Barnet to Walsall Town Wharf

Barnet made her way along the Wyrley and Essington to Walsall wharf today. the effect of the part dredging in Wednesfield was noticed, the improvement is very good. 10.30AM start was in Walsall wharf at 3.00PM!

Back to Base

Thursday 15th October saw 109 leave Broad St basin and head along the Wyrley & Essington to Norton Canes Docks.

To our suprise the latest dredging and clearout operation was encountered working in Wednesfield, it is really good to see the W&E being maintained in this way, something we have all wanted for a long time.

If this clearout is as effective as the one last year then the W&E will be better than some so called "cruisway" status canals!

Wolverhampton: Broad St Depot

After a sojourn in Gas St 109 moved via the new main line to Wolverhampton but not before we had a look at the entrance to the neglected and listed interchange basin.

From here we went onto Broad St depot. The approach to Wolverhampton is dismal to say the least, even new developments are in a semi state of decay, so much for the city's canal quarter!

BW AGM

109 travelled to birmingham to attend the BW AGM, the only boat to do so! There it was moored outside and the meeting saw the reunion of two L&H Patrons, vhris Coburn MBE and Dr David Fletcher CBE seen here with L&H chairman Brian Kingshott.

W&E Survey

Yesterday 29th CanalScape-BCN undertook a private survey of the Wyrley and Essington from Wolverhampton to Sneyd, the findings are published on the group website http://uk.groups.yahoo.com/group/CanalScapeBCN/

Black Country Living Museum

109 moved from Birmingham last Thursday to a mooring just outside the Black Country living museum, on the way she encountered a nasty obstruction at Summit tunnel, quite literaly part of the embankment had slipped and was floating in the canal! A massive piece of weed and roots which was only partly visible! 1.5 hours and with two boats pulling she got free, we reported the problem to BW.

The boaters gathering was superb with around 50 boats attending. A very full canal arm to say the least. Great atmosphere, boat, trains and good ale - and of course fish and chips, faggots and peas!!

Deja Vu

Today the trusty 109 set of from "The Boat" at Minworth to Birmingham, The B&F was well down and boat traffic was intense, a slow journey into the city. Arriving at Farmers Bridge top lock there was a sense of deja vu, this was the first time back in Brum since 2002, before mooring up we did the grand half mile down to Salvage turn (the Mailbox) and winded.