Windmill end

Last night we ate at Mad O'Rourke's pie factory. The Lump hammer beers was a nice price and when we got back to the boat there wasn’t a goose in sight, so a quiet night. We were the only boat on the moorings which I think are first class. This morning we were away at 10 O’clock down to Tipton Junction to wind and then retrace our steps passed last nights mooring.

There was another group of disadvantaged children setting off on a canoe adventure from Tipton Stables and then it was right down Factory Locks. We had to wait for the boat ahead to work down, I went down and opened the gates on the second and third locks for them. As we were ready to leave the flight there was a boat coming up so that saved closing up. A rather poignant point is the old sign on the bridge advertising Craggy’s Boat Yard and you can just see diesel was 28p/Ltr. On the bridge to the entrance of the yard is this plaque, I haven’t noticed it before.

At Dudley Port Junction we turned left and then headed through Netherton Tunnel meeting one boat in the tunnel. At Windmill Junction there are still boats moored from last weekends Black Country Boat Rally, we turned down the Dudley No2 canal heading for Hawne Basin to fill with diesel and chat with friends.
Once that was done we retraced our steps back up the No2, but this time we had to wait at at Gosty Hill Tunnel for a boat coming down, they warned us of a road barrier floating around in the tunnel, we didn’t notice it on our way through but found it on our way back so hauled it out and deposited it at the North Portal.

Some time ago CRT installed some “Secure” stop plank storage cabinets which don’t really fit into their surroundings. I don’t know whether this one should have planks in it or be locked up, but this had nether,

We carried on up to Windmill Junction and then reversed back to the 48hr visitor moorings for the night.

Todays Journey

11 miles, 3 locks in 5½ hours