Retirement with No Problem

Today – Autherely Junction to Black Country Museum, Dudley, Staffs & Worcs and BCN
Weekend – Wheaton Aston to Autherely Junction, Shropshire Union Canal, 8.25 miles 1 lock

Before leaving Wheaton Aston we said hello to blog readers Nick and Caroline who were out on their first few days of their narrowboat holiday.. and onward they went after a chat and walk through..

We then moved up to the services with the intention of doing a pump out which is due for us, and there we met Mick and Jenny with their narrowboat Trundle.  We met Mick and Jenny at Elton on the Nene last year and we caught up on all the news before a wave goodbye for now from them..

Then on with the business of pump out.. well that didn’t work after putting in my BW ‘credit card’ nothing!  It was pumping OK but nothing was pumping out!  I searched round for some instructions in case I had got it wrong, and when I reached up onto the top of the box I found a sign.. “Out of Order do not use”… gawd.. a tenner up the drain, or not as it happened!!

So pins pulled from Wheaton Aston making for the last quiet mooring before the noisy motorway and Autherely Junction at Hunting Bridge 7.  Over the A5 aqueduct…

And on through Brewood where we passed hotel boats Duke and Duchess..

We hovered close to the bridge at Brewood as there were no moorings so that I could nip into the village to get some milk.. then onward to Bridge 7.

A popular mooring this, and when we arrived there was just about room to slot No Problem in between two narrowboats.. I was pleased about that, I didn’t want to go any further.. walking was on the cards around here, there are new permissive walks that I wanted to explore..

“Beep beep” alerted me to look out the window and another blog reader Alan and his family on NB Andante passed on their way to their home mooring close to Autherely Junction.  It has been great this weekend to meet so many people that read the blog.. none said they got bored with it either!!

So Sunday saw us have a very relaxing day out on the towpath soaking up the gorgeous sunshine before moving close to Autherely Junction very late in the evening.. it wasn’t far, about an hour, but we were meeting Paul Balmer at the bottom of the Wolverhampton 21 locks the next morning fairly early, so thought I would have an extra hour in bed!

As we rounded the turn to the BCN sure enough Paul was just opening the gates.. he must have heard No Problem approaching, or hoped that the narrowboat he could hear was No Problem.. lovely to see Paul, and guess what, I managed to persuade Vic to let me work the locks today..

Well there is a few done!  Lots of pictures today, loads in fact, I’ll put a few up..

I was amazed how rural this stretch is beings it is going right into the centre of Wolverhampton, the wild flowers are as good as out on the remotest sections of canals, totally unspoilt and so very little rubbish..

I noted at lock number 5 that the top paddle would not go down properly, and made a note to report that once we stopped tonight, but I saw a British Waterways Lengthsman walking down the canal.. “Ah I have noted a problem at lock 5” “Yep” says he as he walked on.. “Yeah, the offside top paddle won’t close properly” “Yep” he says and walks on a bit more “Just thought I would tell you, do you want me to report it to BW” “Nope.. that is why I am carrying this lot, I am just on my way there!”….

This area has been beautifully done with stone picnic tables…

Then before three hours was up we reached the top lock..

On through Coseley tunnel..

Paul took the helm today once we had cleared the locks.  It was pure delight to be chauffeured along, Paul’s knowledge of the Birmingham Canal Navigations is immense and he gave us a fantastic running commentary all the way to Dudley.. at one point he made me get aboard and ride into the next lock, pointing out a little tunnel for me to be able to get off just at the lock jaw so that I could get to the top of the lock.. just for little people you see.. it was so dinky … great stuff!!

I thoroughly enjoyed today, I was surprised how pleasant the journey was, there was no way surely that I was in the centre of Wolverhampton and Birmingham, but I was, and hey look at this….

Could it be a wild orchid on the BCN?…

A day out at the Black Country Museum for us tomorrow with a ride through the tunnel… but I won’t be legging No Problem through!..