Hi nb. Chuffed we
moored right at the top of the locks on the left hand side right on the T
junction, next time we come this way we will go a bit further and try mooring
at Farmers Bridge as there is a Fish and Chip shop there.
We chugged on to Windmill End Junction where we turned right down
to Hawne Basin as after 12 days with both the engine and heating we needed a
bit of diesel and also empty the toilet tank. Not far down the canal you come
to a gauging island but as well as boating through the gauging section you can
also boat right round it which seems strange, maybe someone can offer more
information on it.
As we approached Gosty Hill tunnel when it started to rain so the brolly was put into use for a few hundred yards before entering the under world. There is quite a bit of floating debris in the first quarter of the tunnel but after that it was clear. Needless to say when we came back into daylight it was raining harder, but again after a few hundred meters later it stopped . A goose thought it would be a good idea to lay her eggs on a bricked up doorway, I don't think it really gives her room a nest.
Down at Hawne Basin we turned into the basin through the quite small entrance bridge, I can swing in with our boat but I thing anything much longer would need to back into the winding hole first. Dee saw us arrive and was soon out to look after our needs, filling one tank and emptying the other, I had just paid my dues when Pat and Sheila complete with dog walked round and took up residence on out bench seat so we could catch up on the past 12 months. It was 3pm before we said our goodbyes and headed back onto the cut, the plan was to moor just outside the basin, but as it was now blue sky's and bright sunshine we decided to head back to Windmill End, on the way we passed this Black Country cast plaque, this is the best condition one we have seen, most have suffered at the hands of the spray can cowboys
Back at Windmill Junction we dropped back about 50 Meters to moor on the visitor moorings for the night.
Todays journey 10.2 miles, 1 lock in 4¾ hours
2 comments:
If you have not been before, it is worth going up the Fens Branch to Buckpool nature reserve if you want a quiet night's mooring. see http://nbalchemy.blogspot.com/2019/04/buckpool-nature-reserve.html
Mike we visited the Fens Branch and the Stourbridge Extension last year when we came this way. Diana went for a walk up there this time and said there was a boom tied across the canal at the first bridge.https://nbharnser.blogspot.com/2020/08/stourbridge-extension-canal.html
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