Bumble Hole (Dudley No. 2 Canal) to Merry Hill (Dudley No. 1 Canal)

High Bridge

Lovely morning on the canal

We are on the move again today but we wanted to fill up with water before we set off. The tap was on the other side of the canal so Kev started up the boat , untied, pushed the front out then the back, got back on, put it in reverse and cluck, nothing happened, we were stuck in the middle of the canal.  Kev went down the weed hatch and pulled out a bit of carpet and yabba dabba doo a Fred Flintstone costume or some of it, so once that was off we could start up and go over to the other side.  Luckily the canal is not busy and there weren’t any gongoozlers to laugh at us.

Passing the old Two Lock Line

We filled up with water then set off, it was a lovely sunny morning and quite warm today.  The canal is quite winky wonky so we wound our way around, past Lodge Farm Reservoir and then under High Bridge which spans a cutting which was originaly Brewins Tunnel, built in 1838 but opened out only 20 years later.

Coming into the lock

We chugged on and went past the old Two Lock Line which used to be a short cut to the Dudley No. 1 canal.  We then came to our first lock for days, Blowers Green Lock at Blowers Green Junction.  Our lock was to the left and to the right was the three Park Head Locks which take you to Dudley Tunnel  but I don’t think many boats go that way as the tunnel is really low and you have to leg it through!

Unique sign posts on canal

Unfortunately I had to set the lock, but it didn’t take long and Kev brought the boat in and down we went.  When we came out the lock, we were then on the Dudley No. 1 canal.

We chugged on and shortly after we came to a basin and Merry Hill Shopping Centre.  We moored in the visitor moorings which are on an embankment and look down on the shopping centre.

We had lunch then went for a walk to the centre, you walk down the steps from the canal and along the path and straight into the shops.  Merry Hill is huge with many shops but it is really nice and we had a wander around, there is even an Asda.

Steps down to the shopping centre

Merry Hill Shopping Centre

We then went for a walk around the basin which is a nice area as well but a lot of the offices around the basin are empty.  There are a few pubs/bars along the water front.

We are staying here tonight then chugging on tomorrow hopefully in the dry as the forecast is not so good, but fingers crossed we will not get wet as we have some more locks to do tomorrow.

Moored at Merry Hill