Hawne Basin

Here I am Rune

Distance 7.7 miles

Total 817 Locks 39 Tunnels

Running total mileage 1237.9miles

Rather surprisingly a day of thrashing our way through ice on the canal to get to Hawne Basin. Mostly if was fairly thin but there was a short section below Factory Locks on the New Main Line where it was actually starting to slow the boat down. I have checked on arrival at Hawne Basin and it doesn’t appear to have done much damage to the blacking on the bottom of the boat.

Once again the passage through Gorsty Tunnel was impeded by some crap around the prop requiring a stop in the middle of the tunnel again. At least on this occasion I managed to get a photo of the poster halfway through advising of the distance to Hawne Basin. The only other event of note on the trip was whilst going through Netherton Tunnel I was a bit distracted by lights coming in the other direction. Before entering the tunnel I thought I had seen some lights and thought at that time that they were probably cyclists but as I got closer to them they dazzled me and I lost some of my night vision so wasn’t sure whether it was cyclists or another boat, so moved over to the right of the canal, just in case. As they passed it turned out that it was about 6 cyclist all with fairly bright headlights (which explained why I had been dazzled). 

 

Breaking the ice

The 'interesting' poster halfway through Gorsty Tunnel

Showing the considerable change in roof height in the tunnel

Black Country museum moorings

Here I am Rune

Distance 0 miles

Total 814 Locks 37 Tunnels

Running total mileage 1230.2miles

Zero movement today which was a shame in some respects because the weather would have been ideal for a bit of cruising. Just took the opportunity to get a bit of shopping in from the local Tescos.Since is sounds like we may be due for a bit more snow tonight it will be a case of banking the fire up again tonight before we go off to bed. Last night was a bit of a first as I managed to bank the fire up sufficiently that it was still lit when we got up this morning and have kept it going throughout the day.

Tomorrow onwards to Hawne Basin.

Black Country Museum moorings

Here I am Rune

Distance 1.3 miles

Total 814 Locks 37 Tunnels

Running total mileage 1230.2miles

Another short hop to Black Country Museum moorings for a couple of nights. A gloriously sunny trip although a bit cold, and threatening to be even colder tonight with quite a frost forecast. When we got here to the BCM moorings it is apparent that there is quite a bit of work now going on as they have contractors who have cut down most of the trees on the sanitary station side of the canal and, having read up on it, it appears that they are going to build another bridge over the canal here to give disabled access to the canal trips into the tunnel (at the moment they have to go over a bridge by the tunnel entrance which is fitted with steps). One thing I have found out today and that is, provided that your boat is low enough (air draught of less than 5’5”) the Dudley Canal Trust are contracted to tow you free through the tunnel. Engines aren’t allowed to be used in the tunnel as there is very little ventilation. Unfortunately with the top boxes we have on ‘Rune’ we are well over the permitted height.

So it’s here until Sunday and then back through the delights of Netherton and Gorsty tunnels back to Hawne Basin.

Tividale Quays

Here I am Rune

Distance 0 miles

Total 814 Locks 37 Tunnels

Running total mileage 1228.9miles

In fairness, not much to report today. We haven’t moved the boat although I’ve done 8.5 miles on the bike (more that an average days cruising!). We decided to remain at Tividale Quays for today and then move onto the Black Country Museum moorings tomorrow. Having been for a ride along the New Main Line round to Black Country Museum I can confirm that at the moment the moorings are clear, ready for our arrival tomorrow. We’ll stay there until Sunday then move down to Hawne Basin.

Tividale Quays

Here I am Rune

Distance 2.7 miles

Total 814 Locks 37 Tunnels

Running total mileage 1228.9miles

Woke up this morning to a light covering of snow, fortunately still remained snug and warm inside the boat due to the very welcome coal fire. Despite the snow we decided that we’d still come down to Tividale Quays since the weather forecast for tomorrow is even worse! It was actually a pleasant morning’s cruise since to begin with it was sunny and there was little wind, although it was rather cold.

To try to reduce the chance of getting plastic around the propeller going through the locks I’ve started ‘bow hauling’ the boat through some of them, so at least today I didn’t have to go down the weed hatch until we got to Tividale Quays (and yes there was once again a great wad of plastic around the prop again!). I wouldn’t like to try to guess how much plastic we’ve pulled from the canal around here, but it certainly a lot. I think I’m beginning to agree on these proposed bans on plastic bags.

We’ll probably remain here now until Friday when we’ll move back to Black Country Museum moorings for the weekend (handy Chinese takeaway nearby!).

Interesting how a sprinkling of snow can improve and industrial setting (those tanks contain red diesel)

View of the pump house (and HQ of the BCN Society)

Another view of the pumphouse (look at how blue that sky is!)