Black Country Voyages at Birmingham Canal Navigations Society Spring Cruise

Saturday 2 April

Birmingham Canal Navigations Society (BCNS) have always been good supporters of Black Country Voyages and the work that we do, to show our appreciation we joined them at the BCNS Spring Cruise and offered to accommodate some passengers on our boat for the event. This event was to celebrate the start of the plan to re-open the Bradley Locks and allowed non boaters to sign up and join boat owners on their trip.

We were allocated 10 lovely members of U3A (University of the Third Age), Stourbridge, to be our passengers for the day. Starting from the Health Centre in Tipton, we travelled up the Wednesbury Oak Loop to our destination a the Bradley workshops lock gate manufacturing facility. Here we stopped for lunch surrounded by ‘retired’ lock gates which were being stored in the workshops grounds. We were provided with the opportunity to explore the workshops, which are otherwise locked to the public. A great opportunity!

Before our journey back we took a slow walk to explore the route of the intended canal re-opening. In some areas there is no evidence that a canal used to pass through the land, as it is now overgrown and filled in.

The sun came out for our return journey and passengers were given the chance to steer the boat. It was a great day for everyone and I met some great people with amazing stories.

I look forward to attending the event next year.