Sunday 4 September back to Annie
Monday 5 September Stourport to Whittington Lock near Kinver
Sunday night was torrential rain and thunder. Liana finished offloading the car in the morning, while John readied Annie. We stopped outside Aldi for one or two bits before leaving the town and enjoy the countryside for over two miles before Falling Sands lock.
Tuesday 6 September Whittington Lock through Kinver to Stourton and Stourbridge
After a rainy and thundery night, the flowers looked windblown. This pretty canal looks damp but very green, compared to a few weeks ago. Whittington, Kinver and Hyde locks are all picturesque. We were lucky to arrive as oncoming boats were leaving, twice. The offside is rather overgrown in places, with red sandstone outcrops looming overhead, notably near the short 25 yard long Dunsley Tunnel.
Once through Stewponey lock, with its adjacent octagonal toll house, we reached Stourton Junction in the sun, turning right to drop Liana off at the newish lock landing before moving into the bottom lock. The four Stourton Locks are close, in a “thick”, so John could “finish off” the top gates and paddles while Liana went ahead to set the next lock for Annie.
The two miles to Wordsley Junction were very quiet, rather overgrown but lovely, quite autumnal. We met no moving boats, which was maybe a good thing! Once past moorings at Newtown, the River Stour is close by, and the canal crosses it just before the junction.
Approaching Stourbridge, John winded Annie at the 70' winding hole, backed around the corner and moored a couple of hundred yards before the basin. When we walked into town, we saw there was room to wind in the basin, which is now fenced off with coded gate locks at the bonded warehouse. You need to contact the Stourbridge Navigation Trust to book moorings and get access. You use an underpass to cross the ring road and reach the town centre up the hill. We visited charity shops and had a Costa coffee. Later, we had a tasty, spicy sausage and lentil casserole which Liana cooked up – definitely one to have again.
Wednesday 7 September Stourbridge to Merryhill (4 miles, 24 locks)
Thursday 8 September Merryhill to the Black Country Museum (9 miles, 4 locks)
After a modest two slices of bacon and an egg with no toast, John felt equipped to brave the Merryhill Shopping Centre here in Brierley Hill. Down many steps from the embankment, we enjoyed the comfort of shopping indoors. We bought baby clothes, books, a hot glue gun for Liana, coffee and an iphone hdmi lead to link it to the tv.
Setting off after lunch, we passed through the eyecatching Waterfront area, before passing the services into darkest Dudley, along the No 2 canal, contouring around the hill, with many twists and turns. The channel was reedy and overgrown by trees in places. Thankfully, we only met one oncoming boat. The weather worsened, and rain teemed down. John got wet despite his coat and umbrella. Reaching the deep Blowers Green lock, with ex-stables and services nearby, we turned left for Netherton. Ahead lay three locks and the western end of the Dudley Tunnel, out of bounds to us. Past numerous Dudley back gardens, we reached the Bumblehole before Netherton Tunnel. Twenty or more boats were moored ready for the event this coming weekend there.
We had forgotten how very long Netherton Tunnel is, about 3000 yards, like Blisworth Tunnel. It has towpaths both sides but no light, We passed two oncoming boats slowly and carefully. The sun met us as we emerged, thankfully.
At Dudley Port Junction we turned left, passed Caggy's Boatyard to find boats at the three Factory Locks. We followed one up and crossed over with another in the second pound. Busy! We passed through Tipton and arrived at the Black Country Museum before 6pm, too late to see our nephew Ted Adams, who works on the tunnel trip boat.
The nation was told that The Queen has passed away peacefully at Balmoral. May She Rest in Peace and Rise in Glory.
Friday 9 September Black Country Museum to Old Turn Junction, Birmingham
The Black Country Museum is closed today as a mark of respect to the late Queen. Back home, my fellow bell ringers are ringing around noon today, with bells half muffled. God Bless Her. God Save our new King Charles III.
We decided to head towards Birmingham along Brindley's old main line. Two boats had left before us, but we never met a moving boat all day on the Birmingham Canal Navigations (BCN). The water all the way to Dudley Port is crystal clear, although John saw few fish, surprisingly. This green corridor takes you to the M5, where the canal is often below the teeming road traffic, surrounded by a forest of massive concrete columns.
Reaching Smethwick Locks, we found them closed due to a gate failure yesterday. Ho hum, we should have checked. CRT advised using Spon Lane locks to Bromford Junction with Telford's Main Line lower down. to reach Birmingham.
Retracing our steps, we descended Spon Lane locks, which need a grass and towpath maintenance team badly. The towpath is overgrown, with a large bush/tree toppled over it on this very overgrown unmaintained section including the bottom and middle locks. Get a grip, CRT!
We saw the waterbus as we were mooring by the Oozells Loop, near the Old Turn to the Farmers Bridge flight of locks. After a rest and a walk, our old friend Michael came to take us out for a meal at
Saturday 10 September in Birmingham (0 miles)
At 11am we watched King Charles III proclaimed as King at St James' Palace. Later, we walked around the city centre, recently modernised for the Commonwealth Games. It was very striking, with large public spaces and pedestrianised streets, plus the new tram system.
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