Date - 20 /08/08 Day - Wednesday Start - Bumble Hole 1535 End - Merryhill 1745
Harnser's present position http://tinyurl.com/Harnser-s-route Today was the 150 anniversary of the opening of Netherton Tunnel and to mark the occasion the Mayors from each end of the tunnel would come through the tunnel by boat cutting a ribbon at each end. Local TV and radio were there and the dignitaries finally arrived at about 1-30, following them in a Joey boat were slightly lesser dignitaries like the IWA National Chairman and IWA President, Local IWA Branch Officers and BCNS Officers. When the Joey reached the mouth of the tunnel it was towed by horse for the final couple of hundred yards. Not far behind that was "President" the steam powered narrowboat and several historic local tugs. We had lunch in the local pub, The Dry Dock which has an old wooden boat as a bar. They serve local real ale and good freshly cooked food. The Sausage and Mash is made with sausages that are only available at the pub and made specifically for them. After lunch all the dignitaries had departed on the bus back to the other end of the tunnel and we helped to take the 3 marquees down just as it started to rain. Once we had said our goodbyes we set of in the rain which just got heavier, We cruised for a couple of hours down the Dudley No1 Canal stopping for the night just passed the Merryhill shopping complex, there are good moorings in the complex but Diana spotted the sign that said the bars were open until 3am. so we moved on a bit. -- Brian <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Join SOW and help save our waterways http://www.saveourwaterways.org
