Narrowboat Independence: It's Kipper Tie Time!

Friday 20th September..........and the morning is pleasantly warm as we ascend from Aldersley Junction up the 21 locks of the Wolverhampton Flight en route to the Tipton Canal Festival. The Lock Gods are with us as every one of the 21 is in our favour so I'm able to push the gates open with the prow whilst Adrian follows up to close, work Independence through and reset for Pacific with John behind followed by Annie and Roy on Panther. A special anti-vandal key is required to unlock the paddles as we go-relocking once through. 6 locks up and we meet three dossers coming down-very slowly, with no intent to help. They have however done us a small favour in that being such a waste of space they have forgotten-or more likely couldn't be bothered to relock so that's one less job to do.

21 Locks done and all three boats are together again. We are now on the Birmingham Canal Navigation and it's two hours to Tipton

We moor at Tipton opposite the steaming President

A wander round the Festival site and a meal in the Fountain which has a beer festival. Perfect.

Twirly enjoys the festival and gets ponced up for the occasion

One for Florence

On Saturday we did the rounds of the festival purchasing all kinds of rubbish

In the evening we got the last table at the nearby Mad O'Rourke's PieFactory and had a very fine time. Especially pleasing was that in this bastion of the carnivore our two non meatpeople enjoyed their Allotment Pies. The less disciplined in our company adjourned to the Fountain for a nightcap

Sunday lunchtime and it's time to say farewell to John and Pacific and to Tipton and its excellent festival. We head off for Birmingham City Centre-delayed for a while up the Engine Arm (below) by a very fouled prop comprising 4 plastic sacks, a length of cord such as one would find on a Venetian Blind, a bit of wire and a bag of dog poo. No wonder I hate dog owners.

We reached Birmingham after 6 p m and it all looked pretty busy but we got an excellent mooring near Brindley Place and set out for a pint (in the excellent Tip and Spill in Gas Street) and a curry both of which were much needed and enjoyed

Curry at Last! and some idiot tries to take his own photo in the Gents!

Left Birmingham on Monday morning and headed for Warings Green and The Blue Bell Cider House

Tuesday and we're on the last day of this part of our trip travelling down the 19 locks at Lapworth to rejoin the Grand Union Canal.

Once agasin the Lock Gods were with us. AsI reached the first lock-which for some mysterious reason is number2 and set for Panther a hotel boat with butty and crew hove into view so that was a good start with the first two locks set for us. Further luck in the form of volunteer Brian-a joy to behold for a single-handed broken-kneed boater if ever there was one. He worked me through all the locks to the junction and even took my rubbish away. What a star.