Parkhead, Dudley Tunnel

With Will back on board it was time to move on. A Silver Propeller site lay just a short distance away, outside the southern portal of the Dudley Canal.

First we pulled up at Parkhead services to refill water and empty bins. The basin was thick with duckweed. We needed to keep a very close eye on Leo in case the daft pup mistook it for grass again and jumped in!

It was a beautiful sunny day and we enjoyed working Rainboat up the two Parkhead locks. Reaching Dudley Tunnel was easy after this. To pass through it boats must book passage with the CRT. An electric boat then tows them through so that the enclosed space isn't filled with diesel fumes. We do intend to do it in the future, but at this point we turned around ready to explore the canals in the opposite direction... or at least we tried to turn around. The channel was so silted up at the sides that Will needed to pole Rainboat free.

We knew this was a rough area but the wide open green looked beautiful in the sunshine so we decided to stay the one night. Aftter all, the Silver Propeller scheme is all about increasing footfall in seldom visited places.

It was fine overnight but when Leo stepped outside the following morning he was leapt upon by a Miniature Schnauzer who wrapped its jaws around the back of Leo's neck. Vicky yelled and leapt upon the Schnauzer, picking it up and returning it to its owner, who had only realised something was wrong when they heard Leo scream. He was very apologetic and stayed around to make sure Leo was ok, which thankfully he was.

Carrying on with the walk a police officer who'd seen the attack came over to make sure Leo wasn't harmed. They were in the area to organise the removal of a car that had mysteriously been abandoned on one of the pedestrian bridges. As beautiful as this spot appeared, it was definitely time to move on!Read more