Guest steerer.

We went in to town to get a few supplies in as we were having a guest steerer for the next few days. As we passed through the ICC it was obvious that it was graduation day for Birmingham University. All the students and parents looked very smart in their caps and gowns and in the Sunday best. We went back into town to meet Chris from his train at New Street and head back to the boat for a bite to eat.

Chris thrown in the deep end as he leaves our berth and heads round the Oozells Loop with the Barclaycard Arena in the background.

Rather than make the tight turn at the northern end we continued up the New Main Line to find a spot to wind. We were soon back at the top of the Farmer's Bridge Locks. We stopped to top up with water and dump the rubbish. There was a C&RT work boat moored in the mouth of the lock so I went down to see what was what. I was fearing the worst when I saw a pound empty. It seems that a paddle raiser had broken and was being replaced. You can just see the new steel in place.

This is the drained pound. Apparently they had started at about 1200 and as I arrived they had just about finished the job. By the time I had got back to the top they followed and started filling the pound.

By the time we had finished taking water etc we only had about 20 minutes wait before we were able to head down. Enough time for Chris and Helen to catch up with months of gossip though.

Here we are heading down and about to burrow under the BT Tower etc. We met four boats coming up in the end so I think we had every lock but the second our way.

We are just about half way here.

Of course it was always going to be that we would meet another boat under the building, but it just goes to show that there is enough room!

I had never noticed this bit of wall art before but is pierced metalwork.

Out the other side and nearly there with one lock to go.

I'm not sure how they manage to paint these things on such a large scale. Do they protect it on and then fill in with paint. it seems a little wasted as there can't be that many people that can see it.

At Aston Junction we turned right and moored again at Aston University. We had good luck with the lock repairs and the weather so fingers crossed it will hold for the next few days.