Gas Street Basin

We meant to get away early this morning.. best laid plans... we didn't get out of bed till 09:30 so that was 11:00 before we got going. It was raining hard when we untied, no matter we are dressed for the weather.
We head out of the secure basin and retraced our route back to Factory Junction and turned right and up the 3 Factory Locks back on the Birmingham mainline. Junctions branches and arms are plentiful on this stretch into the city. We cruised on, the rain has almost stopped, passing Netherton Tunnel Branch and Gower Branch to the right and Pudding Green Junction to the left.

The Wolverhampton level branches of to the left up 3 locks, for a mile then down 3 locks to join back with the mainline at Smethwick Junction, meanwhile, we have passed under Gaston tunnel. We pass the Soho Loop and Icknield Port Loop which mark the route of the canal before the straighter main line was constructed by Thomas Telford, completed in 1838.

We cruise FL under the small Broad Street tunnel through into Gas Street Basin and moor in sight of the MailBox.We have been to Gas Street Basin a few times by car and I have admired the boats brought into the middle of this cosmopolitan city from far and wide to enjoy the bars restaurants shops and venues, I always thought that one day I would like to do the same, and today here we are.

Pushing one and pulling two.

Gauging station, where a cargo's weight could be established and the appropriate toll paid.

M5 with an aqueduct beneath

Gaston tunnel

Old & new signage

Attractive steel aqueduct, the large span supporting the trough, the columns supporting the towpath

More license fee money being spent on cyclists.

Not quite Banksy standard

Entering the city centre

Waiting for a trip boat to come through  Broad Street Tunnel

Residential moorings 

We are moored in front of the blue boat on right

View from the Tapas bar.

The BBC shop

The Survivor, a few of these sculptures dotted around The Cube.

Mother and Child

Tapas for tea with Sangria.