Bumble Hole, Netherton

NB the blog is a bit behind and out of order. Hopefully we'll catch up soon!

Will set off by himself for the last time, taking the long cruise through Netherton Tunnel. At 1.72 miles it is the longest tunnel still in use in the West Midlands and wider than any other built in Britain. It's the only tunnel Rainboat has been through that has a towpath on both sides.

The disadvantage of going solo was that Tiger Lilly had no other option but to be on board. Tunnels are her least favourite canal feature!

Emerging from the south portal Will was welcomed by the very familiar sight of Bumble Hole; one of our favourite places to walk when we lived in Netherton. He moored up opposite the visitor centre, ready for Vicky to return from Newcastle the following day.

After a very long drive, Vicky parked Martha Motorhome outside PYMs garage and brought a rather overwhelmed Mr Wiskers on board. We snuck him in through the bedroom doors and closed the bathroom off from the saloon so he could get his bearings without having to face the furry crew. He was happy just to be out of the carrier and be somewhere warm and dry that he could sleep. We were happy to all be on board together again.

The large contingent of Canadian Geese that call Bumble Hole their home woke us the following morning. We opened the blinds to find the towpath opposite filled with people and their dogs sitting at tables chatting away. The visitor centre was open and it's café was thriving! The whole reserve was busy with walkers enjoying the autumnal scenery and volunteers picking litter. It felt good to be around them.

Later on there was a knock on the window. Some volunteers had come to ask a favour. A storm drain was leaking oil into the nearby pool. Could we use the canoe to help them place absorbant booms to soak up the spill? The next day Little Green was wheeled over the green and down the wooded slope to the water's edge. Will and Brenda paddled out while others took a wheelbarrow to various points around the shore with the absorbant booms. Most birds had escaped the spill. There were only a couple of Coots still on the pool and unfortunately they were expected to die as a result of the oil destroying their waterproofing and buoyancy.Lue lisää