Canal Holiday: Avon Ring
4 June 2006, Day 2: Tardebigge to Hockley Heath
Sunday morning sees us continuing our canal journey around the Avon Ring.
![](../../images/2006/2006-06/2006-06-04-115109-SD_small.jpg)
Alan, Helen and Mary on Sunday morning after an ice-cream stop at Alvechurch.
![](../../images/2006/2006-06/2006-06-04-115122-SD_small.jpg)
Crossing the embankment which serves as a dam for Lower Bittell Reservoir
![](../../images/2006/2006-06/2006-06-04-115132-SD_small.jpg)
From the same point looking north-east along the canal
![](../../images/2006/2006-06/2006-06-04-124922-SD_small.jpg)
Having been through Tardebigge and Shortwood Tunnels this morning, now the big
one - Wast Hill Tunnel. We passed nine boats inside the tunnel, including the hotel boat pair
Dawn and Dusk.
![](../../images/2006/2006-06/2006-06-04-150345-SD_small.jpg)
We stopped for lunch just short of King's Norton Junction, the first junction
for us on the Avon Ring.
![](../../images/2006/2006-06/2006-06-04-150408-SD_small.jpg)
Here Lucy steers Elsa round the corner onto the Stratford Canal. Straight
on lay Birmingham, but for us Avon Ring navigators, the way lies to the right.
![](../../images/2006/2006-06/2006-06-04-150926-SD_small.jpg)
Passing through the stop lock, with guillotine gates at both ends, now
permanently raised.
![](../../images/2006/2006-06/2006-06-04-170852-SD_small.jpg)
After a short burst of heavy rain we reach the electric lift bridge by The Draw Bridge pub. Merry
goes to help.
![](../../images/2006/2006-06/2006-06-04-171018-SD_small.jpg)
Lucy and Mary close the bridge behind the boat.
We stopped for the night at Hockley Heath. The Italian restaurant mentioned in
Pearson's had turned into an Indian; after some dithering we went to the
Harvester, where the waitress service was very friendly but the food fairly poor
- almost cold and overcooked.
Total today on the Avon Ring: 19½ miles, 2 locks (including the open stop lock).
|