Spent the mid week messing about on the BCN aided and abetted by Baz
Juniper (Wednesday only) and Dave Hearmon (Wednesday & Thursday). Dave
joined ship on Tuesday evening, not too late for a couple of pints at
The Prince of Wales, a trad pub just away from the waterfront and a
very good curry at Bar-gees accessed through a little doorway on Broad
Street. Both venues recommended and a big contrast to the catering
overkill which is the Mailbox and general Brm canal scene.
We left the Sherborne Wharf area just before 08:00 for the rendezvous
with Baz at the south end of Netherton tunnel. We took the direct lock
free route via the new main line and Dudley Port jct. Nothing much to
report except we did get stuck in one or two of the toll island
channels. We had just tied up for a cuppa at 11:00 and Baz arrived,
having taken the bus from Brierley Hill. We were about 3 miles from
Hawne Basin and it was to be a slow trip, not much evidence of boats
using this, the Dudley No 2 canal. Almost immediately a young scrote
with a tennis racket exercised himself lobbing pebbles in our
direction. One hit me on the shoulder, fairly mildly and we mainly
ignored them, though when we started to take more interest and found
the camera our Wimbledon hopeful scarpered into the bushes, never to be
seen again. We got stuck a couple of times in the bridge holes but with
judicious pushing and heaving coaxed the boat on to the Gosty Hill
tunnel (577 yards). The boat slowed to a snail's pace even before the
stern entered the portal. Dave and Baz were up front to bring the boat
nearer to level trim and I did begin to worry that we might not get
through, progress was so marginal. I soon discovered that just over
tickover produced as much progress as anything, and the tunnels was so
tight that no steering was necessary so I went forward to join my
shipmates. This further improved the ballast and we then contrived to
hand and leg our way through. This action contributed as much to the
progress as the engine, and we emerged from the tunnel with some relief
just about 12:45. The passage time was about 40 minutes.
We passed the old Stewart & Lloyds steel works and a more contemporary
industrial estate which resembled a holiday resort with so many of the
workers out for lunch on the canal bank. We went into the basin and
filled with water, did the Thetfordery and Tony (the boss!) opened the
bar so we could partake of some cold tinnies. Meanwhile lunch was
coming to a climax in UM's oven - Sausage and beans (Branston) served
with bread and butter and a black country garnish which I can now
reveal contained the charred remnants of roasted onion, potato and
garlic swooshed about with some chutney and red wine.
Strengthened by our lunch and with the water tank full we got back
through the tunnel in only 20 minutes and had a generally easier
journey back up except for one major weedhatch visit after something
solid had been picked up. The yield was the usual armful of plastic and
string plus, amazingly, a 2 ft length of cast iron shepherds crook (or
foundry fettlers hook more likely). This was lifted through the hatch
Paul Daniels style. That's magic !
No sign of any scrotes near Windmill End, our journey onward to the
Black Country Museum VMs was pleasant and mainly uneventful via Albion
jct and the Brades locks/staircase up to the old main line. The water
was very clear which permitted lots of weed and lily growth but
whenever a shallow part was stirred up all manner of nasty black
substances and smells were kicked up. The VMs were occupied by about
half dozen boats and is a very safe and pleasant haven. We supped some
"Lumphammer" at the "Pie Pub" and then wandered off to The Park Inn at
Woodsetton for a couple of pints of Holdens's excellent bitter brewed
there in the micro brewery. Fortunately a tuborial chum had joined us
to ensure that we found the best watering holes, and his delightful
wife was called out at closing time to drive us back to the boat.
Beeky
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