A day of two distinct halves today — but first a mention of how great Mad O’Rourke’s was last night. We both thought it had the potential to be a big disappointment, but the food was excellent, and very reasonably priced. We’ll definitely be back next time we’re in Tipton.
This morning we set off at 9.30, and did all of a mile to the Black Country Living Museum moorings. We were pleased to find a space (in fact there were several). We’d booked entry to the museum for 10.30, and had used some expiring Tesco vouchers to pay. We walked up the road to the new main entrance, visiting the motor museum on the way, and went down into the site. There’s a lot more here than when we last visited more than a decade ago. New streets from the 1930s and 40s are being opened, including a new pub, above the bit that already existed. Lots of photos follow.
We watched a chain-making demonstration down by the canal, and went to the fish and chip shop for chips for lunch. This has moved to bigger premises, and the chips were excellent. While we were there, there was a brief shower of rain. Last time we were here we went down the mine, leaving Adrian’s mum outside at the top. By the time we came out, she seemed to have made several new friends! We didn’t think we could top this with another visit, so we decided to do something we’d originally had in mind for today — explore the Titford Canal. (There’s also a Peaky Blinders event at the museum this evening, and they were setting up a stage down by the canal, so we thought our mooring just the other side of the fence could be really noisy tonight). So we returned to the boat and set off, turning back onto the Old Main Line. A lot of the line is covered in really horrible weed on the surface. The boat makes a passage through it, then it just closes up again.
There was a spell of rain, then the sun came out again. Before long we arrived at Oldbury Junction, a very sharp turn to the right, and underneath a motorway.
There are six locks up to the highest point of the BCN. We almost gave up at the second lock, because we got stuck on something leaving us half in the lock and half out. Adrian ran some water down and eventually there was enough to float over whatever it was. It meant the pounds further up were all very low, though. The locks are close together, and have single bottom gates, which means no need to step across a gap, but they are heavy. The top lock has the Titford Pump House alongside, which is now the HQ of the BCNS.
At the top, we continued along the canal, having looked up the BCNS notes on what you can and can’t do if you want to explore the pools and stay afloat. On the way you pass the old malting now sadly derelict and fire damaged.
Then we reached the arms down to the pools. We turned left first, then right into the main pool which has the M5 running through it.
We turned around in the middle, retraced our steps, and turned left at the junction to go under the motorway. That takes you to the small pool, where we again turned in the middle. Everyone on the towpath took our photo — a boat is a real novelty.
Having done the pools, we must apply to the BCNS for a plaque. We followed the canal back to just above the locks, and moored within sight of the pump house.
8 miles, 6 locks. (309 miles, 209 locks)
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