BNC Explorer part 2

Walsall as we've never seen it before!

Alison's turn at the tiller on Monday morning through the remaining 8 locks, down to the Old Line. Water still weedy, full of litter, and more solid rubbish. 
The BCNS volunteers pulled out 7 trolleys at one spot, at the same place I ran aground on a sofa.. it was a slow old trip, with lots of hovering in mid stream(too shallow to go to the side) while coping with the stiff ish breeze, and a queue of boats all bobbing about trying to hold station. Good humoured though.
Back along the New Line, dead straight for miles, back up the three Factory Locks, and onto the start of Dudley No. 1 canal for the night and a curry down the pub.
Up and doing quite early on Tuesday, as we needed to go down to the next water point and turn the boat at the Black Country Folk museum.  Good to take a couple of pics while it was quiet.
And then a short cruise, though a very shallow one in places, to Bradley (pronounced Bradely) Workshops. 
Rammed in to the basin.
Guided tour of how lock gates are made.
using pretty archaic machinery, including this unique machine
which holds a boat hull in its grip and rotates it to make repairs more accessible. 

In the afternoon some us went on a walk along the route of the canal which currently ends at the Workshops, and which a band of enthusiasts want to see re opened to link back to the Walsall canal. Fascinating to see the ghost of a lock flight on the ground, but photos didn't really show it.
Here's the plan though.

That evening we all busted out our BBQs and a convivial time was had.
Yet another early call - next blog!

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