Spring has sprung?

Tuesday, 09 March 2010 16:47

Signs of Spring?

Forget your snowdrops, crocuses and catkins! We have seen other signs of Spring in the last few days!

In Birmingham we were woken very early by amorous Canada Geese bashing into the boat - so in the throes of passion they had no idea where they were!  Today as we cruised from the Black Country Museum to Wolverhampton Top Lock we saw a couple of other signs.

There is a sheen of green on the trees - unlike these ones at Tipton Factory Junction

Coseley Tunnel was bathed in sun, not covered with snow as it was last time we passed through. Despite warnings we have had no trouble in this area. The canal is pretty bleak and we would not choose to moor here though!

Coseley Tunnel

After the new housing near Millfields Bridge, there is a fair bit of light industry. Here we saw another sign of Spring - a pair of Canada Geese on what looks like a purpose built factory wild fowl sanctuary! Just right to nest on I would think; possibly they were the new tenants?

Grass and duck steps by factory

All the birds seem to be in pairs - the coots were bustling getting ready to nest around and we saw one carrying twigs for his nest. I only spotted one moorhen amongst all the coots who seem to be happy to cohabit with geese too!

The Rough Hill and Bilston areas of Wolverhampton line the canal with more light industry. At Horseley Fields Bridge there is a wharf where the Probation Service moor their Community Pay Back narrowboats.

Here too is an old coal wharf

Passing Horseley Fields Junction with the Wyrley and Essington Canal the canal is very much in the centre of Wolverhampton. Old and new buildings line the canal as the bus station and rail station cuddle together!

There is a new development of waterside flats replacing the derelict area it once was. Albion Mill survives amongst the new flats but John Hill's Foundry and Albion Works were demolished. The Wolverhampton Museum, Canal and Industry website has a map of the Albion area - click on camera icon

Can anyone explain this "piece of art"?

Entering the next section under Mill Street Bridge and Wolverhampton Tunnel, the modern world intrudes with the colourful station car park.

Wolverhampton Tunnel

The BW boater facilities are now housed in Broad Street Basin on the right - a tight turn in and a reverse out for the "needy" boater! The next bridge is Broad Street Bridge, carrying the approach to a major interchange. The original bridge is now in the Black Country Museum and is much smaller!

There are 24H moorings either side of this bridge and we chose to go under and moor on the off-side ones above Wolverhampton Top Lock.

Epiphany moored before Wolverhampton Top Lock 

There is so much history to this area I shall return to it in a later blog!

Dudley No.2 Canal, Black Country Museum to Wolverhampton Top Lock

2 hours 11 minutes, 5.93 miles, 0 locks