Friday 21 July 2017

Summer Cruise 2017 ❶

Summer Cruise 2017 (1)

Halesowen to Tipton Green

Subtitled: "The Magnificent Three go to Liverpool" As Nb Kalkara, Nb Alchemy and Nb Rose of Arden team up to enjoy a summer cruise along the inland waterways.

Date:  21/07/2017

The overnight weather:
The wind gradually grew stronger and the boat was rocking in the stronger gusts with occasional heavy showers. Which continued on and off throughout the rest of the day.

Morning:  Mostly preparing for departure with a pump-out, gas and diesel fuel. Plus dodging the frequent showers. We departed the marina at 12:30 and headed along the Dudley number two canal towards Windmill End. It was a slow passage through Gosty tunnel because the water level was low. At Windmill End we turned right and headed into a very heavy downpour and then into Netherton Tunnel

Afternoon:  After a 40 minutes passage through Netherton Tunnel we exited into the same heavy downpour. On reaching the Birmingham Main Line where we intended turning to the left - we were alerted by a boater that there was a stoppage at Factory Locks. 

[The lock gates at Factory lock number 2 and 3 are being replaced. This is part of The Canal and River Trust planned summer stoppage programme! I checked on the CaRT web page which said the stoppage should be finished by the 18th May 2017 at 11:00 ]

So we turned right and took a more circuitous route via the Gower branch and the Brades Hall Locks  before going out onto the Wolverhampton level.  Brades hall locks consist of a single and a two rise set of locks. The pound between locks was low and the two top locks had been drained down. The walls were bone dry so it had been that way for some time.

Evening: Late in the afternoon we arrived at Tipton Green and moored up for the night. Our evening meal was Fish and Chips with a pot of chip shop curry. Checked the CaRT website for any stoppages on our route. I'm glad we set off a day earlier as Netherton tunnel is closed tomorrow!

Birds: House Sparrow, Wren, Magpie, Carrion Crow, Rook, Blackbird, Mallard, Coot, Moorhen, Canadian Goose, Grey Heron, Wood Pigeon,  Greater Black Backed Gull, Lesser Black Backed Gull, Black Headed Gull, Swallow, Swift and House Martin.

Butterflies: Common White and Small White.

Today's Total:
Miles: 8.6
Locks: 3
Swing / Lift Bridges: 0
Tunnels: 2
Pump Outs: 1
Engine Hours: 6.0

Accumulated Total:
 
Miles: 2741.8
Locks: 1747
Swing / Lift Bridges: 362
Tunnels: 65
Pump Outs: 27
Engine Hours: 3804.7



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