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Wednesday 12 April 2023

Tipton

Last night dinner was taken at Bella Italia, It was basically a freebee as Mr.Tesco paid for the food with points, otherwise I feel it would have been a bit expensive at £58 for two plus drinks.

WE set off at about half nine this morning in bright sun, blue sky and light winds. It didn’t last and we ended up with gales and cold rain before we reached Tipton. They are developing the site directly opposite the Bentley Arm, whether they are the cause of the bridge wall falling down I wouldn’t like to say.DSCF7702

I think it is compulsory to take this shot as you pass under the stainless arch near Heath Town Bridge .DSCF7703

As we approached the narrows before Horseley Field Junction I saw a boat go by heading for the 21, luckily Diana was on the bows as we reached the junction as I had to stop to let a second one go by. We turned left onto a much deeper and less weedy canal, the BCN Main Line Wolverhampton level. They still have the tow path closed from the junction DSCF7704under Horseley Fields Bridge following the fire and collapse of the industrial units, the canal its self was closed for some time due to falling brickwork. Now they are bricking up the holes in the wall.DSCF7705

At the other end of the towpath closure there is a similar barrier under Walsall Street Bridge, this is on a bend so obscures the sight line of the canal, needles to say we met a boat exactly here, me doing an emergency stop and them drifting across in front of out bows.  
Down toward Deepfields Junction we saw our first brood of young Coots sitting in the nest, first chicks of any kind I have seen this year.DSCF7707

As we approached Coseley Tunnel it started to rain and when we came out the other end it was raining and blowing  quite hard. Its a few years now since they cleared the site on the offside just before Factory Junction and they have now started construction there, sorry about the rain on the lens and the dark photo, the weather was horrible.DSCF7709

At factory junction we turned right to moor for the night at John the Locks moorings by the health centre in horrible weather.

Today’s Journey

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6 miles, no locks in 2¼ hours

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