shopping, supping and sailing.

It is very quiet on this berth down Oozells Loop and we slept well. But once we were up we set off for the Jewelry Quarter. Helen had a ring to alter and some stones to have set. The Jewelry Quarter is a nice area with lots of little Victorian factories, some still working, some altered to offices and shops and some changed into apartments. A few more apartments and I reckon the whole place will be a lovely place to live right near the city centre.

This is the pediment on a factory called the Victoria Works. You don't often see this cameo of her. 

There are many buildings like this in the area.

Beautiful tile work on the Queens Arms in Hockley

The Jewelry Quarter is in Hockley and the Chamberlain Memorial Clock is in the centre of the crossroads. It was erected in 1903 and is a cast iron tower that was erected to commemorate local politician Joseph Chamberlain's visit to South Africa after the Boer war in 1902/03. It was clockwork but now is electric and also chimes. It is quite unusual as it was unveiled whilst he was still alive.

Other buildings in Birmingham city centre seem to have taken over from the Rotunda but it was very dramatic when it was first built in 1965. They wanted to knock it down at one time, to build the new Bull Ring Centre.

The mirrored exterior of New Street Station is very striking and the interior of Grand Central is also 100% better than what was there before as it opens up the space rather than feeling caged in.

After doing a little food shopping I left Helen to carry it back to the boat and give her an hour to browse the shops on her own. Once we met up we headed over to the Mail Box and Cube areas.

Our objective was the Craven Arms that had been recommended to us by blog reader Sam. It was worth the walk as it was a nice find with a good range of beers on as well as the range of Black Country Brewery. They only had ready made sandwiches and the only bad thing I could say about it was that there was music playing, and it was just a tad too loud.

We walked back to Old Turn Junction via the canal and so passed Gas Street Basin and Worcester Bar. It looks a lot different to when I saw it in the late 1960's.

We set off as soon as we got back. Helen stayed in to do some baking. I would never argue with that!

This is the toll island just past Winson Green Junction. You can clearly see the gap in the centre of the island where boats were taken for guaging to check what tolls were required to be charged. There are so many loops and arms around that the toll islands are many to catch the boats as they pass on even short journeys.

Looking back to Galton Tunnel and Galton Bridge spanning the New Main Line. We are just about under the rail bridge that has a station on it.

A couple of hours later the weather was getting blacker and blacker and as I was freezing by now as the wind was in my face. I made it as far as Dudley Port Junction and turned into the Netherton Branch and moored just round the corner. No sooner had I got moored up than the hail came down. very satisfying to be inside with hands wrapped round a mug of tea with the hail rattling on the roof. A good day was had by all.