Black Country Living Museum

Tug gathering at Black Country living Museum. Barnet attended the tug gathering this weekend, during the 1970's 109 spent several years as a carrying tug working with a station boat on dredging (see picture). She carried the much disputed very dark blue and gold livery. Today we welcomed Sophie and Mark Pullinger abroad for a run on the old main line.

Laurence and Mark worked together for a few years during Boatmans Cabin Ltd existence at Iver Bucks, Mrak has shot to fame as the man who last year has rediscovered the Harefield boat graveyard, he together with Laurence are piecing the story and remants of this place together assisted by BW and TWT.

First Cruise of 2010

BW's Dean Davies steers Barnet



Holly Bank basin



Super little duck house.

Canalscape_BCN first cruise for 2010 was from Norton Canes Docks on the Cannock Extension Canal to Broad St depot in Wolverhampton. Crewing with us was Dean Davies local BW waterway manager.

The journey was completed in 4.25 hours. We also nosed into the cleared Holly Bank basin and stopped off at the United Kingdom mooring at Lane Head.

British Waterways spot dredging, tree cutting and weed eradication has transformed the Wyrley & Essington, Barnet was drawing 3ft 3” today underway and we had no need to go down the weedhatch even once!

The W&E is a fully useable waterway without any of the former problems so often reported. Along the route there is a number of good pubs, good overnight moorings at Lane Head and the a suprising lack of boats! We saw not one other boat moving.

There is no reason for any boater to worry about navigating this stretch of canal now, it is in better condition than some more well used canals.

Hollybank basin is superb and surely must be a candidate for become a marina or moorings, there are also many other sites which could well become moorings with a little foresight.

Hollybank is once again an inviting rally site.

Ready to go

After the serious winter which saw 109 firmly iced up maintenance has been carried out to ready the boat for duties this year, A little later than expected start to her season due to unforeseen difficulties arising which reduced the crewing availability. We intend to add more ballast this year and one of the first runs will be the Wyrley and Essington to Wolverhampton to see what impact the BW dredging and clearing has had. Attendance of local events is expected and we will continue to use the lesser navigated parts of the BCN.

Below: Two Grand Union Town Class Narrowboats together, Barnet alongside Large Northwith "Thaxted".

Congratulations to Canalscape-BCN Secretary, Sarah Edgson. Sarah acquired the Yarwoods fish class Josher “Ling” in the recent British Waterways Tender process. I’m sure we’ll see Ling joining Barnet on the BCN very soon.

Pelsall Junction

Cuts Froze!

Lets go boating on boxing day, err no, "cuts froze", New Years day....err no, cuts froze!. The cut is solid at Norton Canes and "Barnet" isnt going anywhere. So today was just a day to fire up the engine, make sure the batteries are up and warm up the cabin, with the range. The canal is quite exposed at the dock and despite "avving a go" I couldnt break the ice with the shaft.

Barging Along

After a uneventful three weeks moored in Walsall wharf 109 returned via the Walsall locks to the Wyrley and Essington where she headed for her Xmas break at Norton Canes Docks. On the same day Mark Pullinger of CanalScape-London sent out some screen grabs from the film "Barging along", he wanted the boats identified. So I got to work on them and WOW suddenly I as looking at "Barnet" loading!

The shot is in Limehouse dock and steel coils are being put aboard, next to her is the original paired butty "Barrhead". She was identified by the public health number which shows up as 181 on a high res scan.

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!