Dawdling to Dudley.

We decided to set off a little earlier than normal as the rain was due to start about 1500. However we just moved over to the the sanitary station to dump the rubbish we had picked up from our moorings (three bags), fill up with water and then we decided to empty the loo too. We were soon of though and heading round the junction where the Wyrley Branch used to head off but was closed in 1954.

Once round the bend the cut runs through green banks that used to house collieries and brickworks. Rough Wood Chase is a wild park with many footpaths but few places to moor.

After Holly Bank Basin we passed a few damsons trees heavy with fruit and we couldn't resist so backed up. It was a matter of minutes to fill three punnets but took a lot longer to clear the rubbish off the prop we had accumulated with going heavily astern. Still it was only about 10 minutes stop so well worth it.

We couldn't resist the mirrored bridge at Heath Town once more and I don't think that I am getting any better looking!

Just by Horseley Fields Junction with the Main Line are these bridges that were the Midland Railway Basins and the site of rolling mills and other heavy industries. On the main line towards Birmingham is another transhipment basin for the LNWR with covered berths and overhead cranes who bought it from Birmingham Canal Navigations in 1902.

The northern portal of Coseley Tunnel. It had been closed earlier in the year due to land slips at the southern end but all had been cleared and the bank netted to prevent movement in the future.

We had never moored up by the Black Country Museum before so decided to see if there was room. There were a couple of spots and we chose right by the museum. Over the way is the new visitor centre for the Dudley Canal Trust which looks like it isn't too far from completion.

We decided to take advantage of the tunnel trip boats and made for the last but one tour. This is the east portal of the Dudley Canal Tunnel and we wouldn't fit in even if we wanted too. Apparently the Dudley Canal Tunnel was built much later than the tunnels for the mines by Lord Dudley and at a different level to preserve water. There was a a stop lock underground but didn't ever really work. There was a problem with legging in one direction though as there was a current through it.

Helen looking very fetching in her protective equipment.

This is part of the Dudley Canal Tunnel that was opened in 1792 which was started in 1785. It is brick lined and is now covered in calcite.

This is Flooded Mine as it was often three feet deep in water despite pumping and was one of Lord Dudley's tunnels. This branched off from Shirts Mill Basin that was originally underground but had the roof taken off later.

This is Castle Mill Basin, again originally underground but later opened out. It is now the junction of four tunnels. This one is the Wrens Nest tunnel and was opened in 1815 to serve limestone mines about a mile away. It is hoped to reopen this tunnel to add to the tour.

This again is the Dudley canal Tunnel that heads for Park Head and Windmill End. The boat is the second trip boat as they use a one way system as there are so many tunnels.

The largest cavern now visited is the Singing Cavern. It was about half a mile long with seven of the big pillars holding up the roof. The largest one underground was Dark Cavern that was much larger so that it had over thirty pillars! To get to this cavern from Castle Mill Basin a new tunnel was cut in 1989.

Via another new tunnel constructed in 1984, the first cut in the UK since the Netherton Tunnel, and with it's own Blue Peter Badge, you leave Singing Cavern to access the Dudley Canal Tunnel. In this brick lined section we got a chance to do some legging. I had actually helped leg right through the tunnel in my teens.

This is Castle Mill Basin again and this is the 1989 tunnel to the Singing Cavern with the trip boat heading inwards. The trip takes about 45 mins and the information is very interesting and is worth the £6-40.

There is an access into the Black Country Museum from our berth so as it was close to closing time I wandered in for a quick look see. Again we had been with the kids about 17 years ago. It did look like it would be rewarding to have another looks see.

Parallel to the Dudley Tunnel Line is this branch in the museum with some historic boats adding to the scene with the foundry and forge in the background.

Another part of the 'town' with wires for a trolley bus.

Looking back over the canal bridge the roof lines and buildings really do make it all look like a living landscape. We must come back at sometime.