Date: Mon, 02 Jul 2001 21:42:23 +0100 From: nbrumpus@lineone.net Reply-To: Canals To: Canals Newsgroups: uk.rec.waterways Subject: Trip Report - Rumpus Goes to Brum - Part the Third............. Sunday June 15th ........ started well: I found a tool stall on Ripley Market Place (Sundays only) selling crimping tools and boxes of assorted connectors for a quid! Having loaded the car (much too much stuff to take on the train, as we had originally intended) we drove back to Tamworth, unloaded, made a proper job of the alternator lead and had a drink in their newly-redecorated lounge and sorted out collecting the car before setting off. We sanitised and watered at the facilities at BW's offices at Peel's Wharf in Fazeley (soaking Susan in the process) before setting off again. As we passed the entrance to Fazeley Mill Marina, we were hailed form the footbridge over the entrance. "You don't know us, but we know you...... We're on the newsgroup!" I suppose making Rumpus "public property" as I have will mean we'll get a fair amount of this as we travel around. It was obvious we were now more-or-less on the BCN - the towpath side suddenly started to acquire brick edging and brick walls instead of piling. Once we'd decided "who does what" - me on the boat, Susan on the windlass, the Minworth flight went smoothly enough, though the "all ground paddles" meant that nuzzling up to the bottom gate if the lock was full was not a good idea! The paddle gear was noticeably stiffer than on the T&M so I hopped off the boat once the lock was half-full and lent a hand. Minworth Tunnel provided the first chance to test the headlight - it appears to do exactly what it was intended to! We moored up just beyond the tunnel and a good dinner was had by all! Brian L Dominic NB Rumpus Web Sites: NB Rumpus: http://www.nb-rumpus.com Golden Valley Light Railway: http://website.lineone.net/~gvlr/index.htm Coming to GIG2001?? Go to http://groups.yahoo.com/group/GiG-2001 to subscribe to the mailing list! ---