The next day we had help up th Stourbridge Locks, of which there are 16. If I remember it is John and he is quite well known for helping out on these locks. We fed and watered him and packed him off with a load of food etc at the end of the day.
Here they are discussing tactics as we start the assent
You are soon passing the Red House Cone at the Stuart Crystal visitor centre.
A little further on is 'Dadford's Shed that was once a wooden transhipment shed.
Looking like a pub 'The Dock' is actually a general store and off licence. The dock is the little arm under the bridge to the right and is in front of the building. Now looking like a side pound.
We got through the Bratch like pair of locks, and into Lock 11. Everything was going so well. Until this small log wedged between the boats side and the lock wall. I tried ahead and astern. I tried flushing us out, but was worried about draining the pound above. C&RT were called for assistance, and whilst we waited I got the hand axe out and started hacking it in half. I got three quarters through when they arrived and he had a couple of goes at flushing us out. The log broke so there was just enough room for us to float free.
We were soon at the next flight of locks, the Delph Locks. The old nine locks were replaced by the eight new ones. The the by-washes look a little like the disused locks at Tewitfield on the Lancaster Canal.
Near the top of the flight is this old stables for boat horses.
Looking back from the last lock you can seethe old route of the canal. The top and bottom locks are original to 1779 but the old route used to run to the east or under the cast iron bridge. The new locks were constructed in 1858.
There aren't many signs left on the system with this British Waterways Board logo. Do I remember one at Brentford Lock in London?
Once we were moored up in Merry Hill basin Helen wanted to go on a scouting mission to the shopping centre. I preferred a little scouting mission of my own, heading into Brierly Hill to find the Three Crowns pub. It was first found as a licenced premises in 1862 and seems to have continued until after 2008 when it has been closed a re-opened a few times. You can still see the two doors, public and saloon bar entrances.
As I approached the pub people were just helping an obviously very drunk old fellar into a cab. When I got inside it was to find upset tables and chairs and beer everywhere! One of the locals noticed my quizzical look and explained that the bloke was always well pissed by 16-00 every night, but tonight was a strrange one as it was the first time he had stood up and taken the table, the lot with him as he toppled over!! Not an inspiring vision, and it was maybe a good idea that Helen wasn't with me. However the natives were friendly and the had four hand pulls on, one of which was Hobgoblin.
I took a miss with the Hobgoblin and went for the Burton Bridge Brewery pint. Set up by two engineers that workd for Ind Coope in 1985 the bought a pub in Burton upon Trent called the Fox and Goose that had room behind for a brewery behind. The pub was near to the medieval bridge into the town so Burton Bridge seemed a good name for the pub and brewery. The two were looking to retire in 12017 and I think that they have managed to sell the brewery as a going concern. They brewed about 18000 pints a week so over 120 million since they began.
This beer is a good strong 5% but drinks as a 4.5%. It is was brewed under licence until 2004 when it able to do so under its own label. It is a pale beer with a nice head and a lovely hoppy aroma. There is a good mouth to it and a beautiful fruity after taste. I must have enjoyed it as I had another before wending my way back to the boat.
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