Team Firefly Virtual BCN Challenge 2020 Cruise Log

[john6767]

We leave Birchills Junction heading towards Sneyd Junction, a short and familiar part of the W&E.

 

The Sneyd locks to take you up on to the Wyrley Branch from the Junction have seen better days.

 

 

So from this point until we get back to Sneyd Junction will will need to go back in time.   The time here is critical as the canals we are about to visit were not all in use at the same time, thank goodness for time travel.

 

The route up Sneyd locks from Sneyd Junction is actually the original main line of the Wyrley & Essington canal (hence the name of the canal!).

 

 As we will want to visit the Essington Locks Branch which runs off the Wyrley Branch and was opened in 1798 and was the first part of the BCN (actually The W&E Company as it was independent of the BCN at that time) to close in 1830's, we have a relatively short time window to pick from.  So lets go for 1820 and then up the locks.

 

  Sneyd lock 4  

 

After Sneyd locks it is a short run to the junction with the Essington Locks Branch where we turn left.  

 

The Essington Locks branch served the collieries at Essington Wood and rose up through a further 5 locks to 533ft, the highest point on the midlands canal system.  The Essington Locks branch always suffered from a shortage of water as it's only water feed was a stream and mine pumping.

 

At the end of the branch we turn round and come back down the five locks back to the junction with the Wyrley Branch.

 

As we have already noted the Essington Locks Branch was abandoned in the 1830's, and can be seen on the 1913 map on the left marked as a disused canal.  On the modern image on the right you can see that there is little left of the locks as the area was subject to open cast mining, although now restored.

 

We stop here for a spot of lunch.

 

[john6767]

Daily Challenge: Thursday

 

Our time machine was made by Boschum, the German company renowned for its reliability. It comes with Home Start recovery within a 5 year continuum commencing from the date of purchase real time. Canal side recovery is provided for any British mainland canal location provided it is in existence and operational at the time of the breakdown, but not before Boschum was founded on 15/11/1886. (we have to confess we hadn’t read the small print before so in future (so to speak) we will have to curtail our travel back in time to ensure we don’t go back before 1886).

 

Now that we’ve read the small print we have discovered that the annual software licence does not cover the inevitable huge cost when the software becomes unsupported for no reason whatsoever. So we have to be prepared for a sudden substantial investment for a major upgrade which delivers nothing new but requires extensive re-training for all users because it ‘looks different’.

 

Stock of parts for Boschum time machines is good. Servicing is the shorter of two calendar years, 2,000 miles or 20 time travels (another bit of the small print we hadn’t read - we’ll have to watch out while we are doing the challenge – we think a little clock will flash somewhere on the machine or it may start beeping to warn us that we need to return to base – fingers crossed).

This model is classed as a tribrid but this is all media hype. It means that it uses the standard liquid hydrogen sphera for propulsion but it can use methane harvesting from landfill sites and water treatment plants where this available as well as the good old plug-in battery as a back stop. Obviously it needs to tick the green agenda these days to avoid the time machine dirty fuel tax. Acceleration is a nifty 50 years per minute although this is only when using the hydrogen ball (which is not mentioned in the small print or the large print come to that). The engine power of 4 trillion equorum is about average for this type of machine.

 

The locationmeter uses the aforementioned Satnaff version 1.2.3. (really?) software, the jury is out on that one as we have had a few embarrassing incidences where we have missed our destination locations slightly, turning up in rather dry locations and surprising the local dwellers. The timescalemeter seems to be much more accurate and we have had no problems so far which is to be commended. The ignis motricumum can be a little temperamental as we indicated in an earlier update and sometime requires a good calcitrous or just a plain old kick to get going. This may be due to the natural turbulence experienced during time travel which loosens a few wires here and there. Deceleration out of time warp can be an interesting experience especially if we are enjoying a nice glass of wine at the time as there can be a noticeable weightlessness in the final few seconds which can render catching the wine back in the glass a jolly good, but sometimes messy, game.

 

Boschum time machines are quite basic. Our version didn’t come with any form of interrete connection and it doesn’t even make tea.  

 

 

 

 

 

The last photo includes the test pilot.

 

 

 

Final Post for the day.......

 

Leaving the junction of the Essington Locks Branch and the Wyrley Branch we head north towards the Wyrley Bank Branch, but there is a problem.  You will remember that we are here in 1820, but the Wyrley Bank Branch was not created until 1857.  As the Essington Locks Branch closed in 1830, it is interesting to note that it and the Wyrley Bank Branch were never in use at the time time.  So we will go forward in time to say 1860.

After about a mile of cruising we reach the "new" Wyrley Bank Branch that extends the canal by a further 1.5 miles to Wyrley Bank (who would have thought it).  This new extension was built to serve several collieries and mineral mines.

By the early 20th century the trade had all but ended and by the 1930's the branch fell out of use.

Turning round we head back to Sneyd Junction going back down Sneyd locks.  Sneyd locks and the rest of the Wyrley Branch were abandoned in 1954.

 

 

 Sneyd Junction

At Sneyd Junction we turn left under the junction bridge, and being back in the present day we pull into the services to fill up with virtual water, empty the virtual toilet, and get rid of the virtual rubbish.

It is then the short run along the Wyrley & Essington to Birchills Junction, where we again spend the night.

 

Edited May 7, 2020 by john6767

[john6767]

We opened the daily report from the Aldridge Field Station with trepidation this morning. Firefly's crew was convinced that Walsall locks would have broken overnight, in that way that you can be completely convinced because it's the one thing that you don't need to happen! Also, as we all know, the other BCN Challenge tradition about Walsall locks, apart from doing them twice (as Rebellion eloquently pointed out) is that they break. So sitting here, now, at virtual Birchills Junction, virtually pointing towards the virtual locks, it's a relief to find out that we can still do virtual Walsall locks. OK, all be it that they are going to fill so slowly that we're sending 2 of the crew off by virtual bus into virtual Walsall to join the queue to get into the big Tesco and Wilco, and meet us at the bottom lock with some much needed supplies. With 4 of us and 2 dogs living on a 50 ft virtual narrow boat we'll probably need to pile some of the stuff on the roof of the boat, but the virtual sun is shining so it'll be fine. 

 

Sally has always been quite fond of Walsall locks (you may remember as opposed to Wolverhampton 21 of which she is not a fan). They live this quite life, tolerating the odd brave hire boat that's got lost and greeting the occasional BCNS Explorer Cruise. Then for 2 days a year every boat on the BCN seems to be targeting them, but let's face it that's true! OK enough of personification of locks! Looking down the locks, in the virtual 1970's (just for a change) we can see the redeveloped flour mill. Quick call to the 2 shopping crew to suggest they pop in their for some flour and yeast as they'll not find it in Tesco.

 

Ref: Birmingham Canal Navigations Through Time by R. H. Davies

 

We have plenty of time while we're waiting for the locks to check the prop....

 

Also to get out the flags to decorate the boat for VE Day ..

 

Straight on at Walsall Junction, no time to nip into the Basin this time, we pick up the crew and supplies from by Bridgeman Bridge and we're off down the Walsall Canal. 

 

 

Ref: https://canalplan.org.uk/place/4qbn

 

John does not normally do the Walsall Canal for no points. Even on a virtual BCN Challenge it is virtually impossible for John to agree to do the virtual Walsall Canal for no points, but at least this is only as far as Anson Junction.

 

The canal section that we are virtually on was built by the company then known as the Birmingham and Birmingham and Fazeley Canal Company following their 6th Act of Parliament in 1794. They borrowed £45,000, which does sound like quite a lot, to build this and the 3 branches which served local iron-stone and coal mines. They didn't finish the whole section until 1800. 

 

 

 

Leaving Walsall

Ref: BCN Challenge 2014 on YouTube by Firefly

 

Over the Grade II listed James Bridge Aqueduct built in 1797, as advertised on the central pier of the bridge, to carry the Walsall Canal over Bentley Mill Way and the River Tame. 

 

Whilst John sorts the virtual weedhatch (again! but we are on the Walsall!), we can nip down to see the aqueduct....

 

Ref: http://www.historywebsite.co.uk/articles/DarlastonBldngs/Aqueduct.htm

 

Then we're at Anson Junction and we're back on points scoring canal! If you came here in non-virtual 2020 (which of course would not be acceptable as it is not an essential journey) then all you would see is a depression in the grass. 

 

Ref: Nick Atty

 

Under Bughole Bridge, which featured in a BCN non-virtual Challenge clue one year! What an honour!

 

https://canalplan.org.uk/photo/19_k7d

 

It was the clue about counting the steps ....

 

 

And we're on our way to the older section of the Walsall canal, which was originally called the Broadwaters Canal which opened in 1785 and gave access to the collieries at Moxley. 

 

Now we've decorated the Firefly for VE day celebrations we're cranking, kicking and taking a hammer to the Automat Sehnsucht until it zips us back to 1945. 

 

 

 

[john6767]

Moorcroft Junction is where the Bradley Locks Branch connects with the Walsall canal.  The Bradley Locks Branch was opened in 1849, but was closed in the 1950's.  The top 7 of the 9 locks were buried when the area was landscaped and they are thought to be intact in the ground.  There is currently a proposal to restore the route from Moorcroft Junction to the CRT Bradley workshops on the Wednesbury Oak Look (Bradley Arm), restoring the 9 Bradley Locks as a "new" through route.

 

Moorcroft Junction

 

Today the initial part of the branch is still in water, but back on VE day 1945 the Bradley Locks Branch is fully navigable so we can go up the locks.

 

Locks 1 and 2 were partly restored in the 1980's and are still visible

 

Lock 2, wikipedia

 

Bradley Lock 3

 

Bradley Top Lock

 

Locks 4 to 8 were laid out in a slightly unusual way with the lock chamber built at one side of the wide canal, and effectively an island built to form the other side of the chamber with the bywash beyond.  Perhaps similar to Oldbury locks on the Titford Canal?

 

 

Another view from the top lock, left showing the area landscaped with the lock chambers buried.  On the right as it was in the 1960's after closure.

 

 This area around he branch was originally a mass of mines and factories and there were many short arms (see map above) built to serve those businesses.  

 

The Junction at the top of the locks connects to part of the Rotton Brunt shortening of the Wednesbury Oak Loop.  Here we turn left toward Ocker Hill Junction (which should not be confused with Tame Valley Junction, as that is today often called Ocker Hill Junction!).

[john6767]

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

 

 

 

[cheshire~rose]

Tilly is saying what are you making me sit here among all this rubbish for?

[john6767]

2 minutes ago, cheshire~rose said:

Tilly is saying what are you making me sit here among all this rubbish for?

It took  few shots to catch her, she did not get it at all ?

 

[TheBiscuits]

MrsBiscuits wants to know if your neighbours are looking nervous yet.

 

She knows what she would think if our neighbours started arranging the stuff from the shed on the lawn like you have been doing all week. 

 

I'm just glad you remembered your Tilly Sat - an essential piece of headgear on a boat.

[john6767]

10 minutes ago, TheBiscuits said:

MrsBiscuits wants to know if your neighbours are looking nervous yet.

 

She knows what she would think if our neighbours started arranging the stuff from the shed on the lawn like you have been doing all week. 

 

I'm just glad you remembered your Tilly Sat - an essential piece of headgear on a boat.

They probably already thought we were nuts anyway.

[john6767]

We are now on the Old Main Line, the real Old Main Line, which was the original line of the Birmingham Canal.  The canal was authorised in March 1768, and the demand was such that the line was opened in 1769.  This continued to be the main line until Telford cut the Wednesday Oak Loop off with the tunnel through Coseley Hill which opened 6th November, 1837.
Interestingly when this original line of that canal was created by James Brindley, there was some suggestion at the time that he had added extra meanders to increase the length of the canal, and therefore the tolls that could be charged, but this was strenuously denied in a newspaper advertisement placed by Brindley on 14 January 1771, where he argued that the winding route was necessary to ensure that the most customers could be served.

We arrive at the junction with the Ocker Hill Branch and turn left onto the branch.  The Ocker Hill Branch was the first branch created from the original Birmingham Canal, being authorised in the same 1768 act as the main line.  The branch was 0.6 miles long, opening in 1774.  At the end of the branch was the original BCN works before they were relocated to Bradley in the 1960's.  
 

The Ocker Hill branch with the BCN Depot at the end, The Birmingham Canal Navigation Through Time, R H Davies
 

Ocker Hill Branch, The Other Sixty Miles, Richard Chester-Brown

As can be seen from the above map at the end of the branch were pumps that pumped water up from the Ocker Hill Tunnel Branch on the level of the Walsall canal  A tunnel connected those two branches, on different levels, and was in use until 1954.

The old line of the canal, which became a loop, joins with the current Main Line at Bloomfield Junction, there is not much left of this junction today
 
Bloomfield Junction, canalplan.uk

We tie our lines for the night at the junction.

[Keeping Up]

2 hours ago, john6767 said:

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

 

 

Is that the same yellow brolly that we had on our blades at Tipton a couple of days ago?

[john6767]

So we’re leaving Bloomfield Junction heading for Factory Junction on the Main Line on our last virtual day (or maybe that's non-virtual, I'm not sure I know the difference any more) of the 2020 virtual BCN Challenge!! We’ve bribed the crew with the promise of treats later.

 

It’s the very last day of the 1 month free offer period for the Automat thingy licence, and we’ve remembered to cancel the auto renewal, so we’re going to make the most of using it today.

 

However we are starting in fairly recent times and will be rolling back the years as we go. At Factory Junction we turn left onto the New Main Line. If we'd been here much before 1838 we'd have been on Brindley's 'Old' Main Line (we'll call it that although obviously Brindley wouldn't see it like that). Brindley loved to hug a contour and his line traversed 2 flights of locks to go up to, and down from Smethwick Summit. The volume of boat traffic over the summit, and through these locks meant a constant struggle to keep water levels sufficient. A bit like yesterday on the virtual BCN Challenge! This was despite using 2 steam engines to pump water up to the summit level. The Smethwick Engine, designed by Boulton & Watt and installed in 1779 will be (in 2020) the oldest working steam engine in the world and was the 1st engine in the world to use both steam and a vacuum simultaneously. It can be seen (in the future) in full steaming glory at special events at Birmingham's Thinktank museum, well I'm sure it will be again when lockdown is over.  

 

Ref: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Smethwick_Engine_at_ThinkTank_Museum.jpg

So enough of canals that we aren't going to be virtually travelling on today, I got distracted with the interesting engine bit! So Thomas Telford was commissioned to build the New Main Line, to ease the congestion (a bit like the M6 toll road?) using 'new' engineering canal building practice of constructing cuttings and embankments so that the canal could be straighter (Mr Telford was not a contour-hugger!) The result was a canal which was about 7.5 miles shorter and evidently the better choice for Firefly. So we work the 3 Factory Locks to descend to the Birmingham level .  

 

Ref: https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/364773

 

My experience of Factory Locks is to tread carefully? The towpath gets a bit slimy sometimes due to the number of geese that 'enjoy' that area.

 

The first junction we get to is Watery Junction, not one we've paid much attention to on previous non-virtual BCN Challenges because it's no longer a junction in 2020.  Although we might have noticed Craggy's Boat yard there as we went past. We notice it now, virtually travelling as we are in fairly current times because we'll be back here later in this virtual day, but much earlier in time (it's worrying that this statement probably makes sense!!).

 

Ref: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tipton_Green_and_Toll_End_Canals#/media/File:Watery_Lane_Junction.jpg

 

We set a straight line-ish down the lovely New Main Line, the 'island line', for Dudley Port Junction, on to Albion Junction and finally Pudding Green Junction. This must be about the only BCN Challenge (non-virtual or virtual) when we haven't done the Gower Branch and enjoyed the plus of getting points for "3 locks" when 2 are actually in a staircase. Very efficient point scoring unless you meet someone coming the other way. There was the one year when there was a stoppage at Brades Locks during the Challenge of course, causing many a route planning headache. 

 

Ref https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wednesbury_Old_Canal#Wednesbury_Canal_original_features

 

So its the sharp left turn, sounding the virtual horn because we're not slowing down, and we've turned onto the Wednesbury Old Canal in the direction of Walsall. 

 

[john6767]

We're on our way down the virtual Ryders Green Locks in 2012, having zipped the Automat thingy dial a little further anti-clockwise. Coming towards the top lock and is that a familiar boat we see in the distance?

 

 

Top lock and the virtual water levels are looking OK for today, every single anti-vandal lock comes undone 1st time (as if!) and every gate opens cleanly without getting stuck half open with a combination of rubbish particularly plastic milk bottles (unheard of!). Ryders Green locks are on the Wednesbury Canal, which was one of the first phases of building the Birmingham Canal and was in use by November of 1769. The Wednesbury canal uses 8 locks at Ryders Green to descend from the Birmingham to the Wolverhampton levels. Ryders Green locks are still a major waterway thoroughfare out of Birmingham. 

 

 

So in no time we are going into the next to last lock, the one before the 'big walk'

 

 

 And here we find that boat that was ahead of us in the flight. It's Stuart stood on the back of virtual Red Wharf waiting for Libby to come back from big Asda. John pulls his hat down and Stuart doesn't recognise us. Luckily Firefly has had a paint job since 2012, so the 2012-Stuart wouldn't expect her to look so smart! 

 

 

And so through the bottom lock. So now we're looking for the junction to allow us to make a right turn into the Danks Branch and winding the Automat thingy back up so we can get back to a time when it was navigable. 

[TheBiscuits]

5 minutes ago, john6767 said:

The Wednesbury canal uses 8 locks at Ryders Green to descend from the Birmingham to the Wolverhampton levels.

 

Have you been talking to @Keeping Up ?

[john6767]

52 minutes ago, TheBiscuits said:

 

Have you been talking to @Keeping Up ?

Wolverhampton, Walsall, who cares they both start with a W and are similarly aesthetically challenged.  Anyway Sally wrote that post!

[john6767]

 

 

 

Having completed Ryders Geeen Locks we continue on towards Toll End Junction on the Walsall level, but before we get there we will visit the Danks Branch, which will involve use of the time machine to go back to 1850.

 

There is little to see today of the junction with the Dank Branch

 

The Danks Branch runs north east from the Walsall Canal, and crosses the path of the Tame Valley Canal.  In 1844 after the construction of the Tame Valley canal the end section of the Danks Branch to the north of the Tame Valley Canal was abandoned.  The branch gave access to mine, factories and warehouses.

 

Returning back to the Walsall canal, we tun right, and then almost immediately at Toll End Junction we turn left onto the very grandly named Toll End Communication Canal.

 

Today there is the blocked up bridge over the entrance to the Toll End Communication Canal, with  winding hole opposite

 

Toll End Junction, canalplan.uk

 

 

The Toll End Communication Canal was started in 1783 and when completed in 1809 it went from the Walsall Canal to the (Old) Main Line at Tipton Green Junction.  When the New Main Line was constructed the Toll End Communication Canal was split, with the section containing the top 3 locks and between the Old and New Main Lines becoming the Tipton Green Canal.

 

The Toll End Communication Canal originally has 8 locks, but this was later reduced to 7.  As we are in 1850 the Toll End Communication Canal actually still has the 8 locks not the 7 that is on the planning sheet (So that's an extra point you owe us Andy!).  

 

Looking up Toll End Communication Canal, with Tipton Cemetery on the left

 

Brookhouse Bridge

 

The Toll End Communication Canal when built went from the Walsall Canal to the (Old) Main Line at Tipton Green Junction.  When the New Main Line was constructed in the 1830's, the Toll End Communication Canal was split, with the section containing the top 3 locks and between the Old and New Main Lines becoming the Tipton Green Canal.  This formed formed Watery Lane Junction as a "crossroads" on the New Main Line

 

Watery Lane Junction.

 

Today Watery Lane Junction is better known as the location of Caggy's Boatyard

 

Straight across the junction, looking out for traffic on the New Main Line, and up the 3 locks of the Tipton Green Branch.  The Tipton Green Branch was formed from the top section on the Toll End Communication Canal when the New Main line was constructed.

 

Tipton Green Canal, historywebsite.co.uk

 

Today the line of the canal is a footpath which incorporates one of the locks

 

We are soon at Tipton Green Junction with the Old Main Line, as it was

 

and today the "junction" as it looks opposite Coronation Gardens

 

 

[john6767]

We can do almost the whole to the final part of our Challenge in the present time, virtually of course.  From Toll End Junction round the Old Main line to Factory Junction past the old stables

 

 

 

We turn left and go passed Bloomfield Junction where we had emerged yesterday, and toward Coseley Tunnel which was opened after Telford's improvements to the Main Line in 1837 (actually after Telford's death).  This "new" line for the Main Line bypassed the original route of the "old" Main Line that we travelled on yesterday.

 

Coseley Tunnel, note the twin towpaths

At Deepfields Junction we turn right onto what was the old line of the Main Line canal.  This is now an arm, usually called the Bradley Arm, which terminates at the CRT lock gate workshop which is today's destination.

 

 

This section is notorious for being weedy and slow going, but it has recently been dredged (really, not virtually, I believe) so perhaps it is better now.  The area around Deepfields Junction had many basins and wharves serving the collieries and works in the area.

 

The route is surprisingly green now , with areas of new housing now replacing the derelict industry.

 

Just before the Bradley Workshops there is a small loop, the Bradley Loop which led to Britannia and Bradley Hall Works, both of which made bar iron, and a chemical works, and was the original line of the canal which emerges in what is today the basin at the CRT workshops.  It does not look very navigable today, so we need to make one final use of the Automat thing to go back in time so we can cruise this small loop to the finish

 

Entrance to the Bradley Loop

Finally we are at our virtual destination and we tie up with the other (virtual) boats in the basin

 

 

So that is us at our final destination of Bradley Workshops.
 

[Sugar n spice]

Really enjoyed reading your cruise log, great mix of fact, fun and superb images make a really readable weeks cruising in all periods of time

[john6767]

Sally's BCN Chocolate Cake  (for the Saturday Daily Challenge)

 

Somewhere along the non-virtual years since our 1st BCN Challenge in 2011 there has become a tradition that I bring a chocolate cake to the BCN Challenge. The year I brought  a chocolate loaf even though it was very chocolatey and had white chocolate ganache (!), there seemed to be some polite disappointment. I wasn't planning to make one this year, virtual chocolate cake really doesn't work as a concept? However, Jan has set the challenge to make something nice to eat, and to us on virtual Firefly that means cake, and anyway we like a challenge!

First gather your ingredients. A cake is flour with raising agent (separately or bought already mixed, I don't know why you wouldn't buy it already mixed), egg, fat and sugar . Plus a flavouring. A chocolate cake requires chocolate (it's in the name). I believe that cocoa powder gives the best flavour as long as you mix the cake thoroughly. Do not buy cooking chocolate or chocolate cake flavouring, I mean really?? Why don't you just go and buy a cake from Tesco? Also chocolate bars tend to disappear around Firefly crew

 

 

Also gather together your equipment, a good cook is always prepared. Your cake baking bowl is your special friend, it should be looked after, you should not let John use it for making up sage & onion stuffing at Christmas even if he is 'trying to help' (I forgave him eventually!).

 

 

Prepare your cake tin. It is NOT worth skimping with this job unless you want to eat the cake out of the cake tin (I'm not judging!).

 

 

Measure your ingredients. Don't sieve your flour, its pointless. Measure all ingredients straight into the bowl all together. How much you make (the quantities) depends on how much you have of each ingredient (because flour and sugar are hard to get at the moment), and how greedy you are (because sadly you can't invite anyone else round to eat it). You require equal quantities of self raising flour, egg, fat and sugar. Do not make the mistake of counting your eggs, just weigh the egg like everything else. An egg should be around 2 oz (no I do NOT make metric cakes) but many eggs are dodgy sizes. Also about eggs, do not put them in the fridge (completely unnecessary and you don't want to cook with cold eggs the cake wouldn't like it, cakes do not like surprises); and do not throw eggs away just because they are allegedly 'out of date'. Always check your eggs by dropping them gently into a measuring jug full of water. If they sink they are fine, if they hover in the water or stay at the top then they are toxic.I don't care what the use-by date is just don't eat them. By the way that was the egg still in the shell ... you worked that out, right? Include however much cocoa powder you think you need, just make it look chocolatey.

 

 

Mix your ingredients using a good quality electric mixer. Some inventions are there for a reason and a cheap quality one is worse than a wooden spoon. Mix it until it looks like a cake and then mix it some more. 

 

 

Put it in the cake tin, and into the oven for a while on  190C/170C fan/gas 5 (I looked that up, I just stick it on) . Although I would never trust an oven's temperature, best check it with a proper oven thermometer!

 

 

Meanwhile make the icing, with icing sugar (its in the name again!), fat (as near butter as possible will taste the best but I am too mean) and cocoa powder. Don't buy Sainsbury's own brand icing sugar, its grainy and makes for nasty gritty icing.

 

 

 Don't ask me what the quantities are, I just throw it in; but you need the proportion of icing sugar to fat to be sufficiently high that it makes a mixture that looks a bit like sticky breadcrumbs (technical term). Something similar to what you might have if making chocolate shortbread (did that help?) Then leave it and have a tea or coffee, your choice, while you wait. Don't start on the beer/wine yet, you still have work to do.

 

 

The cake is cooked when a metal object poked gently into it is not sticky when it comes out, and when the cake stops talking to you. No I'm not joking. Put your ear near to the cake (but watch out for the getting a cake bakers cheek burn) and listen! Leave it for a few moments, then give it a gentle shake, turn it out onto a clean glove, whip the baking paper off the bottom and drop it gently onto a cooling rack. It needs to cool and I mean really cool. You cannot ice a warm cake. If you even cut a warm cake then you will squash that spongy texture that you worked so hard on when you were mixing it. You cannot cool it in a fridge (whatever they do on Bake Off) because a fridge temperature will make your cake stale (it does the same thing to bread actually!). When the cake is cool, cut it in half. Don't worry if you over cook your cake. The taste is all in the icing anyway, you can hide a lot with icing. Under cooked cake will be inedible.

 

 

Now fetch your icing and boil the kettle. Slowly pour some boiling water into the icing, no I don't know how much, just do it slowly. Whisk up your icing, and keep adding water until the consistency is like spreadable butter. The boiling water will slightly melt the fat and gives the icing a fudginess. Spread icing on the bottom half, put the top on and spread it over the top. If you do the sides too it can look quite professional (and it's well worth doing if you burnt the cake). Leave it for the icing to set, cut and eat! Share with as many friends as you can find. 

 

 

 

I wonder if anyone is still reading this? Does anyone want some cake?

 

 

Edited May 9, 2020 by john6767

[john6767]

Virtual Dog snacks!!!!!!

 

[john6767]

The last post ...

 

 

Virtual Firefly, John and Sally, Barry and Caroline, Tilly and Jaspar,  would like to say a huge, very real, thank you to everyone involved in the 2020 Virtual BCN Challenge... to Jan, Andy at the Aldridge Field Station, and their secret assistants for making it as complex, frustrating, tiring, sleep-depriving and all round great as every other BCN Challenge we've had the pleasure of competing in; to our fellow competitors for making it worth doing; to the virtual CRT volunteers for their stunningly (shockingly?) well organised locking; to CRT for their retweeting; to our dogs Jaspar and Tilly for their patience, we promise you can go on a real boat as soon as we're allowed; and to all of those long dead engineers, particularly Brindley and Telford, for making all of this possible.

 

Can I have my giraffe back?

 

 

[Richard T]

Who has got the giraffe I've not seen it since Whisky Galore handed it on?

[cheshire~rose]

3 minutes ago, Richard T said:

Who has got the giraffe I've not seen it since Whisky Galore handed it on?

I suspect Biscuits 

[RebelMike]

Ah, I think he may have ended up with us, we passed him to Indigo Dream and they passed him back, but we mostly just kept bumping into each other!  I'll check if any of the crew have him @HuggableHamster, @Amynotontheforum @smudgepuss?

[smudgepuss]

10 minutes ago, RebelMike said:

Ah, I think he may have ended up with us, we passed him to Indigo Dream and they passed him back, but we mostly just kept bumping into each other!  I'll check if any of the crew have him @HuggableHamster, @Amynotontheforum @smudgepuss?

Not me.  I suspect @Amynotontheforum stole him and took him to the BBQ.