Higher and Higher.

We got going a bit earlier than normal and we were reversing out from Star City to Salford Junction by 0900. There was no traffic which made it a bit easier and we were soon swung round and heading down the Birmingham and Fazeley to Cuckoo Wharf. We got there and found that that there were a couple of boats just leaving after taking water. We had seen them a couple of days previously at Fazeley Junction. We stopped for water and they headed off up the Aston flight.

We had just popped out of the junction ahead and were just turning into the next cut to pass under the M6 Spaghetti Junction and the River Tame aqueduct.

We did a quick clean up and dumped the rubbish whilst topping up the water. I also dived down the weed hatch to see if we had picked anything up whilst reversing from Star City. There was nothing there so I was pleasantly surprised.

Just after we left Cuckoo Wharf, where we thought we would stop if needed, (but preferred it at Star City as there was a little grass for Macy the Cat), we saw this brickwork. I was impressed that a company would have gone to the expense of incorporating this in their works.

This photo illustrates the run up the Aston Flight. It is through the industrial heartlands but the place has been tidied up and looks well kept on the whole. You can also see the roving bridges over the many arms of canals that must have made  Birmingham a sight to see in the canal hey days.

At least we can see where we are heading now.

Just outside the centre of Birmingham, almost at the top of the Aston flight of locks, is an original bridge that wouldn't look amiss half way up the Shropshire Union Canal.

When we got to the top of the Aston Locks we found that the two boats ahead of us were stopped for a cup of tea. We carried on and struck lucky as there was a boat coming out of the bottom lock of the Farmer's Bridge Flight. Even better than that there was a couple of voluntary lock keepers that were there to help.

We were fascinated about how they managed to draw this on the wall and get everything okay. I suppose it is like those signs that they draw on the rugby pitches with coloured sawdust for advertising.

As we rose up through the locks the voluntary lock keepers were opening the gates ahead of us. The Aston and Farmer's Bridge locks are quite easy as the locks are close together so you can work ahead. The Aston Flight we had every lock against us but we made up for it on the Farmer's flight as they were all for us.

As we near the top we have almost passed under the BT tower and the dark subterranean locks to come out into the sunshine. 

When we got to the top lock we were thinking that we may get in at Cambrian Wharf but there wasn't really any room so we carried on and slipped into a vacant mooring on the Oozells Loop that is quiet and still close to the centre. We did the Farmer's Flight in 1 hour and 10 mins which isn't bad going.

Out of the locks and at Old Turn Junction and going straight on to Oozells Loop.

After a bite to eat we went into town to do a little shopping and Helen did a little window shopping and even buying! We ended up at the Post Office Vaults pub that is just near Victoria Square and had a couple of nice pints. We are off for an Indian tonight and then maybe find the Weatherspoon's. What a bust social whirl we have. We do enjoy being in Brum.