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Wednesday 20 July 2022

Birmingham Oozells Street Loop

What a difference a day makes, after the heat of the past two days, today I nearly put and extra shirt on with the cool breeze blowing down the cut.
The first boat went by before we were up and while we were sitting on the front deck having breakfast a hire boat came slowly by, so slowly that we finished breakfast, cleared away, set off and still caught up with them half way through the tunnel. Thankfully they pulled over for water just north of the tunnel, but what do you expect from 6 lads on a hire boat.
It was nice to see that work is actually taking place at the Kings Norton Toll House, maybe they weren't there yesterday due to the heat.DSCF6896 (2)
I approached the works opposite Sainsbury's, a good job I did as there were three men in the water removing the metal dam supports.DSCF6897

They are still working on University Station, its a massive building with a large footbridge across the canal and an enclosed walkway over the railway lines, what you can’t see in the photo are the long covered platforms.DSCF6901

All the boats were still moored at Edgbaston with tables and chairs set out on the grass. No chance mooring at Holiday Wharf as there were already boats there, but as normal the wind was blowing strongly, it really does funnel the wind. A load of canoes passed across the end before we got there heading for the Mail Box, well out of our way. Its a guided canoe tour from the Round House details HERE which looks a fun way to see Birmingham.
There was no one moored in Gas Street at all but  we did pass the new electric day boats, I don’t know how old the boats are but some have quite a few scuffs along the hulls. We also met 4 full length trip boats, including the restaurant boat.DSCF6903

Our target was round behind the Sea Life Centre in the Oozells Street loop and we were pleased to find only one small boat moored there, so that’s us sorted for the night. CRT volunteers are hard at work gardening in front of The Arena, not sure who’sDSCF6904Arena it is this week as it seems to keep changing owners. Not only where there volunteers but also loads of police officers, I saw at least 10 of them.

The journey this trip so far on Google Maps

Todays Journeyimage 8¼ miles, no locks in 3 hours.

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