891 and at Runcorn in 1901 on board a boat called ‘Middleport’. At one point they worked for Samuel Barlow. Mrs Marlow died in Cheshire in 1932 so possibly while still boating and Mr Marlow settled in north Warwickshire. Mr Marlow was originally from Foleshill, the parish that included Sutton Stop in Victorian times. We headed on to our mooring place at Pudding Green Junction but as we arrived the virtual craft of Team Marie Celeste barged it’s way out of the junction and tried to pinch the prime mooring spot. I think they should be docked points for that.

Team Whisky Galore cruise diary day 5 Well we spent the night at Spon Lane junction, not a location to moor at if we are in the 2020 as the M5 motorway is overhead. So lets go back a few years to around 1950 when it would have been more peaceful apart from the noise of industry. Shergar was brought out from the stables and tacked up and we were off. A short length of the Old Main Line took us to Oldbury Locks Junction where we turned left and climbed the six lock of the Titford canal to the highest navigable canal in Birmingham. We passed the short Tat branch and the old pump house. Oldbury junction Oldbury locks The engine house and entrance to the Tat branch. We then continued past Langley maltings to the current head of navigation at Titford Pools. These have recently been dredged so not so many boats get stuck in them. Langley Maltings Titford Pools and the M5 Spoon dredger of the type that would have been used until mechanised ones took over. We now slip back in time and turn left to explore the Causeway Green Arm. This long abandoned arm has been almost totally obliterated by the construction of the M5. Boats being loaded in the Causeway Green branch Another view of the Causeway Green Branch Returning to Titford Pools we then explorer the Portway branch. This was built to service Churchbridge and Samson collieries;- the latter by a tramway. Whilst underground work was usually done by men and boys women were used to sort the coal – this was heavy and dirty work. Map of part of the Portway branch Portway branch Typical Black Country mine Colliery girls sorting coal. We then returned to the locks and descended them to Oldbury Locks Junction. We then explored the short Houghton arm. This arm saw some of the last carrying on the BCN. It was private arm servicing various works including a chemical factory. Phosphorus waste was carried to Bradeshall tip. This was quite corrosive and gave off dangerous fumes but it was still carried in open boats!!. The Houghtonor chemical arm Phosphorus waste being carried in open boats. Our time machine – courtesy of the BBC- took us back to around 1900. We then took the loop round Oldbury. This loop was cut off around 1820-21 as part of the improvements to the canal between Birmingham and Wolverhampton when the New Main Line was created. The loop remained in use until the 1950s. Remains of the Oldbury loop with echoes of Lincolns Glory Hole. The next arm to be explored was the Valencia Arm. Little is known about the history of this arm. But in recent years it was the home of Les Allens boat building yard. The Allen family were a well known Black Country family. After Les retired his sons carried on the business. Les’s brother Jack was an interesting character. He made a fortune by building skip lorries and refuse collecting vehicles. The Allen family bought ex US army vehicles at the end of the war and converted them into skip lorries – they were the first of what has become a ubiquitous vehicle on our roads. I know Jack’s son John in a professional capacity as the firm branched out into waste processing and I was the architect for the many schemes they tried to build and the one that did! John was one of the last of the great British businessmen, he wore bespoke suits, had flowing white hair – he didn’t call a spade a spade but an f….g shovel. He was great to work with. He lives canal side near Knowle on the Grand Union canal. Valencia arm Valencia arm Continuing along the Old Main Line passing the site of Claytons yard we soon reach Brades Hall junction where we turn right on to the Gower Branch where there is the only surviving staircase locks on the BCN which are followed by a single lock. The staircase locks are among the shortest on the BCN so all the fenders had to be lifted and the tiller tied to one side to save a cilling!! Claytons yard Oldbury Brades stircase locks. Alongside the locks is a very large and ornate Hindu temple. Hindu temple adjacent to Brades locks. There is also a low bridge so the cry goes out to clear the crap off the roof of the boat!! Roof crap This happy couple will also have to get off the roof to get under the bridge!! I think we recognise them its the forums very own Matty40s and his new bride Kathleen Bridget Austin-Smith And so will one of our stowaways! At Albion junction we turn right along the New Main Line. There is still some industry along this stretch. European Metal Recyclers have a large plant which deals with waste from cars. A gasification Plant is used to process complex components which have different materials in them e.g. dashboards and seats; – volatile gases given off when the waste is heated is used to generate electricity and the metal waste is recycled. Albion Junction and the New Main Line Old and New mainlines from the air. We soon reach Pudding Green Junction and make the difficult turn onto the Walsall canal – its more than 90degrees from this direction. Pudding Green junction Saw load of ducks in a garden on this stretch. Breeding ducks We quickly reach Ryders Green junction our destination for the evening. Shergar is unhitched and lead into the nearby stables. Shergar being stabled. Today is VE Day so the local houses have been decorated to celebrate it. And to our surprise the Red Arrows did a fly past for us!! It’s now time to slip back in time to 1945 and to join in the victory celebrations; -We spend some time getting dressed up and then head into Birmingham city centre. We walk down the locks to Great Bridge station for the train into Snowhill and the city centre. Telegrams stating the war is over are around. Great Bridge South station Crowds in Birmingham city centre Street party Whisky of the day - Keeping a European theme Amorik from Brittany Music of the day – Vera Lynn singing Till we meet again is this obvious, but being a pacifist I think this is more appropriate Strangest Dream Last night I had the strangest dream I ever dreamed before I dreamed the world had all agreed To put an end to war I dreamed I saw a mighty room The room was filled with men And the paper they were signing said They'd never fight again And when the papers all were signed And a million copies made They all joined hands and bowed their heads And grateful prayers were prayed And the people in the streets below Were dancing round and round And guns and swords and uniforms Were scattered on the ground Last night I had the strangest dream I ever dreamed before I dreamed the world had all agreed To put an end to war Recorded by many people including Simon and Garfunkel, Joan Baez, Johnny Cash and Pete Seeger who you can listen to here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AZU-9TBP2NY Cake of the day – Again a European offering, this gateau was for my birthday a few years ago. It was bought in the patisserie in Esperaza, a village about 35kms south of Carcassonne in the foot hills of the Pyrenees. It is also an excellent but largely unknown wine making area. Owl of the day – Long eared owl

A 1980s Princess Sedan is hardly a gin palace!

Nosey b'stards, hope you reply asking for their lockdown release plans so you can make your post lockdown boating plans.

Love that guy !! Rips everything apart literally lol .