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In 1977 we hired our first narrowboat from Anglo Welsh at Market Harborough.From that moment our destiny was set. In 2006 we finally purchased our own brand new 57' narrowboat which we named 'Free Spirit'. Our aim is to travel the length and breadth of all the navigable rivers and canals of the UK. This will be our story as it unfolds.

Tuesday 5 April 2016

'Legging' in the caverns of limestone

Sunday 3rd. What a difference a day makes.The warm sunshine, hardly any breeze and cruising the short distance to the Black Country Museum was a joy. We left soon after breakfast but Hadar had beaten us to it and was already at the facilities. As soon as they finished we winded and took their place. Emptying the loo we then pulled forward onto a 48 hour mooring.

10am the boat trips through the caverns started. We took the 10 45am and had to don hard hats, 'elf and safety and all that. Not till we got into the cavern that umbrellas may have been better bet!  No doubt due to all the recent rainfall, we didn't just have the occasional drip but more like a gushing waterfall in places. There were some spectacular limestone curtains running down the walls a result of thousands of years of water cascading down. All in all the trip took about 45 minutes and included two audio visual shows, a light display and a mock display of miners at work.



light display

Blue Peter Badge





One of the many fossils found in the limestone
Almost back to the entrance the guide asked if anyone would like to try 'legging' the boat through the tunnel. One lad put his hand up and was immediately told to lay on a board and start walking.. And a very good job he made of it too although he admitted at the end how incredibly difficult and tiring it was.


Anglo Welsh hire boat being winded and our boat moored just beyond.
 And in the open passing place in the cavern, a Wagtail and Starling




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