Travelling from Gas Street to Black Country Museum

We spent a couple of nights moored in Gas Street Basin before we set off for the Black Country Museum.  
The area around Gas Street has seen some substantial investment to make is appear a pleasant city centre moorings.  The tiny pink boat is a water bus that covers a short distance between the Mailbox (where the BBC has its studios), Brindley Place, King Edwards Wharf, Gas Street Basin and Sherborne Wharf.

In the background can be seen the top of The Cube, a strangely designed building that houses a variety of businesses including one of Marco Pierre White's restaurants. 

This year Birmingham is making a big effort with regards to the Britain in Bloom competition and is one of the finalists.

We left Birmingham's centre the was we had come in, via the Main Line, but after almost 3 miles we reached Smethwick
Junction, where the Wolverhampton Level meets the Main Line.  Here we went up 3 locks, with a total rise on 20 foot.  The octagnol toll house at the top of the locks is typical of the toll houses built by the BCN Company, although I believe this one is a replica. 












As we went up the top lock we picked up "something" around the prop.  Never good news.  So once we were up the lock, Gordon was back down the weed hatch.  Among the usual suspects of torn plastic carrier bags, sort pieces of rope and string, this time he found a full sari!

As we cruised through the Wolverhampton level, we hoped we wouldn't pick up anything else around the prop given the state of the water!

We went through the Summit tunnel (all of 103 yards).  See the exhaust in the air - Domino was smoking a lot that day.

Not far from the tunnel the canal goes under the M5 motorway for over a mile.

There is even a canal junction under the motorway (leading to Tipton Pools).

But after a while we lost our concrete ceiling, and were back under the sky again.

And with very clear water

The sign from the Black Country Museum to the left and Wolverhampton to the right.

The tunnel ahead is the northern end of the Dudley tunnel - which I mentioned in my post on the BCN - its for unpowered craft only.  We moored for a couple of nights on the left just behind the red a blue boat.