Dodging the showers in Birmingham

Thursday 26^th September; Birmingham

It rained overnight but the day was fairly dry.  I walked down to Cambrian Stores to get the paper and was delighted to find a row of recycling bins below the wall beside the shop – glass, plastic bottles, food and drink cans, paper and cardboard.  I had a domestic morning while Dave took Meg off to the park and out of my way, so I could shake out the mats and her bed. 

We had an early lunch, then set off to town.  We chose to go down Farmer’s Bridge locks to start with; Clover, with its distinctive engine note (sorry can’t tell you what kind it is) was sitting at the top while its crew helped a second boat up the flight.

We went down New Street as we needed to buy a couple of things in Boots, then made our way to Thinktank, the science museum at Millenium Point.  As you walk down behind New Street station and the massive shopping complex, you see blue and white hoardings stretching for hundreds of yards.

The museum is really targeted at the young but there is plenty to interest those of us of more mature years.  The entry fee is reduced to £3 after 3 o’clock (from £13.50 for old fogeys, so it was worth having a cuppa and some cake while we waited).

The old beam engine from Smethwick pumping station is here, though not operational of course.

There was a demonstration to give you an idea of its capacity though – this giant hopper was filled and tipped out every 8 minutes.  While it was operating, fifteen times this amount was pumped up every minute. 

The sciency bits are interesting, particularly the display of the history of hip replacement joints – the current ‘best’ was developed in Birmingham.  But my favourite bits are the fossils and the bones.  This is the actual skeleton of a giant deer, long extinct – the bones were found preserved in peat.  It was big – and the antlers were immense, the photo only exaggerates them a little!

There had clearly been a heavy shower while we were inside the museum.  When we came out we joined streams of students from Birmingham City University (next door) on their way home after classes. The rain came and went, and it was very windy as well.  On the way through the centre we had to watch out for a tram as it pulled up to disgorge and admit passengers.  It was very full.

On our return, we met Jennie and Chris (NB Tentatrice) who had been visiting friends on NB Sola Gratia which was the next boat to us.  We had a pleasant chat for 10 minutes but Monty and Meg said it was tea-time for dogs, so they had to go back to their mooring at Cambrian Wharf!

 No cruising today, but a fair bit of walking.