The Bona Boaters

Previous Year : 2023 The Bona Boater's Trips Following Year : 2025

2024 - The Four Counties Ring.

Crew : Pete W, Pete M, John, Chris (Nursie), Dave (BTS1) & Stan.

Boat : Ember

From : Norbury Wharf, Norbury Junction.

Route : Norbury Junction > Brewood > Trysull > Greensforge > Stourbridge Basin [w] > Delph Bottom lock > Netherton > Birmingham [w] > Tipton > Wolverhampton > Brewood > Norbury Junction > Shebdon [w] > High Offley > Norbury Junction.

Coverage : 84 miles and 75 locks.

Notes : Sadly, Alan who had been a member of the crew since 2007 passed away suddenly just weeks before this trip. We decided that the crew should remain at six.

The original plan had been to do The Four Counties ring [clockwise] including a brief stop at The Anchor Inn at High Offley on Saturday afternoon en route to The Habadasher's Arms at Knighton for the Saturday evening. We would then continue around the ring, but still leaving enough time to visit the Anchor Inn again on the following Friday evening. We subsequently discovered that The Anchor Inn would not have been open on the Saturday afternoon as it only opens at 7pm.

This plan had to be abandoned however, due to the sudden closure of Tyrley Locks. Even though the emergency stoppage was not officially due to start until Monday 20th May, the lock was already in a very poor condition, and there was always the possibility that it could fail at any moment, potentially leaving us stranded. With this in mind, we decided to go south and on to the BCN instead, but to still leave enough time to get to The Anchor Inn on the Friday evening.

This is the second time in three years that we have not been able to do our planned trip due to emergency canal closures - mostly caused by a lack of routine maintenance.

If the C&RT is unable to maintain the canals in a navigable state,

then it is no longer fit for purpose.

Saturday 18th May

Morning : Pete W would take BTS1, and would pick up Pete M from Stafford Railway Station to take them to the boatyard. Meanwhile, John & Chris would take Stan.

Afternoon : We had all arrived at the boatyard by about 12:45 to discover that the boat was ready. After loading, doing the paperwork and the handover, we departed at about 13:45 following a rather difficult winding manoeuvre. The boats at Norbury Wharf are usually moored facing northeast, but we wanted to go south, and there is very limited space to wind in the boatyard. To make things worse, today there was also a boat moored outside The Junction Inn, which is right opposite the boatyard. This reduced the space available for winding, and meant that our boat could not turn without lifting the rear fender. Even then it would still be "fag-paper" close. Fortunately, the wind was carried out for us by the staff from the boatyard.

Evening : Brewood. We left the boatyard at about 13:45 and arrived in Brewood shortly after 18:00. We went first to The Bridge Inn hoping to eat. Unfortunately, the pub was extremely busy as it was hosting a private event, and was consequently not doing any food unless it had been booked in advance. After one round of drinks, we left and headed for the centre of the village. We looked in at The Lion Hotel, but it seemed very posh and very expensive, so we went to The Three Stirrups where we ate and had several rounds of beer before returning to the boat for the now obligatory port & Stilton.

Stretton Aqueduct which carries the canal over the former Roman road "Watling Street" which is now the A5(T)

Sunday 19th May

Morning : We had a very early start [..well, very early for us..] at 07:40 as Canalplan had estimated that the transit time to Trysull would be about five-and-a-half hours. On arrival at Autherley Stop Lock, we found the boat seemed to be too long to shut the top gate - but it can't be.. it must have been through here before.. It turned out to be just the rear fender which stuck out too far, and we fitted easily once it had been lifted. Was this going to be the case at every lock ? We hoped not... and fortunately, it wasn't.

Afternoon : Trysull. At Autherley Junction, we turned right on to the Staffs & Worcester canal. We passed Aldersley Junction and eventually moored just above Awbridge Lock (26). We walked over the hill in glorious sunshine to The Bell at Trysull for some excellent Holden's & Bathams ales. Strangely, the stiles we had to climb over seemed to have become much more awkward and the hill seemed to have become much steeper since the last time we were here in 2007... (See 2007 ) Can't imagine why...

Climbing the hill after leaving The Bell at Trysull.

For some strange reason, the hill appears to have become steeper since 2007 - Can't imagine why !

Evening : Greensforge. After leaving Trysull at about 15:45, we continued down the Staffs & Worcester canal, descended The Bratch and eventually moored up at Greensforge just after 19:00. We repaired to The Navigation in search of food only to find that they had stopped doing it at... yes, you guessed it... 19:00 ! We had several rounds of beer, but returned to the boat a bit earlier than usual where we had some soup and some of Tom's* bread in addition to the Port & Stilton.

*Tom is a friend of ours who frequents The Fox and often bakes bread for his friends.

Descending Bratch Locks - so far so good...

Be sure to open those paddles in the right order, Dave !

Monday 20th May

Morning : As it was now only a relatively short run to Stourbridge, we had a leisurely start at 09:03

Afternoon : Stourbridge. After winding in the basin at the end of the Stourbridge town arm, we were moored up by 12:30 and we repaired to The Royal Exchange for numerous pints of Batham's Mild and assorted cobs.

Pete didn't understand why everyone wanted his photo while he was sat here...

Evening : Brierley Hill. We left Stourbridge and climbed the 16 locks to Leys Junction, then climbed the bottom lock of the Delph flight where we moored in the small basin alongside it. We were moored up by about 19:15. Since we already knew that the Bull & Bladder doesn't do food in the evenings, we had intended to eat in The Tenth Lock, but you guessed it... they had stopped doing food at 18:00. Annoyingly, the sign advertising the food looked like it had been altered from 20:00 to 18:00 ! We walked up the hill and looked in The Black Horse which again was not doing food. We eventually reached The Bull and Bladder where we set about their cobs, pork pies and Batham's Mild with a vengeance.

What is it with some pubs these days ? They're always going on about struggling to make a living, yet they turn away the chance of selling 6 meals and 3 gallons of ale for the sake of us arriving a few minutes late.

The Vine Inn [aka The Bull & Bladder], Brierley Hill.

Yet another visit to The Bull & Bladder, where we set about their pork pies, cobs and Batham's Mild with a vengeance.

Tuesday 21st May

Morning : As Canalplan reckoned it would be less than three hours to Netherton, we had another leisurely start.

Afternoon : Netherton. We were moored at Bishton's Bridge by 11:45 and walked up to The Old Swan (aka Ma Pardoe's) where we partook of numerous pints of Original, Entire and the excellent if rather potent Black Widow Mild at 6.5%. On the way, we noted some severe crash damage to some bollards. Several heavy bollards had been uprooted, but the bus shelter next to them appeared completely undamaged. Strange...

Evening : Central Birmingham. Having left Netherton, we continued along The Dudley No.1 canal to Park Head Junction, then the Dudley No.2 canal through Netherton Tunnel and on to The New Main Line towards the centre of Birmingham. Up until this point in the week, the weather had been glorious. Warm and sunny but not blazingly, burningly hot. Now the clouds were beginning to gather and some rain had been forecast for Wednesday. We eventually moored up on the main line between Sheepcote Street bridge and Old Turn Junction, and we went to The Prince of Wales for some beer followed by The Barajee for some curry. Whilst we were in the curry house, the rain started - and it started with a real vengeance ! The walk back to The Prince of Wales was a succession of scurrying across roads, walking under covers and hiding in doorways in the hope that the rain might at least ease a bit - it didn't. By the time we arrived back at The Prince of Wales, most of us [..that's those of us who didn't put their big coats on..] were soggy, and would remain so for the next day or so.

Park Head Junction.

The three locks straight ahead [Park Head Locks] lead to the Dudley Tunnel branch. The Dudley No. 2 canal and Netherton Tunnel leads off to the right.

Inside Netherton Tunnel.

Exiting Netherton Tunnel.

The Prince of Wales, Cambridge Street.

This was closed for a few years but is now a thriving Black Country Ales pub.

Wednesday 22nd May

Morning : Rain ! It had continued to rain all night, and it was still raining when Pete winded the boat by The Roundabout at Old Turn Junction, and set off for Wolverhampton. There had been a suggestion that given the inclement weather and the forecast, we might run straight to Wolverhampton non-stop, get there early and stay there for the rest of the day, but the suggestion was not fully discussed as some folks were still in bed !

Afternoon : Tipton. As we were passing through Tipton, Stan stopped the boat to find out whether we had yet decided to stop or not... but since we were already stationary, we decided that we may as well stop anyway. We moored up and repaired to The Fountain Inn for several pints, and to hope that the rain might stop, or at least ease a bit. It didn't. It just kept on raining, so we kept on drinking and kept on trying to dry in the pub.

Evening : Wolverhampton. After leaving Tipton, we continued on towards Wolverhampton. The rain now seemed to have eased a little, but it was still raining. At one point, BTS1 took over the driving. On the approach to one bridge, the boat was caught in a sudden crosswind and struck the edge. This resulted in some mugs and all the plates & bowls being tipped out of the cupboard onto the galley floor. Miraculously, not a single one was broken !

On arrival at Wolverhampton, we took water in the basin. Manoeuvring in and out of the basin was made all the more tricky by the presence of a trip boat moored there. Having taken water, we reversed out of the basin and only just managed to fit onto the short visitor mooring opposite the lock moorings, where there were two Anglo-Welsh boats already moored. We repaired to The Great Western where we ate, drank, made merry - and tried to dry out a bit.

Thursday 23rd May

Morning : Another early start at 08:00 as we were straight into the 21 locks at Wolverhampton. Fortunately, the rain had finally stopped, although the sky did still look threatening at first. As we descended the locks, the weather seemed to brighten up a bit. We eventually reached Aldersley Junction at 10:00 having descended the entire flight in just two hours, and this despite all but one of the locks being set set against us. Canalplan had estimated that this should have taken us over three-and-a-half hours, thus putting us a good hour-and-a-half ahead of schedule.

Afternoon : Brewood. Due to the efficient passage of the Wolverhampton 21, we arrived in Brewood at about 12:00. As the weather was finally brightening up, and we were well ahead of schedule, we discussed the possibility staying in Brewood for the rest of the day. We repaired to The Swan Hotel to have a pint and think about it. On the way to The Swan, Stan had picked up a menu for a local curry house called The Curry Inn. The menu looked really quite good, so that convinced us to stay in Brewood for the evening. After several rounds of beer, we returned to the boat for an afternoon siesta...

Siesta ? Us ? - it must be an age thing...

Evening : Still in Brewood. At about 19:00, we went to The Curry Inn for the curry, and it was absolutely excellent ! Stan had decided to 'retire hurt' but suggested he might nip out for a pint in The Bridge Inn later on, and that we should look in there for him on our way back, as he would have the boat key. We looked in but he wasn't there, so we had a couple of rounds there anyway. We returned to the boat to find Stan fast asleep, but he soon perked up with the gentle 'pop' of the port bottle being opened.

In The Swan Hotel, Brewood.

Do we have a new entrant in the 'Ernie Darrell memorial falling asleep in the pub' awards ?

Friday 24th May

Morning : Despite staying in Brewood longer than originally planned, we still had plenty of time for another leisurely 09:00 start.

Afternoon : Norbury Junction. We left Brewood at about 09:00. We passed through the boatyard and moored up beyond Norbury Bridge (38). While we were passing through the boatyard, someone there asked us why we were back a day early, but when we explained that we were going on to Shebdon to wind, then coming back to High Offley for the evening, they seemed to understand. We then repaired to The Junction Inn where we had several pints of the house beer 'Junction Inn Bitter' which is brewed specially for them by Coach House Brewery.

Norbury Junction.

Norbury Wharf viewed from The Junction Inn.

You can see how a boat moored here outside the pub would reduce the space for winding in the boatyard.

Evening : The Anchor Inn, High Offley. After leaving Norbury Junction, we headed for Shebdon Wharf in order to wind. The winding manoeuvre was made all the more tricky [..especially for a full-length boat like ours..] by having two boats moored in the winding hole, with just a couple of feet of gap between them. Despite this, Stan managed to pull off a textbook wind. We returned towards Norbury Junction, and moored up just short of Anchor Bridge (42). Knowing that The Anchor Inn does not do food, we had arranged to eat on the boat - steak pies & beans. We then repaired to The Anchor Inn at about 19:15 for some rather nice Wadworth's 6X and an excellent evening chatting with local boaters. It was after midnight when we finally left - complete with a fine selection of Anchor Inn tee-shirts. We then returned to the boat to finish the last of the port, and most of the last of the Stilton.

Saturday 25th May

Morning : As it was now only about an hour to the boatyard, we set off back at 08:00, arriving back there at about 09:00. The boatyard requires the boats to come into the yard facing north, but as were were facing south, it would require another winding manoeuvre in the boatyard. This was somewhat easier than the one on the previous Saturday as there was now nothing moored outside the pub. We unloaded, and set off home. John & Chris went straight back to York, while Pete W took Pete M, BTS1 and Stan back via Bradford for the obligatory curry at The Karachi Restaurant and the obligatory shopping trip around The Al Halal Supermarket.

Previous Year : 2023 The Bona Boater's Trips Following Year : 2025