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Wednesday 27 April 2016

Another classic pub.

I like the mooring at the Waterfront as it has always been quiet and with sun all day, and I have never seen it full.
The Brewers Wharf pub at the southern end of the 'basin'. It is a pseudo pub, looking old but fabricated.

I like this office block at the north end of the basin with the private pontoon moorings below it.

We set off at just after 1000 and were soon at the only lock of the day at Blowers Green Lock. A lady told us that they had moored third boat out on the water point as there was  contractors boats moored up. I had seen the contractor going past with a powered unit, pushing one pan and pulling another. He had no waterproofs and it was snowing and blowing a gale and freezing cold yesterday evening. I don't blame him for mooring up here. Helen is just bringing 'Holderness' into the 12' deep lock.

All the bridges round here are flat topped and this is due to the fact that there was much mining round here and this resulted in lots of subsidence. A flat bridge made it easier to build the bridge up as the land sank.

There is an isthmus of land that supported coal mines. the neck of the 'island was cut by the Two locks line. This must have been great to miss out the congestion of boats going up the Park Head Locks to the Dudley Tunnel. The Two Locks Line is to the left and the Dudley No.2 Canal to the right.

We stopped at Windmill End and filled up with water at the Bumble Hole Visitor centre. It was packed with folk having a drink and a bun after walking around the Local Nature Reserve. Once full we just pushed across to the other side and moored up. We had done some washing on the way here and once moored we hung it up and then waited for it to dry. We didn't want to leave it as there were many showers about. We actually didn't have any this afternoon. Once it was dry we went off to visit another pub!

We walked about 15 mins to the Old Swan (Ma Pardoe's) which is a brew pub. It was amazing to see the tiled ceiling with the Old Swan sign. On the right edge of the photo is the solid fuel stove that wasn't lit today. I like the sign to the right that reads 'The ales brewed at this establishment are the purest in the Borough. Brewed by a 'medalist' and certified brewer.' Only beer brewed on the site is sold and whilst not as likeable as the Batham's for me the Old Swan bitter at £2-20 was a real bargain. This is definitely a pub that beer drinkers should visit as there are not many like this left

We went home a different route as we saw the evening sun on the Cobb's Engine House and the southern portal of the Netherton Tunnel.

Looking the other way is the junction of the Dudley No.2 Canal that goes off left to the Lapal Tunnel and the Netherton Tunnel Branch that disappears behind the camera.

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