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Wednesday, June 12: Canal Day5: Delph Locks and Netherton Tunnel
The big days were now behind us. We left the pub that failed our dinner desires and a short while later started up the Delph Locks. This set of locks is famous for the parallel water falls. There were there, but not as dramatic as they should have been after all the rain. We assisted another canalboater going up the locks who was working solo. Much slower, and we had the extra manpower to assist.
After the Delph Locks, we had a gentle run through some country side, pulled a sharp almost u-turn to avoid the Dudley Tunnel (not for general use), watered up and entered the very long Netherton Tunnel. More relaxing when you know that all this tunnels on this trip are 2-way.
Then on to the New Birmingham Mainline. Clearest canal water I have ever seen. The Black Country Museum was one of our safe mooring places within Birmingham. This time, I planned ahead and had selected a wonderful pub, Mad O’Rourkes Pie Factory to get our first meat pies. Unfortunately, the place was a little too wonderful, and without reservations, we weren’t able to get in. After the long walk in the rain, it was a disappointment. But, the Indian restaurant, Mughal Massala Bangladeshi & Indian Cuisine, that we ate at instead was also great.
Thursday, June 13: Canal Day 6: Old Birmingham Mainline to Gas Street Basin
This was yet another very easy, short day. And since it was easier to avoid the U-turn, and also more interesting, we decided to take the Old Birmingham Mainline to Gas Street Basin. Gas Street Basin was our other “safe” mooring in Birmingham. Probably the most amazing part of this journey was being under the M5, which was also under reconstruction with scaffolding everywhere.
Gas Street Basin is wonderful. The gentrification has been so successful and it is beautiful and historical and trendy. We failed to find a mooring in Ooozells Loop, but found one quickly in Gas Street Basin itself.
The young people went out to explore and find a place to eat. As this time, we also learned that it was graduation night, and hundreds of students all dressed to the 9’s were in town to celebrate. We went to dinner at Bar Estillo early, just in case. We were lucky to have done so. Everything was packed with people and the prom dresses were extravagant. Food was wonderful.
Sandy wanted to go out for a movie, so we went out and saw “Rocketman” at the Everyman Cinema in the Mailbox mall. Neat movie theater. The lobby is pretty much a very trendy bar. Seats were wide sofa’s, with little tables attached. Lots of people had meals delivered to their seats.
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