BCN Challenge 2011, Part Five - Walsall

BCN Challenge 2011

Part Five - Walsall


Final Tally: 50 miles - 97 locks (9 duplicates) - 50 miles

We were on our knees by the time we reached Walsall, taking hour long spells on the tiller. The wind was howling between the new buildings, blowing the new arrivals over to the far side of the cut. The only safe place was in the narrows, but this was being used to gauge the deeper drafted boats who were after their extra points. WB draws a modest 24 inches so we were waved through and letting us slot into the last bay next to the Wharf Bar.

Wand'ring Bark tucked in for the night

After exchanging a few greetings with the other competitors Belle arrived with Tilly, bearing gifts of shortbread and sponge. Adrenaline has kept us going but now the fatigue really hit me. I was wrecked and kept lapsing into silence - most unusual! 

The Capt with the Walsall's Mayor and Mayoress

Then we were summoned to the stern to greet the Mayor and Mayoress of Walsall, visiting at the boaters and generally savouring the sight of a packed and vibrant basin. I got the impression that they have maintained a vision of a basin packed with colourful narrowboats and here at last was their dream come true. They were clearly proud of the town's achievements and when the developments in the waterfront are complete the area will be transformed. Mind you, it will take quite a lot to attract casual boaters along there weedy backwaters.

Our reward

The Mayor and Mayoress left clutching bags of lavender shortbread and we were left with our Marathon Challenge brass plaque. Now I don't normally go for these plaques but this one is going to be screwed into pride of place. Completing the challenge is real achievement and no matter how well or badly we do, I am proud to have participated.

With all those lovely boats in the basin I had to take the camera out for a spin.

Naturally, after all that effort we retired to the pub along with the other crews and supped a pint or three, losing what little coherence I had left. As I sat there with the crew of Indigo Dream I spied the Tawny Owl guys in the corner and identified Mark (nb North Star) who is a regular reader of my lost BCN posts. I knew he would be present and he is a guy whose knowledge of the old backwaters is more encyclopedic than I can ever aspire to. He proudly showed me his copy of the Blue Book (I have got to get one) and told me about the huge book of BCN distances he has just bought. We compared notes about the Danks Branch which we have both been exploring, talking in an informed manner about the location of a now non existent inlet on the Tame Valley Canal. We made a sad pair!

Eventually at 6.00pm I could talk no more. Sue identified my fatigue and sent me packing back to Wand'ring Bark where a meal awaited. I was so far gone that I fell asleep three times whilst chewing causing Mt Truth to send me off to bed where I snoozed for an hour or so and kept me going for the rest of the evening.

They had a band playing in the Wharf Bar, a bunch of young kids endowed with more enthusiasm than skill, but mercifully they packed up at 10.30pm leaving us to sleep like babies through till 7.00am - bliss.