We set off after breakfast along the mianline towards Smethwick junction where we locked up the locks with the assistance of a local who brought his own windlass. He advised us against taking Jannok down the engine branch as he said the residential moorers down the end were not very visitor friendly. We continued pass the pumping station, through Summit tunnel and then under the M5 towards Oldbury junction. Note to self :- remembr this route for when it's raining as you spend a lot of time under the canopy of the motorway and it is far less boring than the new mainline. As we continued along the old mainline I was amazed at how clear the water is. You can easily see all the fish, shopping trollies, motorscooters, bicycles and sometimes the canal bed as you are passing along. At Tipton junction we turned into the Blackcountry museum but soon reversed out again as there was a boat rally there and the arm was full. Down to factory junction where we turned right and descended the 3 locks onto the new mainline. At Pudding Green junction we turned into the Wednesbury Old Canal and then forked right into the Ridgeacre branch above Ryders Green locks. The water up here was a vivid green colour with black and orange sludge fetched up as we passed. It got very narrow and shallow before Swan bridge but we winded at the head of navigation and returned along a very much smellier canal. Good job Brenda has got a 'Basingstoke Airfreshener curry' cooking in the slow cooker in the rear cabin, it did exactly the same job with the Ridgeacre smell as it did with the Basy. We arrived back at the NIA at 5pm ready to receive visitors this evening.
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