arkholmethesecond: BCN - Part 2 Onward to Gas Street Basin

So exhausted we settled down for the night in this leafy quiet corner of Wolverhampton only to be woken at 4am by Dave banging on the boat to alert us to the fact that both boats had been untied and we were now across the cut. Sokai had actually banged into the boat across from us. Always wanted to tie up in my jim jams at 4 in the morning!!!

After a wander around the city centre it was time to move on after first calling into Broad Street Basin, the warehouse once being owned by the famous canal carriers Fellows, Morton & Clayton and where today modern day boaters do their house keeping (empty the toilet, get rid of rubbish and fill with water)

Heading out of Wolverhampton the new

and the original

giving way to the countryside

and all things that make canals special

Another 'Virgin' moment, the main West Coast line is never very far away.

Deepfields Junction which leads to Bradley Workshops

Approaching Coseley Tunnel

It's only 360 yards long so we are no sooner in than out.

At Factory Bridge we turn right down the arm to Tipton where the Black Country Living Museum lies along with the Dudley Tunnel

We moor half way down at these fabulous moorings, the work of Friends of Tipton Cut.

After a quick trip down the weed hatch to clear the prop it was off for tea which was

a 10 minute walk away at Mad O'Roukes Pie Factory, a eccentric street corner pub serving gargantuan Desperate Dan Pies and Lump Hammer Ale. Wednesday's offer is 2 for 1 and we only just managed to get a table. Without a doubt it lived up to its reputation.

After a quieter night we set off in rain having to first turning back up the arm to the junction.

But not before Trev had a unscheduled trip down the weed hatch

to free this.

Just beyond the junction is Factory Locks a flight of 3

They have a single bottom

gate with the two paddles and are heavy to push.

The Birmingham Level Main Line is deadly straight for 3 miles,

with the occasional island

and several arms off connecting to the old main line.

At Smethwick Junction the old main line meets the new line.

We then travel under the M5 and meet our first moving boats of the day.

Ever hopeful for a 'Stobart' moment but having to made do with a Co-op!!!!

The Galton Valley Canal Museum is now housed in this former pump house which was home to the 'Smethwick Engine' which pumped water up to the locks on the old line.