Well after yesterdays glorious weather today was cool, overcast and slightly misty.We set off through Tipton to Tipton Junction and turned left along the Old Main Line to Brades Hall Junction with the view to go down the Brades Hall locks and Gower branch to the New Main line. When we arrive there was a group of “Community Payback” people clearing the area and their leader warned us that below the stair case was bone dry and he wasn’t wrong. We did not attempt to rewater it but turned round and retraced our steps to Tipton and took an alternative route down Factory Locks again passing this BCN cottage for the second time.
I couldn’t see any sign of the sunken boat but the water is no where near so clear now, or maybe its drifted to one side?
At Dudley Port Junction we turned right to Netherton Tunnel for the third time this trip. The junction is quite close to the Railway station of the same name.
Netherton tunnel was, to put it mildly, wet. Once at the other end it was left at Windmill End Junction and down the Dudley No.2 canal to Hawne basin, this meant passing through Gosty Tunnel, the opposite of Netherton Tunnel, low and narrow and less than half the length. Clear of the far end the canal is wide and deep until you reach the end of navigating at Hawne Basin, The bridge over the entrance is even lower than the tunnel. Our reason for come her was to fill with diesel, but due to our rerouting by the time we arrived they were closed, so we are now moored at the service Quay ready for 10am in the morning. The journey was probably a third longer than it should have been.
Todays |Journey
12 miles, 3 locks in 4½ hours
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