Tipton to Hawne Basin, Halesowen, 6.5 miles, 3 locks, 2 tunnels, 3hrs 40mins.

Sunshine all the way this morning.

Descending Factory locks.

Entering Netherton tunnel.

Entering Gosty Hill tunnel.

Inside Gosty Hill tunnel.

Entering Hawne basin.

We topped up with diesel, well 171 litres then moored alongside small Woolwich Atlas for the night.

Keith.

BCN Clean-up

Great weekend with great company on the BCN Clean-up.

Saturday morning we were bussed to Ocker Hill Tunnel branch, our base of operations for the whole weekend. 

Our group (there were 2 groups) walked to the top of Ridgeacre locks on the Walsall Canal, and started grappling from the top lock to the bottom lock.

Jo's catch of the day, the cast iron wheels were worth saving.

The big problem with this section of canal is the Asda trolleys.

Especially in the vicinity of this footbridge which crosses the canal from the Asda car park.

We pulled out 39 shopping trolleys here!

Loading them on to the work boat Hawne.

I helped Hawne down through the locks.

We had to be careful that nothing caught on the side of the lock and didn't fall in!

Hawne being unloaded by the grab truck back at Ocker Hill tunnel branch, where we enjoyed a sandwich lunch.

In the afternoon we tackled a section of the Walsall canal halfway between Tame Valley junction and Walsall Town arm. We had a bit of trouble with local kids, so we abandoned the site for safety reasons.

Sunday morning Jo decided to stay back at the Stables to help Maria as her ribs and sternum were hurting. We tackled the 1st section of the Tame Valley canal starting from the Tame valley junction, by going up the towpath on one side of the canal, we crossed over at one of the bridges, and back down the other side.

Loading the C&RT work boat.

Following lunch today everyone has now left the Stables, bar one other boat, so we are now relaxing.

Keith.

Black Country Living Museum to Malthouse Stables Activity Centre, 0.6 miles, 0 locks, in 20mins

Spent most of today chatting to friends at the Black Country Living Museum.

The fairground has gone to make way for the new 1940's-60's street, and work has started on this new project.

 Not much else has changed apart from these new paths and gardens behind Pitt's Cottage.

The veg patches at Pitt's cottage are ready for planting with lots of freshly supplied manure from Ben & Charlie.

Later we moved from the museum to the Malthouse Stables Activity Centre, Tipton ready for the coming weekends BCN Spring Clean-up weekend.

Keith.

Birmingham to Black Country Living Museum, Dudley, 9.5 miles, 3 locks, 1 tunnel in 2hrs 50mins

A better day today. 

Passing Smethwick junction.

Smethwick pump-house.

Galton lower tunnel.

M5 and Wolverhampton level crossings.

factory bottom lock.

Now moored at the Black Country Living Museum

The boat that was moored in front of us left so we winded, topped up with water, etc. 

Then we moored up again facing the other way. 

Keith.

Catherine de Barnes to Birmingham, 11.4 miles, 25 locks, 1 tunnel in 7hrs 35mins

What a day!

Started off fine, until we got to Camp Hill top lock.

The pound below the lock was empty when we arrived. 

By the time I got to here Jo had started to fill it.

Jo doing her lock gate hopping.

Bordesley junction at the bottom of Camp Hill locks.

Approaching the stop gates at Digbeth.

Ashted bottom lock.

The pound above was empty also.

But fortunately there was a C&RT man on hand to help run some water down for us.

Ashted tunnel.

Ashted top lock, we stopped in the lock to clear the blades and to have some lunch.

Something tells me this may be Barkers Bridge?

The monstrous Snow Hill railway viaduct arch.

1st time I passed under here in 1971 it was being built!

Now moored opposite The Arena Birmingham.

Keith.

Rowington to Catherine de Barnes, 7.1 miles, 5 locks in 3hrs 50mins

This morning we passed Kingswood junction, there is a stoppage on the North Stratford canal, thus we can't go that way, so straight up the Grand Union it is then.

Approaching Knowle locks.

After the 1st lock Jo had some assistance with the locks from the volunteers.

Leaving Knowle top lock.

Now moored at the new visitor moorings at Catherine de Barnes.

Keith.

Saltisford Arm to Tom O' the Wood Rowington, 6.3 miles, 21 locks 1 tunnel in 4hrs 30mins

This morning we set off on our Spring/Summer Cruise in glorious sunshine if a bit chilly.

Reversing from our new mooring, never done this before.

Reversing through the Bridge ole.

And we are off!

Hatton locks Cafe near the top of the Hatton locks.

Shrewley tunnel.

Now moored at the Tom o' the Wood moorings.

We went and had a pint in the pub.

Keith.