Tipton to Oldbury

 Friday 13^th May

Off at 8.30, continuing on the Old Main Line. The weather was sunny and bright, but as on several other days this week, the breeze was chilly.

We’d all been asked to at least go into Tividale Quays, even if we weren’t going to moor. As it happened, Steve’s computer was playing up, so we did moor for a few minutes. This basin, like the one at Walsall, is a clean, tidy space with lots of moorings but is little used. It does seem that C&RT need to do a lot of work on the local canals (dredging, lock maintenance, weed clearing, graffiti and litter removal – the BCNS can’t do it all!) before more people are happy to travel to and moor in these basins.

Tividale Quays

Still following the Old Main Line, we crossed over the Netherton Tunnel Branch which leads to Netherton Tunnel, and eventually arrived at Oldbury Junction where we turned on to the Titford Canal and went up the six Oldbury Locks.

Entrance to Netherton Tunnel

The water level in the canal was very low, indeed it would have been difficult for some of us to proceed if those who had arrived much earlier had not let down some water from the top. We moored at the top near the Engine House which is the headquarters of the BCNS. 

Today's goose family - 23 goslings

Some boats explored the Titford Pools during the afternoon, others will do so tomorrow, still others have decided not to risk the shallow water. We belong to the latter group, so after lunch, we walked to the pools, though you can’t see a lot from the towpath. We also took the chance to pick up a few provisions from the nearby Asda.

Titford Pool

The plan for the evening was for everyone to eat on their boats and then gather in the Engine House for the evening’s entertainment provided by Billy Spakemon and the Busketeers. They were very good, bringing us stories and songs from the Black Country as well as a wider variety of songs.

There was an official farewell from the organisers of the Cruise and thanks were expressed to them – they did a really good job making sure everything ran smoothly and must have done a lot of work beforehand.

Today’s miles and locks – 4.00 miles  6 locks

Total miles and locks – 109.50 miles  72 locks