Approaching Birmingham city centre on the Worcester and Birmingham Canal the day before the event.

A slick manouevre saw us reverse up to the start from our overnight mooring, and then straight into forward gear ahead of the pack on the stroke of 9.00 am. Fulbourne's swan neck foreground left, other participants behind.

Rupert steering away from Broad Street tunnel, with the rest some distance behind.

With so many pursuers we skipped the planned trip along the remains of the Newhall Branch and headed off down Farmers Bridge.

On the Ashtead flight we met another participant coming up, and had to pass in one of the short pounds.

Digbeth Basin

Up Camp Hill Locks, where we winded at the top ...

... outside the old GUCCC Sampson Road Depot ...

... as a BW van winded on the towpath a couple of locks down.

Down Garrison Locks where we paused to remove a duvet from the prop. Martin and Andy survey about half of it.

Turned left at Salford Bridge Junction, below Spaghetti Junction, and up the Tame Valley Canal. Approaching the bottom lock.

Andy pushing and Ed bowhauling through the locks while Tim cleans the mudbox.

Meanwhile Andi finds it all too much and puts her head in the gas oven.

Black Country? After ascending Rushall Locks we approach Riddians Bridge on the Daw End Branch.

Due to continuing gas cooker problems, Martin prepares dinner in traditional fashion on the back cabin stove ...

... and it is eaten on the cabin top.

Tim's birthday cake - the cause of the gas oven problems as it managed to empty itself into the jets.

After spending a couple of hours of our alloted non-moving time in the pub, we continue on through the dark. An out-of-focus Martin steers (and my camera exposure is confused by the dark).

We arrived at Walsall top lock bright and early on Sunday morning.

Descending Walsall locks

Dave waits for the lock to empty.

Winding at Walsall Town Wharf

Rejoining the Walsall Canal main line.

The Gospel Oak Branch. We didn't go up this year, but did so a couple of years back - in pitch dark in the middle of the night.

Martin struggles with another polyfish.

Ryders Green Locks

A short run along the New Main Line, and then up Brades Locks. This is the bottom lock of the staircase pair.

Left along the Old Main Line, under the M5 then sharp left to go down Spon Lane Locks as the route ahead was closed for motorway repair works.

Spon Lane middle lock.

Then sharp left and back along the New Main Line. Approaching the M5 and Stewart Aqueduct under the Old Main Line, another participant in front.

On the New Main Line approaching Birmingham ...

... we were being followed by a number of other participants.

Passing the trip boat.

Arriving in the centre of Birmingham in convoy.

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