Another great video to kick start my Monday morning as I've only just sat down to watch it. This canal takes in so many types of built up areas it shows how important canals are for giving people access to the outdoors & water for both mental & physical health. Graffiti can be very artistic & add character but I'm sorry to say most of what I saw on the video is of the trashy variety, don't think I spotted anything worth looking at. The massive brick built road bridge I couldn't begin to guess how many bricks. When you think how long ago these things were constructed without any of the modern machinery available today to help they're testament to the skills of the people who designed & built them. Have a great week Jeff & keep making your informative & very welcome videos.
Morning Annie! Thanks as always for the lovely comment! It's a fascinating canal and amazing to realise they built these things in another age - no computer aided design back then! That huge bridge... I can't imagine how many bricks there are - it's even more awesome in real life than I can show on the video. Incredible craftsmanship.👍 Graffiti is a debatable thing. I do admit that I find some of it quite attractive - it's a bit like some modern art - some people will adore it (and pay silly money to buy it), while others think it was done by a small child who accidentally tipped their paints on the floor! Thanks again Annie - have a great week too. I'm just debating where to go to tomorrow to film next Saturday's offering - sadly, everywhere is very wet now. ☹️
Hi Jeff. Another enjoyable watch. I remember watching your video from last year when you cycled this stretch of canal and recalling the fond memories I had of cycling the same route everyday to work with a dear friend of mine, sadly passed now, well over 20 years ago. I cycled the same route a few months ago too. It wasn't as easy riding back up all those locks as I remembered. A case of the brain remembering the daily ride but the body forgetting me thinks. Birmingham's City architecture does work in terms of the old an new constructions together but I will never accept that "Stainless Steel Tit" as I call it, being built next to the splendid Birmingham Moor Street Station. The Stainless Steel Tit being the Selfridges Building of course. I'm on the fence when it comes to the graffiti, a lot of it does look fine but I just think there is just too much. Great to see that you've passed the 900 subscribers. It wont be long before you hit the magic 1000 and when Gladys is on the water that subscriber list will rocket. I'm glad our trains were on time for you Jeff and thank you for the thank you. By the way, you didn't catch a glimpse of Tom the Gardener while you were in Birmingham? I heard that he may have been around in Birmingham too. Great video Jeff, see you in the next one 👍
Hi Dave and thanks for the great comment as usual. Im stuck using a laptop this weekend and hate typing on it but I'll have to do so once Gladys is finished. Yes, I rode it last year but it was dreadful on the Brompton owing to the raised cobbles. A fabulous ride otherwise. This time I wanted to explore Digbeth and I'm sure I heard Tom the Gardener's unusual accent somewhere down there - but then a Scottish maniac caught my attention, as you may have noticed on the other channel. Believe me though, Tom will return! I share your thought about the Selfridges building- I walked past that and it gave me a headache 😒
Thanks Madison! Yes, its astonishing how determined they must have been to build those canals and locks. Fabulous architecture, as you said. Great towpaths for cycling too! Have a great weekend! 😁
Thanks, I really enjoyed this . I've only seen the canals in Brum from a narrowboat view. It's an iconic city with an amazing canal network and a fascinating history. ❤❤❤❤❤
Hi Vicki! Thanks for the lovely comment - really pleased that you liked the video! I agree, the canals around the city are awesome - there are still a number of them I haven't got to yet! 👍
Hi Dave! Yes, this latest video has gone very well and led to a big increase! Another 30 to go and I'll have that 1,000 target! I haven't had an opportunity to go out filming this week (hence no posting from me), but am planning on going somewhere tomorrow afternoon - it'll be a rush to edit and upload it in time, but hopefully I'll get something new for you to watch on Saturday, as usual. 🤞 Cheers!
Hi John! Thanks for watching, and for the comment. Glad you enjoyed it! Yes, a lot of people have watched and liked this video and as a result have subscribed, for which I'm very grateful as you'll imagine! 938 subscribers at the time of writing this reply 😁👍Cheers!
yes indeed, opened 1789 according to wikipedia. Have to admit, I find some of the modern buildings there are ok but others like New St Station and the Selfridges building are ghastly.
Hi Jeff, another enjoyable vlog of yours always a pleasure to watch with some great editing, I'm aware of how time consuming it can be. Looking forward to seeing more especially when Gladys is on the water. As always take care and stay safe out there 😊
Hi John! Thanks for the comment - glad you enjoyed it! And thanks for the remark about editing - it does take time! As you know, I filmed 2 videos at the same time when there last week, and spent most of Wednesday sat here in front of the computer editing them! As for Gladys videos - yes, you and me both! 😁
Hi Daniel! Thanks so much - very glad you liked it! Shame we missed - but better luck next time (I often visit Gas Street area on my travels!) Give me a shout if you ever recognise me! 😁
Never thought of showing the cut from the tow path view completely,that gave it different perspective. On a boat you’re more like flowing through the grittiness of the city, but on the tow path you get to feel the unevenness of stone paths that have withstood two world wars and civil strife.
Hi Norman! Thanks for the very interesting comment. Yes, I agree with you - being on a boat leaves you a bit detached from the place you're going through sometimes and its easy to just look ahead to watch where the boat's headed. Also, on the towpath, you can easily stop whenever you want to - not so easy on a boat! Yes Birmingham was heavily bombed in WW2 - its certainly a vibrant place nowadays and I always like going there.👍
Thank you very much! Glad you enjoyed it. By the way, if you like off the wall comedy, you may find some of my more silly videos amusing - on my other channel: University of Abertillery @ViraMay-b1y Cheers, Jeff 😁
Hi Iain! Yes, it is an incredible thing - there is an extensive network of canals in and around Birmingham. A testament to the engineers of a couple of hundred years ago. Ironically, I bet many of the locals dont give the canals a second thought!
I walked along that exact route for the first time just a couple of months ago, but in the opposite direction. I also walked from your starting point up to smethwick before which Is quite a nice walk.
Hi Fred! That would be a nice walk too. Im really impressed by the canal network in Birmingham! Ive covered the canal right up to Wolverhampton previously (either on bike or walking) - so many off shoots and other canals along the way - really great👍
You forgot to mention the "Worcester Bar" when you were in Brindley Place. Its not a pub lol it was a barrier built between what is basically a North/South divide in the canals. It meant you had to pay a levy to get your goods through to Birmingham canal systems and it was also to prevent water from the Birmingham side filling up the other side which belonged to a different water company. You should look it up it's very interesting. Im sure someone like Carl Chinn could explain it a lot better than me. Really interesting video and i know that walk very well as we used it during lockdown to get some exercise and fresh air.
Thanks @TheBeeseven ! (Great nickname by the way). Oh, I forget to add lots of details, and to be honest, I never do enough research -☹️ - often I only decide on the day itself where I'm going to and I just sort of report what I see at the time. I could walk past a £20 note and not see it! So don't ever take my videos as being encyclopedic! But I rely on viewers like yourself to add interesting bits like this about the bar, which few others would know about - so thanks for pointing it out! It is a great walk to do, I can imagine it would have been something to look forward to during lockdown 👍
Hi DC! Yes, I tried creeping by them but an eagle eyed producer spotted me. They dont seem able to take 'bugger off' for an answer... Maybe I'll offer an olive branch and do a few Jackanorys for them...
The canal basin in Walsall town centre often gets covered in pond weed. Some years ago, a visitor to the town assumed it was an area of grass, and tried to park his BMW on it! I guess the raised bricks under the bridges was originally to provide grip for people and horses on stretches of towpath that would often be wet from condensation. They may have been retained to slow cyclists down where visibility through the bridge/tunnel cannot be achieved.
Thanks for the comment! Haha! I hope he realised before it was too late! It certainly does resemble a solid surface at first sight. Yes, I think they originally made steps/treads to make it easier for walking but they've probably been renewed over the years, so they could now make them a bit less prominent I think! A real nightmare on a non suspension bike and could actually cause an accident - mind you, I tend to get off and push the bike in places like that, unless there's a smooth section alongside. There are raised bricks along the top of locks still, and they definitely make it much easier when pushing the wooden gates open.👍Cheers, Jeff.
@@Gladysthenarrowboat No, he didn't realise - he had to have his car craned out of the basin. While I sympathise with him to some extent, he really shouldn't think he has the right to drive over large patches of grass in Walsall town centre.
Wow - that's amazing. I expect he was suitably embarrassed... the car would have been ruined I think! Yes - good point about his deciding to park on what he must have thought was a beautifully kept area of grass.
Thanks Frank. I hope you found it as inspiring as I did. I know I'm not the first to cover this canal - did you make a video too? Luckily for me, most viewers on UA-cam will never even have heard of Fazeley, so hopefully they will have learned something from watching. 👍
Really interesting insight into a city canal, though it would be a relief to escape from the horrible concrete into the beautiful green countryside. And all that awful graffiti - YUK!
Morning Hilary! Thanks for commenting! Yes its a different world up there and what a contrast with the Monmouthshire canal which I often go to! The graffiti is debatable... I do admire the artists' bravery in actually reaching some of the places and I do actually like some of it. Trouble is, I usually dont know what, if anything, it means! 😁
Hi Angela! Great to hear from you again! I think graffiti polarises opinions - love it or hate it! That said, I'm somewhere in the middle and can sometimes appreciate the artwork - not to mention the risk to life that the artists must take sometimes! 🤔
Hi Jeff, I subscribed with my other channel too, my campervan channel, why not; only 90 subscribers to go until the big 1000 👍 Good show, I really enjoyed this walk, some work in all that graffiti; some colourful works to brighten up the drab grey and terra-cotta
Oh wow, thats great - thanks very much!! Much appreciated! Yes, its looking like I will get to 1000 before too long now - I'll be counting down! Yeah, the graffiti certainly cheers up the place and I really do admire them for reaching what sometimes appear to be pretty inaccessible places! 😊
What a great vlog! Another view I haven't ever seen on any other narrowboat video. Thanks for bringing us such great content!
Thank you Rachel! Very glad you liked it! A great comment! 👍😁
Another great video to kick start my Monday morning as I've only just sat down to watch it.
This canal takes in so many types of built up areas it shows how important canals are for giving people access to the outdoors & water for both mental & physical health.
Graffiti can be very artistic & add character but I'm sorry to say most of what I saw on the video is of the trashy variety, don't think I spotted anything worth looking at.
The massive brick built road bridge I couldn't begin to guess how many bricks. When you think how long ago these things were constructed without any of the modern machinery available today to help they're testament to the skills of the people who designed & built them.
Have a great week Jeff & keep making your informative & very welcome videos.
Morning Annie! Thanks as always for the lovely comment! It's a fascinating canal and amazing to realise they built these things in another age - no computer aided design back then! That huge bridge... I can't imagine how many bricks there are - it's even more awesome in real life than I can show on the video. Incredible craftsmanship.👍
Graffiti is a debatable thing. I do admit that I find some of it quite attractive - it's a bit like some modern art - some people will adore it (and pay silly money to buy it), while others think it was done by a small child who accidentally tipped their paints on the floor!
Thanks again Annie - have a great week too. I'm just debating where to go to tomorrow to film next Saturday's offering - sadly, everywhere is very wet now. ☹️
Hi Jeff. Another enjoyable watch. I remember watching your video from last year when you cycled this stretch of canal and recalling the fond memories I had of cycling the same route everyday to work with a dear friend of mine, sadly passed now, well over 20 years ago.
I cycled the same route a few months ago too. It wasn't as easy riding back up all those locks as I remembered. A case of the brain remembering the daily ride but the body forgetting me thinks.
Birmingham's City architecture does work in terms of the old an new constructions together but I will never accept that "Stainless Steel Tit" as I call it, being built next to the splendid Birmingham Moor Street Station. The Stainless Steel Tit being the Selfridges Building of course. I'm on the fence when it comes to the graffiti, a lot of it does look fine but I just think there is just too much.
Great to see that you've passed the 900 subscribers. It wont be long before you hit the magic 1000 and when Gladys is on the water that subscriber list will rocket.
I'm glad our trains were on time for you Jeff and thank you for the thank you. By the way, you didn't catch a glimpse of Tom the Gardener while you were in Birmingham? I heard that he may have been around in Birmingham too.
Great video Jeff, see you in the next one 👍
Hi Dave and thanks for the great comment as usual.
Im stuck using a laptop this weekend and hate typing on it but I'll have to do so once Gladys is finished.
Yes, I rode it last year but it was dreadful on the Brompton owing to the raised cobbles. A fabulous ride otherwise. This time I wanted to explore Digbeth and I'm sure I heard Tom the Gardener's unusual accent somewhere down there - but then a Scottish maniac caught my attention, as you may have noticed on the other channel. Believe me though, Tom will return!
I share your thought about the Selfridges building- I walked past that and it gave me a headache 😒
@@Gladysthenarrowboat- I don’t know this building. But I’ll look it up.
I dont doubt you'll identify it DC! 😁
Great video, Jeff. Some amazing canal architecture. Some of those intricate tunnels.
Thanks Madison! Yes, its astonishing how determined they must have been to build those canals and locks. Fabulous architecture, as you said. Great towpaths for cycling too! Have a great weekend! 😁
Thanks, I really enjoyed this . I've only seen the canals in Brum from a narrowboat view. It's an iconic city with an amazing canal network and a fascinating history. ❤❤❤❤❤
Hi Vicki! Thanks for the lovely comment - really pleased that you liked the video! I agree, the canals around the city are awesome - there are still a number of them I haven't got to yet! 👍
Just checked in and noticed 970 subscribers. The magic thousand is so close now. Well done Jeff 👍
Hi Dave! Yes, this latest video has gone very well and led to a big increase! Another 30 to go and I'll have that 1,000 target!
I haven't had an opportunity to go out filming this week (hence no posting from me), but am planning on going somewhere tomorrow afternoon - it'll be a rush to edit and upload it in time, but hopefully I'll get something new for you to watch on Saturday, as usual. 🤞 Cheers!
Always nice to visit the canals with you!
Thanks Cathy! That's really sweet of you! Very glad you enjoyed it! 👍
Jeff, I had to pause watching this and when I came back you had 5 more subscribers! Very enjoyable watch.
Hi John! Thanks for watching, and for the comment. Glad you enjoyed it! Yes, a lot of people have watched and liked this video and as a result have subscribed, for which I'm very grateful as you'll imagine! 938 subscribers at the time of writing this reply 😁👍Cheers!
The canal was there a long time before those concrete monstrosities.
yes indeed, opened 1789 according to wikipedia. Have to admit, I find some of the modern buildings there are ok but others like New St Station and the Selfridges building are ghastly.
Hi Jeff, another enjoyable vlog of yours always a pleasure to watch with some great editing, I'm aware of how time consuming it can be.
Looking forward to seeing more especially when Gladys is on the water.
As always take care and stay safe out there 😊
Hi John! Thanks for the comment - glad you enjoyed it! And thanks for the remark about editing - it does take time! As you know, I filmed 2 videos at the same time when there last week, and spent most of Wednesday sat here in front of the computer editing them!
As for Gladys videos - yes, you and me both! 😁
Brilliant video. We were visiting Birmingham on Tuesday as well and took a stroll from Edgbaston to Gas Street. Can't believe we missed you😂
Hi Daniel! Thanks so much - very glad you liked it! Shame we missed - but better luck next time (I often visit Gas Street area on my travels!) Give me a shout if you ever recognise me! 😁
I LOVE THIS VIDEO ❤❤❤❤
Thank you Marie-Louise! I am delighted that you liked it so much! 👍
Never thought of showing the cut from the tow path view completely,that gave it different perspective. On a boat you’re more like flowing through the grittiness of the city, but on the tow path you get to feel the unevenness of stone paths that have withstood two world wars and civil strife.
Hi Norman! Thanks for the very interesting comment. Yes, I agree with you - being on a boat leaves you a bit detached from the place you're going through sometimes and its easy to just look ahead to watch where the boat's headed. Also, on the towpath, you can easily stop whenever you want to - not so easy on a boat! Yes Birmingham was heavily bombed in WW2 - its certainly a vibrant place nowadays and I always like going there.👍
Excellent vlog!
Thank you very much! Glad you enjoyed it. By the way, if you like off the wall comedy, you may find some of my more silly videos amusing - on my other channel:
University of Abertillery @ViraMay-b1y
Cheers, Jeff 😁
Interesting how the canal negotiates Birmingham Jeff, thanks
Hi Iain! Yes, it is an incredible thing - there is an extensive network of canals in and around Birmingham. A testament to the engineers of a couple of hundred years ago. Ironically, I bet many of the locals dont give the canals a second thought!
I walked along that exact route for the first time just a couple of months ago, but in the opposite direction. I also walked from your starting point up to smethwick before which Is quite a nice walk.
Hi Fred! That would be a nice walk too. Im really impressed by the canal network in Birmingham! Ive covered the canal right up to Wolverhampton previously (either on bike or walking) - so many off shoots and other canals along the way - really great👍
You forgot to mention the "Worcester Bar" when you were in Brindley Place. Its not a pub lol it was a barrier built between what is basically a North/South divide in the canals. It meant you had to pay a levy to get your goods through to Birmingham canal systems and it was also to prevent water from the Birmingham side filling up the other side which belonged to a different water company. You should look it up it's very interesting. Im sure someone like Carl Chinn could explain it a lot better than me. Really interesting video and i know that walk very well as we used it during lockdown to get some exercise and fresh air.
Thanks @TheBeeseven ! (Great nickname by the way).
Oh, I forget to add lots of details, and to be honest, I never do enough research -☹️ - often I only decide on the day itself where I'm going to and I just sort of report what I see at the time. I could walk past a £20 note and not see it! So don't ever take my videos as being encyclopedic! But I rely on viewers like yourself to add interesting bits like this about the bar, which few others would know about - so thanks for pointing it out!
It is a great walk to do, I can imagine it would have been something to look forward to during lockdown 👍
So cool 😎
Thank you very much!!! 😁
The Beeb do seem a persistent bunch.
Hi DC! Yes, I tried creeping by them but an eagle eyed producer spotted me. They dont seem able to take 'bugger off' for an answer... Maybe I'll offer an olive branch and do a few Jackanorys for them...
The canal basin in Walsall town centre often gets covered in pond weed. Some years ago, a visitor to the town assumed it was an area of grass, and tried to park his BMW on it!
I guess the raised bricks under the bridges was originally to provide grip for people and horses on stretches of towpath that would often be wet from condensation. They may have been retained to slow cyclists down where visibility through the bridge/tunnel cannot be achieved.
Thanks for the comment! Haha! I hope he realised before it was too late! It certainly does resemble a solid surface at first sight.
Yes, I think they originally made steps/treads to make it easier for walking but they've probably been renewed over the years, so they could now make them a bit less prominent I think! A real nightmare on a non suspension bike and could actually cause an accident - mind you, I tend to get off and push the bike in places like that, unless there's a smooth section alongside.
There are raised bricks along the top of locks still, and they definitely make it much easier when pushing the wooden gates open.👍Cheers, Jeff.
@@Gladysthenarrowboat No, he didn't realise - he had to have his car craned out of the basin. While I sympathise with him to some extent, he really shouldn't think he has the right to drive over large patches of grass in Walsall town centre.
Wow - that's amazing. I expect he was suitably embarrassed... the car would have been ruined I think!
Yes - good point about his deciding to park on what he must have thought was a beautifully kept area of grass.
Been there, done that.
Thanks Frank. I hope you found it as inspiring as I did. I know I'm not the first to cover this canal - did you make a video too? Luckily for me, most viewers on UA-cam will never even have heard of Fazeley, so hopefully they will have learned something from watching. 👍
Really interesting insight into a city canal, though it would be a relief to escape from the horrible concrete into the beautiful green countryside. And all that awful graffiti - YUK!
Morning Hilary! Thanks for commenting! Yes its a different world up there and what a contrast with the Monmouthshire canal which I often go to! The graffiti is debatable... I do admire the artists' bravery in actually reaching some of the places and I do actually like some of it. Trouble is, I usually dont know what, if anything, it means! 😁
I say…what a stunning collection of graffiti along this canal. 😢😮Seems to ruin an otherwise interesting city canal area IMO.
Hi Angela! Great to hear from you again! I think graffiti polarises opinions - love it or hate it! That said, I'm somewhere in the middle and can sometimes appreciate the artwork - not to mention the risk to life that the artists must take sometimes! 🤔
Boring
Sorry you didn't find it interesting Alan. That said, there is clearly a large number of other viewers who did. Thanks for stopping by in any case.
Hi Jeff, I subscribed with my other channel too, my campervan channel, why not; only 90 subscribers to go until the big 1000 👍 Good show, I really enjoyed this walk, some work in all that graffiti; some colourful works to brighten up the drab grey and terra-cotta
Oh wow, thats great - thanks very much!! Much appreciated! Yes, its looking like I will get to 1000 before too long now - I'll be counting down!
Yeah, the graffiti certainly cheers up the place and I really do admire them for reaching what sometimes appear to be pretty inaccessible places! 😊
@@Gladysthenarrowboat 😀👍