nicknorman Posted September 12, 2013 Report Share Posted September 12, 2013 (edited) Well a first for Telemachus, a first for Jeff and a first even for me! Today we did the Town Arm having come up from Kinver along the very pleasant bottom end of the S&D canal. The arm is quite weedy in places and would clearly benefit from some more traffic, but deep enough and we didn't get anything on the prop. Needless to say we saw no other boats. EXCEPT the one on the blind bend with the bridge, of course. Never mind, only a minor panic and it was a great chance to sound our new (1930s) "Awoogah" klaxonet. The boat coming the other way had a novice helmsman, with the "captain" caught half way along the gunnels. Anyway, disaster averted the captain debriefed the helmsman by telling him that "this is what is known as a crisis, but never mind you coped with it!" At the end there are a surprisingly large collection of boats, a winding point which doesn't look full length to me, but no visitor moorings. Never mind, the natives were friendly and we got to use someone else's slot since they were permanently tied up to the very fine bonded warehouse doing a fit-out. A very secure spot with BW key to get out. Stourbridge town centre was surprisingly pleasant. No graffiti, and a different gene pool from Brum. The brummies are of course all rather fat, ugly and poorly dressed, whereas the Stourbridgeians looked healthy, smart and almost posh. Hopefully I am allowed to say all that, being born in Brummieland myself! Some really nice looking old buildings in the town centre, and more importantly a large Waitrose. We had planned to get to Merry Hill tonight, but were running rather late. ETA would be 9pm, well after dark. I think we will get a better night's sleep here than risking the 10th lock at Delph. Anyway, the moral is that the Town Arm is well worth doing. Edited September 12, 2013 by nicknorman Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RLWP Posted September 12, 2013 Report Share Posted September 12, 2013 The town arm is indeed worth doing, and the winding point is big enough to turn a 70' boat - we have done it! Richard Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pearley Posted September 12, 2013 Report Share Posted September 12, 2013 And there is plenty of mooring just before the last bridge. And a water point. Regards pete Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dave moore Posted September 12, 2013 Report Share Posted September 12, 2013 The winding hole regularly allows the full length tripped Blackcountryman to turn, you've no problems at all. The visitor moorings are beyond the last bridge but the locals who run the dock and warehouse are normally happy to let casual moorers stay safer in the enclosed area. I'm still slightly surprised at the badlands reputation that the whole area has....I've boated on it for half a century with few problems, other than the expected bladefuls. I suppose that living locally gives me a different perspective to most boaters, sometimes I think I'm in a different world!!! Enjoy your trip, would touch base with a regular contributor but the sea and Sun in Zakynthos are too good to miss! Cheers Dave Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jo_ Posted September 12, 2013 Report Share Posted September 12, 2013 You forgot to mention Nickolls and Perks - superb wine merchants. An informal tour of the cellar is wonderful. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nicknorman Posted September 12, 2013 Author Report Share Posted September 12, 2013 I suspect my perception of the winding hole length was affected by the presence of a boat tied up outside the warehouse. On reflection, I can see that there would be plenty of room if it weren't there. Jo_, no good telling me that now, we've done our shopping! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tim Lewis Posted September 12, 2013 Report Share Posted September 12, 2013 I was bought up in Stourbridge and saw the High Street go downhill very fast when Merry Hill opened but it does seem to have reinvented itself in recent years, has the new Tesco opened yet? Tim Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wrigglefingers Posted September 12, 2013 Report Share Posted September 12, 2013 Stourbridge is one of the most wealthy constituencies in the country and is the place most Black Country folk used to dream of living in. The houses in South Stourbridge are vast and expensive with an Aston Martin dealership to hand in Hagley. It's where the owners and managers of the mines and glassworks lived. The centre has suffered grievously from the development of the Merry Hell centre leaving the impression that it's down at heel; it's not. The folk who live there are some of the most friendly you could wish to meet. I loved living there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ditchcrawler Posted September 12, 2013 Report Share Posted September 12, 2013 The winding hole regularly allows the full length tripped Blackcountryman to turn, you've no problems at all. The visitor moorings are beyond the last bridge but the locals who run the dock and warehouse are normally happy to let casual moorers stay safer in the enclosed area. I'm still slightly surprised at the badlands reputation that the whole area has....I've boated on it for half a century with few problems, other than the expected bladefuls. I suppose that living locally gives me a different perspective to most boaters, sometimes I think I'm in a different world!!! Enjoy your trip, would touch base with a regular contributor but the sea and Sun in Zakynthos are too good to miss! Cheers Dave I have moored there overnight as well with no problem Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nicknorman Posted September 12, 2013 Author Report Share Posted September 12, 2013 ....has the new Tesco opened yet? Tim Don't know, we made a beeline for Waitrose, being shiny boaters! ... The folk who live there are some of the most friendly you could wish to meet. I loved living there. Yes, I definitely got that impression. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andywatson Posted September 12, 2013 Report Share Posted September 12, 2013 (edited) Another thumbs up for Stourbridge, the surrounding area and the friendly locals. Don't look to your right between locks 11-10 going up the Stourbridge flight or you might get the urge to change your boat for something with a bit of class. Edited September 12, 2013 by andywatson 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Pipe Posted September 12, 2013 Report Share Posted September 12, 2013 Well Nick you will get a friendly wellcome in the "Bird in hand" pub 50 yards from Dadfords wharf. You could also ask Ian or David for a price to cut off the forend of your winkle picker and put a proper bow on, did you see Andy Dowlings washer Josher at the end of the arm? You would struggle to tell if it is riveted or washered. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nicknorman Posted September 12, 2013 Author Report Share Posted September 12, 2013 Well Nick you will get a friendly wellcome in the "Bird in hand" pub 50 yards from Dadfords wharf. You could also ask Ian or David for a price to cut off the forend of your winkle picker and put a proper bow on, did you see Andy Dowlings washer Josher at the end of the arm? You would struggle to tell if it is riveted or washered. No, we are night stopping in Stourbridge so won't do the 16 until tomorrow. Why would I want to deface my classic boat? Well, maybe not a classic yet it give it 50 years, when all the old wooden junk is just some worm's excrement, it will be a classic, historic boat. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Pipe Posted September 12, 2013 Report Share Posted September 12, 2013 No, we are night stopping in Stourbridge so won't do the 16 until tomorrow. Why would I want to deface my classic boat? Well, maybe not a classic yet it give it 50 years, when all the old wooden junk is just some worm's excrement, it will be a classic, historic boat. I bet Carlt will be having a fit at that comment. At least I'm safe, I'm boating in the Netherlands so my senses will not be offended with the passing of your bows past Dadfords. Have a look as you pass always something of interest going on in a proper boat yard. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wrigglefingers Posted September 12, 2013 Report Share Posted September 12, 2013 No, we are night stopping in Stourbridge so won't do the 16 until tomorrow. Why would I want to deface my classic boat? Well, maybe not a classic yet it give it 50 years, when all the old wooden junk is just some worm's excrement, it will be a classic, historic boat. Is this the classic you had in mind, Nick? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nicknorman Posted September 12, 2013 Author Report Share Posted September 12, 2013 I bet Carlt will be having a fit at that comment. Who? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steven wilkinson Posted September 12, 2013 Report Share Posted September 12, 2013 we cruised down the arm in the summer, We didn't see another boat either - until the wharf at the end. The wharf was full, so we moored outside - and all was well! We couldn't believe how clean the water was - you can see shoals and shoals of fish under the boat! Weeds could have been a problem if we had had to venture close to the edge, but we didn't, so they weren't! We found Waitrose too, and a very nice Chinese just a few minutes from the boat! Well worth the diversion - more people should have a look down the arm! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nicknorman Posted September 12, 2013 Author Report Share Posted September 12, 2013 (edited) Is this the classic you had in mind, Nick? Well better than a recycled one of these! The story of wood - starts out as a tree, mid life crisis as a boat, ends up as worm's poo! Edited September 12, 2013 by nicknorman Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Pipe Posted September 12, 2013 Report Share Posted September 12, 2013 Is this the classic you had in mind, Nick? Turn Nick's boat into bean tins you could well get between 1/3 to 1/2 a million tins out of it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nicknorman Posted September 12, 2013 Author Report Share Posted September 12, 2013 We couldn't believe how clean the water was - you can see shoals and shoals of fish under the boat! Weeds could have been a problem if we had had to venture close to the edge, but we didn't, so they weren't! Yes, the water is very clear, both sides of the Dudley divide. I presume a lot of clean water comes out of the Dudley tunnel and surrounding mines. The fish certainly like it, as you say. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Pipe Posted September 12, 2013 Report Share Posted September 12, 2013 Yes, the water is very clear, both sides of the Dudley divide. I presume a lot of clean water comes out of the Dudley tunnel and surrounding mines. The fish certainly like it, as you say. Most of the BCN is clear water till some dam boat stirs it up. The Bradley mine pumps are certainly clean water. Having gone in Dadfords basin head first I can assure you that altho it is clear it cretainly tastes crap! I survived. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RLWP Posted September 13, 2013 Report Share Posted September 13, 2013 Most of the BCN is clear water till some dam boat stirs it up. The Bradley mine pumps are certainly clean water. They weren't in 2012! The pumps by the CRT workshop were bringing up bright orange water Richard Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nicknorman Posted September 13, 2013 Author Report Share Posted September 13, 2013 (edited) Just passed Dadford's. Yes, very picturesque, although it would have looked better if it had more closely resembled Glascote basin. I did notice a profusion of worms in the water, just waiting for their lunch. And the next little pound pretty with what really ought to be a pub but is in fact a store/off licence. Edited September 13, 2013 by nicknorman Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PaulG Posted September 13, 2013 Report Share Posted September 13, 2013 Yes, the water is very clear, both sides of the Dudley divide. I presume a lot of clean water comes out of the Dudley tunnel and surrounding mines. The fish certainly like it, as you say. I noticed this on the Old Main Line near the turnoff to the Dudley Tunnel and the Black Country Museum on visits over the last couple of years. I'm not sure if this is a relatively new thing, or whether I just hadn't noticed it before. The water was gin-clear. Not something you usually associate with the BCN! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pearley Posted September 13, 2013 Report Share Posted September 13, 2013 When we cruised from the Black Country Museum to Wolverhampton in late June, with the Wolverhampton 21 closed, the water all the way was clear, showing all the muck on the bottom. Regards Pete Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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