Well here we are in UK at last, aboard NB Rhapsody with J and A, our friends and narrowboat trainers. We arrived at Heathrow at 7.30 am Tues, bussed to Birmingham and were aboard at the Gas Street Basin and having lunch by 11.30am in good sunshine. We had a tuition cruise and learned about locks, narrow bridges and halfway through Rain, Rain, Rain. No problem, we were soon back in the basin and moored for the night. We cruised briefly on Wed to learn winding and went through all the detail of living aboard and servicing Rhapsody. She is 59 feet long and weighs over 11 tons.
Thursday R and R came to take J and A off on another adventure and we reluctantly said bye bye. We went shopping at Tesco and came back loaded like pack mules. On Fri we practiced the things we had been shown and then moored again. We walked from the Gas Street Basin to the Bullring market and benefited from some end of day bargains in beef, sausages and bacon. Could have got spuds and cabbage for next to nothing but didn't fancy carrying them back home to Rhapsody. We bought a UK sim card for the phone. Went to the gallery and had a beer at the Prince of Wales on the way back.
We left Birmingham Sat morning heading to Wolverhampton,
We went right into the Black Country Museum wharf at the tunnel entrance hoping for a mooring but then had to reverse back 1500 ft to moor as all berths were taken. We found a beautiful, quiet spot next to a park. We went to the museum Sat arvo then were back at the museum Sun, resting and reading and then a couple of beers at the Waggon and Horses in Tipton. Mon we were off to the top of the Wolverhampton 21 flight of locks to moor for the night. Plenty of sunshine and it took the stuffing out of us but oh what glorious days. Dinner at the Hogs Head. (No, not hogs breath!)
Thursday R and R came to take J and A off on another adventure and we reluctantly said bye bye. We went shopping at Tesco and came back loaded like pack mules. On Fri we practiced the things we had been shown and then moored again. We walked from the Gas Street Basin to the Bullring market and benefited from some end of day bargains in beef, sausages and bacon. Could have got spuds and cabbage for next to nothing but didn't fancy carrying them back home to Rhapsody. We bought a UK sim card for the phone. Went to the gallery and had a beer at the Prince of Wales on the way back.
We left Birmingham Sat morning heading to Wolverhampton,
We went right into the Black Country Museum wharf at the tunnel entrance hoping for a mooring but then had to reverse back 1500 ft to moor as all berths were taken. We found a beautiful, quiet spot next to a park. We went to the museum Sat arvo then were back at the museum Sun, resting and reading and then a couple of beers at the Waggon and Horses in Tipton. Mon we were off to the top of the Wolverhampton 21 flight of locks to moor for the night. Plenty of sunshine and it took the stuffing out of us but oh what glorious days. Dinner at the Hogs Head. (No, not hogs breath!) 
Tuesday, the Wolverhampton 5hour 21 lock flight was a big initiation but a good learning curve and we are on the Shropshire Union canal now. We looked around Brewood last evening, went to the Admiral Rodney for dinner. Yesterday was glorious, saw fields of red poppies and lots of birds. This stretch of canal is well forested looks like Robin Hood and his merry men could appear at any moment. The tow path has tables and chairs at intervals for boaters to use. We are moored next to one. A bit overcast today Wed, with light rain so we get time to do the blog. Bob and Jen
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