The flight from Cairo to London was fine, and I had the time to watch the Kevin Costner movie, Message in a Bottle. It was a morning flight and London was experiencing glorious weather. I had booked four nights in Palmers Green hostel in Swiss Cottage, in the photograph below, which enabled me to catch up with friends and my eldest son, Alec.
I had lunch at Chez Antoinette in Victoria with old sailing friends, Vic & Clare, a Vietnamese dinner at Sông Quê cafe in Hoxton, a stroll around Tate Britain to view an exhibition by previously unknown (to me) English artist Hurvin Anderson with Alec followed by an Italian lunch on the edge of Borough Market, and a Sunday lunch with long term friend, Julie at The Lighterman gastropub at Coal Drops Yard…we also visited the Books on the Water barge, where we both bought books, and I’m now reading Tortilla Flats by John Steinbeck. I also spent Sunday late afternoon in the Euston Flyer pub watching Arsenal fans sobbing after an easy win by Manchester City.
The Feature Image above is a painting by Birmingham born artist, Hurvin Anderson.
I travelled on the train to Birmingham for the princely sum of £5.95, and then a short & sweet train ride to Withybed Moorings to see Alice and Nemo. I quickly booked yoga classes at Barnt Green Zen Den and started checking all the systems…engine, heating, water etc to get Alice ready for life cruising on the canals over summer. I have bought an anchor and a throwing line, and acquired a gangplank for my adventures this year.
I seem to have found a buyer for one of the rental properties in Hull, I have claimed a tax rebate from HMRC and I have won £25 on the Premium Bonds….a fabulous start to the summer!
It was good to be back at Withybed Moorings…it’s in a great location with good facilities and a fabulous gang of canalboat liveaboards. I’ve registered Alice to stay at Withybed next winter, but in the meantime we will leave early on Friday 1st May to moor on the canal through the Bank Holiday weekend, and then leave Alvechurch to cruise up to Birmingham.
The passage to Birmingham was both good and bad…after filling with diesel at Alvechurch Marina I struggled to turn the boat around in a stiff breeze. A hire boat hit Alice inside Wast Hills tunnel. Once in Birmingham I hit the canalside while winding the boat to face the right way. But, it was good to be back cruising in the sunshine! The photograph below was taken at Old Turn Junction towards the Birmingham Mainline canal.
I had a list including swimming and yoga at Ladywood Leisure centre, watching football at Box and The Distillery, laundry at Pablo’s and my first post-70 Men’s Wellness check at Midland Health. I also changed my original 2026 cruising plans, and booked a weekend, including mooring, at Crick Boatshow at the end of May.
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