Onwards to 'Glastonbury' I mean bridge 19 on the Stratford on Avon Canal

Seyella and Rock n Roll are currently travelling together.  We use different wi-fi for connection to the internet (Geoff uses 3 and I use T-Mobile), Geoff can usually get a decent signal but sometimes (feels more like 'often' just lately though) I don't!  So I'm on a 'catch-up' with my postings ... and to help me I'll refer you to Seyella's postings as we have taken pretty much the same photo's along the way (hope you don't mind Geoff!)

For details of this cruise check here - thanks Geoff.

Seyella sets off from Bournville Visitor Moorings first

 mmmmmmmmmm....nice hair!!!

 An atmospheric picture as the sun tries to break through

 a host of ..... lovely snowdrops

 Canada Geese ...

 ... and a squirrel! 

Approaching bridge 19; it's getting dark and we need somewhere to put the pins in soon ...

... Gladstonbury would be proud of this mud - but it'll do for tonight.

A visit to Cadbury World

 A night time picture of the Cadbury Factory, through one of the lower windows we could see robotic arms lifting and moving items.

 Geoff and Mags decided to give the Cadbury visit a miss.  Seyella and Rock n Roll are currently travelling together.  We use different wi-fi for connection to the internet (Geoff uses 3 and I use T-Mobile), Geoff can usually get a decent signal but sometimes (feels more like 'often' just lately though) I don't!  So I'm on a 'catch-up' with my postings ... and to help me I'll refer you to Seyella's postings as we have taken pretty much the same photo's along the way (hope you don't mind Geoff!)

Bourneville buildings from the early 1900 - that's the baths in the middle ... 

 ... and the wall plaque on the building on the right.

Lodge No.1 - a very pretty building built in 1899 as part of a suite of office for directors of the then newly formed Cadbury Brothers Limited Company.  Prior to that date the business was run as a partnership between brothers George and Richard Cadbury and their original offices are situation behind Lodge No.1 and were built in 1880. 

 Bournville Green

A chocolate lake??

The reasoning behind the name - 'Bourne' for the brook and 'ville ' because anything French was fashionable!

 Displays on the tour

The first factory was in Crooked Lane

(An actor playing)  John Cadbury as we wait for the tour to begin

 the original Cadbury's chocolate bar

 Chocolate and coffee

 Even in those days suppliers were extolling how much better 'their' products were over others! 

 A display of Cadbury's products of the past

 A child's delight - and adults too!

 Here comes a delivery of - chocolate crumb?

 An iconic name 

 I just love ...

 ... these old ...

 ... pictures ...

 ... and posters - beautiful! 

A 10' tall half bald scottish ballarina in reception!!

On the whole I felt that Cadbury World is primarily targeted at children; I expected there to be at least one area dedicated to the history of the Cadbury family and its business, but there wasn't.  We spent some time in the shop though and bought guess what - chocolate of course which we shared with Mags and Geoff on our return to Seyella where a lovely lunch was waiting for us. Pulling the pins this afternoon!

In and around Gas Street Basin, the City and a Celebrity!

If you've been really observant, you will have gathered that Seyella and Rock n Roll are currently travelling together.  We use different wi-fi for connection to the internet (Geoff uses 3 and I use T-Mobile), Geoff can usually get a decent signal but sometimes (feels more like 'often' just lately though) I don't!  So I'm on a 'catch-up' with my postings ... and to help me I'll refer you to Seyella's postings as we have taken pretty much the same photo's along the way (hope you don't mind Geoff!)  I'm posting here just a few pictures which are a bit different!

Wednesday 23rd February.

The building mentioned in the plaque above could do with some TLC

Our moorings through the bridge hole.

Night scene taken on 24th Feb looking past Seyella towards the Basin

Geoff has heard the coal merchant's engine and stopped him for supplies

My hubby George photographed these information boards ...

... whilst out walking along theBirmingham and Fazely canal

Birmingham Buddist Ythara Trust

George and I walked into Birmingham to do bits of shopping 

but the city was far too large for us, we did what we had to do ...

and returned to the boat - shattered!

Friday 25th saw us leaving Brum - this and the picture below is ...

... the coal merchant in the night picture above.

Seyella turned left here at deep cutting to pick up water on the way out, but we continued straight on - to the Birmingham and Fazely Canal to collect our water from just above Farmers Locks.

Looking back at that roundabout ...

... and down the B'ham and Fazeley ...

...the Toll House by the top lock ...

... and its information plaque.

The rather impressive BT tower beyond ...

... and the first dafodills in one of my roof boxes with heather and primroses!

Guess who we met whilst taking on water?  click here. He is such a lovely man, easy to talk to too - we watch the Midlands BBC news wherever we are!

After reversing back to the basin we went round the roundabout (the 'wrong' way, just because we could) and down towards Broad Street Bridge, past The Jewellery Boat and that pink waterbus ...

... these boats seem to be always busy ...

... and you can't have a canal, even in the middle of a large city, without ducks!

Birmingham University from the new (temporary) aqueduct over a new road.

Angry geese - taken outside Sainsbury's.

Our destination ...

... and our mooring - Seyella is already moored.