21 Locks in less than 2 miles takes us up to Wolverhampton and a very welcome and pretty Top Lock. Lunch and a facilities stop follow then on to The Black Country Living Museum. Having seen no other boats throughout the day we were surprised to find the basin almost full. We had to ask a moored boat to nudge up a little so we were able to moor clear of the facilities area.
A noteable fact about the water in this area is that it is crystal clear and exceedingly weedy! Hence several stops to clear the weed hatch.
Thursday 20th June
The day dawns bright and we are really looking forward to our day at the Museum and a trip through the Dudley Tunnels.
It is impossible to describe all that we experienced and saw at this brilliant , living museum, the feeling of stepping back in time, the delicious fish and chips, served in paper ( not newspaper sadly) ,the history, the cars ans motorbikes, trolley buses and the knowledgeable and very personable staff, the much needed beer so we have just given you a pictorial view.
Note the tin baths hanging outside the shop
Cobbled streets
Postman making a delivery
Traditional pub.
Spit and sawdust inside
Coal mining
Fish and chip shop
Peakey Blinders
Outside loo
The recycling centre of the early 19
Fork handles!
Hunters Moon at her mooring next to the BCLM
Sid relaxing at the end of a great day.
The Dudley Tunnels was an amazing trip, for which we had to don hard hats , with a musical light show and video presentation. Altogether a great day out. And, we ended the day in the sunshine sitting out for the first time this year. Sid and Jenny are very happy.
Diagram of the tunnels
Ready to be taken into the tunnels
The gauge for the Dudley Tunnels
(not for us!)
Dudley Tunnels portal
Emerging from one of the tunnels
Part of the tunnels with the roof taken off
Friday 31st June - the longest day
Shorts on, the sun is shining, and off we head towards Stourbridge. More weedy waters until we descend the 3 Factory Locks then onto the New Main Line which is very straight! This takes us, via a right turn, into the approach to the Netherton Tunnel, an unusual tunnel in that it has a towpath on both sides. 3027 yds later we emerge into Windmill End Junction where there is the pleasant Bumble Hole parkland and good moorings. But our journey continues to Park Head Junction ,which is 3 locks down from the end of the Dudley Tunnel. We continue through Merry Hill to the 8 Delph Locks. Getting tired now and these locks are deep and the gates are heavy but we get through and find a pleasant mooring a short way on.
Delph Locks
Cruising past Merry Hill
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