Just about to go under the M5

We have some cute neighbours

On the engine arm.  Paul is trying to hide
from the camera,
you can just see his hat!

Left Ocker Hill on Thursday morning, up the 9 locks of Ryders Green, to join the New Main Line canal.  Then the 3 locks at Spon lane which brought us onto the Old Main Line.  We spent the night in the Engine Arm.  First off Friday morning we were retracing a bit from Thursday.  Much of this part of the canal is underneath the M5.  Amazing to think that we have driven that bit of road with no idea what was going on underneath!  Well we made it to the Black Country Living Museum for mooring that night.  Saturday was a very interesting day exploring the museum.  Well not so much a museum, more of a village and coal mine.  Buildings have been taken down and rebuilt within their boundaries so it really is like travelling back in time.  This morning we went on a boat trip!  Into Dudley tunnel.  It is too low for us to take our boat in so we did the trip instead.  Inside is the singing cavern, a huge ‘auditorium’ which was originally where limestone was mined, but these days they hold concerts and even weddings there.  So after lunch we decided to move on.  Weather not too good (where is our summer) I was OK for the 3 locks, but Paul got a bit wet after.  We are now once again at Bumble Hole where we will spend the night.  Spent a night here at the beginning of June before we joined the explorer cruise.  We are once again heading for Merry Hill, but this time we will carry on instead of turning back.  Looking forward to seeing Sheree and Alec who are coming to join us on Thursday for a couple of days.