Birmingham Canal Navigations
√ Gas Street Basin
Great place to moor to see the centre of the city and for meeting other boaters.  If you want a quiet night don't moor on the towpath as we did (see picture below)  try and get one of the select short term moorings in the second part of the basin (approaching from the Worcester and Birmingham or first part if approaching from BCN).  Photo taken from the walkway between the two parts of the Basin.

√ Birmingham old main line (to Wolverhampton)

If you find the Birmingham Main Line straight and boring try the old Wolverhampton Main Line, it's hard to believe you are in Birmingham.  Tree lined and high above the new mainline, it's in another world.
As the trees disappear, you come across a meeting of old and new.  You travel under the M6, over the new main line, and under the railway.  Seen here from above and coming back on the new main line from below...
And from the new main line below it looks like this...

√ Black Country Museum

Forget parking!  Moor up in secure moorings right in this fantastic living museum.   Below, shows the museum mooring looking back towards  Dudley Tunnel - where you can take a canal 'cave' tour on their boats.
There are BW facilities on the opposite side of the canal including rubbish collection and water, the whole experience is really to be recommended.
You can gain access directly from the canal and either walk up through the museum to the main entrance or you can pay in the pub... best pint for hundreds of miles we reckon - try the mild...
Here's a taster of other sites, also don't miss the cottage and mine tours.

Caldon Canal

√ Hollybush (Stockton Brook) Bridge 26. 
Great rest after the tough locks at Stockton Brook, or to gather strength if going down.  You need to moor on the towpath about 100 yards after bridge 26 (or before it if you haven't done the locks yet).  There is a space cleared on the bank for mooring, and you'll need mooring pins.  Follow towpath back to bridge 26 and turn right and the Hollybush is about 70m down the road on the corner of the A53.

Really recommend the food since it stopped being a Harvester, also good beers and lager available on tap, including Leffe (whitebeer).  Book if going in busy season, or weekends - number is 01782 502116.

√Fine Feathers, Post Bridge, Bridge 28 Truly stop here. You will probably need to stop anyway for pump out cards at the Spar near Bridge 28, so pop in and have a look around, its free with a box for donations.  Great selection of animals – see out and about 2006 , adults and kids alike will find something of interest.   They also sell gas cylinders, coal and fantastic sausages in their farm shop.
± BW services at Park Lane (Bridge 31).  It's the only one on the Caldon after Etruria, but the pump out machine is not very effective.   BW staff who happened to be on site said it has been investigated four times after complaints.  They said it is apparently something to do with some narrowboats having a "ledge" inside the pump out connector which prevents the vaccuum sealing properly!!   Hmmm.   Anyway the toilets and shower are usually clean and they have a washing machine and tumble dryer which work well.  You have to buy seperate cards for these and the pump out.  Both are available from Spar Shop at Bridge 28.
√ Hollybush at Denford (Froghall arm Bridge 38 or Leek arm Bridge 3 just after Hazelhurst Junction).  Accessible from aqueduct if going down the Leek arm.  Moor on aqueduct or at BW moorings at Hazelhurst on Leek arm or outside the pub if you are on the Froghall arm (note there is only room for three narrow boats outside).

Lovely pub.  Great range of beers and friendly staff.

Macclesfield Canal
√ Rising Sun (Scholar Green) bridge 87 opposite Heritage Boatyard.  Fantastic food (book early for weekends) and lovely hosts, who even recognise occasional boaters who visit three times a year!   Can be a bit smoky but that should be sorted soon, it is non-smoking in the eating area.

√ Heritage Boatyard Bridge 87. 

Recently increased their in-boatyard supplies with more basics and now also sell alcohol.  Also pretty good range of chandlery.  Oasis Too has been moored here for two years and the staff know Ownerships well and are very friendly and helpful.  Ownerships staff available on boat change over day - Friday.

River Avon
Oasis Too has had her fair share of adventure on the Avon - see article on Floods 2007.  However, the Avon is a beautiful river.  See also Stratford on Avon below.  Travelling down the river there is much more to see than on the Severn, including the neat cottages with their individually thatched roofs.

Stratford on Avon Canal
Famous for its barrel roof cottages

√ Lyons Boatyard - Bridge 3

Very friendly here, a bit difficult to pull in, if coming from Stratford pull in at the beginning and from Birmingham at the point furthest from the bridge.  Lots of bits and pieces here for the boat - we picked up washers.  They do pump out!

√ The Drawbridge Inn  Bridge 8. 

Good selection of beer, can sit outside and watch other boater's navigate the narrow lead up to the drawbridge!

± Blue Bell Cider House Bridge 19. 

Rare cider house, great cider, poor selection of beer, toilets dire so didn't eat there...

√ Wedges Bakery - Bridge 20

Lovely bread, cakes and organic food, also have fresh fruit and cold meats and pies and general supplies.  This very busy bakery is well worth a stop.  Pull in before bridge 20 if travelling from Stratford or after it on left if coming from Birmingham.

√ Stratford upon Avon
It really is worth the work of the locks required to get there from Birmingham.  Coming round the corner from the last of the locks, you can moor before you reach the Basin, near the Red Lion.
The Pedestrian Bridge across the Avon gives a great view in all directions, and you can watch the wildlife on the island nature reserve (see owners photo library).
How about a trip to see some Shakespeare?  You can visit the temporary  theatre whilst the famous one is getting a makeover. The picture below of the existing theatre was taken in May 2008 with the refurbishment underway.

Trent and Mersey Canal
! Harecastle Tunnel.  Mind your head, so low at points that you can not see over the roof to the front of the boat.

√ Worcester
Just before junction of the Severn with the Birmingham and Worcester Canal, there are some large river locks.
Having negotiated the locks, a visit to the town centre will be worth your effort.  Stop for a drink or meal in the ex chapel, which is now a Slug and Lettuce, to admire the lovely stained glass.