We’ve always been a bit nervous about mooring at Windmill End for some reason, but we had a very quiet night. Late yesterday afternoon, I took Macc for a walk along the Bumblehole Branch. There are some permanent moorings at the end, and a jolly looking wharf.
In the evening, we took Macc out onto the grass on his long lead, and he ran about chasing a ball which really wore him out (although he refused to go to sleep until much later). This morning we woke to rain, and the forecast suggested it would be with us for much of the day. We started off by pushing across to the other side of the canal, to the water point to fill the tank. By the time we set off the skies had cleared and the sun had come out, but it was bitterly cold and pretty windy. The first landmark we passed was the moorings at Withymoor Island.
There are lots of twists and turns on the Dudley No 2 Canal, and lots of the bridges are quite low. We passes an angling match that was about to get under way, and then reached High Bridge, where you can see the remnants of what used to be a tunnel.
A little further on a towpath bridge goes over what was once one end of the Two Locks Line, which as the name suggests had two locks down onto the Dudley No 1 Canal. It’s a shame it’s no longer there, because although it would have added a lock to today’s journey it would also have saved us a mile.
Another feature of this canal is the mile posts in the shape of Cobb’s Engine.
The Dudley No 2 Canal joins the Dudley No 1 at Park Head Junction. Coming in this direction (which is new for us — we’ve always done this journey the other way for some reason) you come under a bridge into a big pool, and the lock landing you want is the posts at right angles to you straight ahead. It’s not the easiest place to get to!
We were turning left and going down Blowers Green Lock. To the right are the three Park Head Locks which lead to the end of Dudley Tunnel, the one that you can take trips into from the other end. Most boats won’t fit through and passages have to be booked and supervised. While Adrian filled our lock, I took a very quick look at the others.
Blowers Green Lock has a big pump house alongside. It’s also a deep one, at 12ft.
On the lower level, we pass the other end of the Two Locks Line.
It’s then just a few twists and turns to the Waterfront development of offices, hotels, bars, and restaurants.
We carried on to our usual mooring spot, on the embankment overlooking Merry Hill shopping centre. But the big grassy bank has been replaced by earthworks — the West Midlands Metro extension is coming this way, and the line will be right next to the canal. It also explains why there are some new bridge supports being built next to the canal a little way back by the Tata rail works. The view of the shopping centre wasn’t great to start with, but now it’s worse!
They’re currently drilling some footings, and Adrian spotted a moment when the guys had removed their ear defenders to ask them what time they were finishing work. They said between 4 and 5, so we thought that was fine. After lunch, we walked along the canal with Macc and then cut down into one of the other retail parks for a visit to Pets at Home, to stock up on puppy food and treats. Adrian has now gone to do some food shopping for us. The steps down from the canal to Merry Hill have gone, so it’s a longer walk now. There have also been one or two very squally showers that have blown through, and with the canal quite high here we really feel them.
4 miles, 1 lock. (96 miles, 75 locks)