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We had two helpers, this time!
 Stephen and Paul
 The Dudley No.1 Canal begins at Black Delph Bridge
This flight is called the Delph Nine, but actually there are now only 8 Locks. The Locks were originally built (by Thomas Dadford) in 1779 , but the middle ones were badly affected by mining subsidence. In 1856 the affected locks had to be replaced, leaving the old top and bottom locks in situ and building 6 new ones just east west (Thanks Paul!) of the old line.
In case the thought of the locks are a bit daunting or if you need refreshment after your exertions when you arrive at the bottom, there is an appropriate "watering hole" adjacent to the bottom lock. Note the name - an humour!
 The Tenth Lock
 The waterfalls beside some of the locks are spectacular
Once again all the locks were set for us, so Paul and Stephen had an "easy time" once again. However John would not have liked to single hand up as it was a concentrated effort with the locks so close to each other.
 Looking up the flight
The view back from Lock 4 shows the pound and bywash that feeds the waterfalls by the locks. Lock 3 ahead, photo on the right showing the waterfall.
 
Beside Lock 3 there is a stable block, once used for boat horses. It evokes the days when there would have been an hive of activity with horses pulling boats, or being rested whilst the boats were bow hauled up and down the locks. It has been lovingly restored and is still in use.
 Delph Stables
When we reached Lock 2 we could begin to see where the old line was - the footbridge carrying the towpath is over what remains of the line.
 In Lock 2
 Looking back down the "new" flight
We veered to the left under Nine Locks Bridge and entered the Delph Top Lock where instructions for descending the flight are posted. There is a blue/red system on the paddles. The blue paddles on the next lock down have to be opened before the red ones in your current lock. Otherwise the flight would be flooded - not a good idea when there is a lot of water around, as there is at the moment!
 Looking back under the bridge
From the above photo you can see Lock 2 on the right and the old line straight ahead.
Here we said "goodbye" to Stephen as he had left his car in the Tenth Lock car park (maybe he needed to "refresh" himself)! Paul stayed with us until we moored about half a mile later at Merry Hill.
Now, this is where I left John on the boat for a few days whilst I enjoyed the hospitality of Russell Hall Hospital! I have now caught up with the journeys before my incarceration, but you have lots to look forward to in the next few days too!
So I will leave you with the view he had at night and the vast shopping centre that I was unable to explore - Ahhh! It is a panorama and despite the look the towpath is actually dead straight!
 Merry Hill with its (Christmas?) lights
Journey details for the journey from Stourbridge Town Arm to Merry Hill
- Stourbridge Canal and Dudley No.1 Canal
5 hours 18 minutes, 4.76 miles, 24 locks
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Oops - a typo
I think "building 6 new ones just east of the new line"
should be "building 6 new one just west of the old line"