Breakfast done and no faffing this morning as we wanted to be away before the blue hire boat. No offence to them, but we didn’t want to be waiting or for them to feel pressured at locks. As we pushed off there was no sign of life from them.

All the sport fields were full, parents shouting encouragement to their youngsters on the football fields and gentle applause for runs on the cricket pitches.

Narrow, but not for long

Our run into Worcester was easy, a Viking Afloat boat yesterday had set most of the locks for us, only one had drained overnight. The last two locks down into town were both empty and as I was just starting to fill the top one a chap with a BWML shirt on came and asked if I’d seen a boat. A moving boat, no we’d not seen anyone else moving. He was relieved as I’d saved him quite a walk to try and find it, they must have gone down onto the river.

Sidbury Lock, By the Comandery

Our last narrow lock for a while

The last two locks are deep and Mick could only just reach to close a bottom gate and then only just enough for me to step over. Sidbury Lock was to be our last narrow lock for sometime.

Not a mooring! Looked like one to us!

Pikes and helmets

Just under Mill Street Bridge we pulled in and tied up on the rings. Two boats were moored there, one very antisocially on the water points. We made sure we pulled backwards, sorted out our boat covers, poppering them back into place, the kettle put on, time for lunch. From here we’d walk down to have a look at the river level and the moorings, then stock upon a few items and fill with water. But just as the kettle was about to boil a C&RT chap stopped to talk to Mick. He informed us that where we were moored wasn’t a mooring and that we’d get a ticket if we stayed there. Yes there were signs at the waterpoints, Max stay 30 mins, but nothing that we’d seen nearer the bridge. We’re not sure if this was official or something that has come about locally over time after complaints by locals, who knows, we just couldn’t stay there.

Locks one and two on the Worcester & Birmingham

The nice lockie letting us down onto the river

These are big brutes! Wide and heavy. I went ahead to open the lock below whilst Oleanna dropped to the level of the intermediate pound. A very nice chatty Volunteer Lockie appeared from nowhere and helped with paddles and gates. We were having difficulty opening the bottom gate when she noticed water still bubbling up from one of the ground paddles. She tried dropping the paddle but still it bubbled, possibly something stuck in it. So we pushed extra hard and eventually managed to get the gate open, she’d see if she could fix it once we were out on the river.

A days cruise to Stourport!

Green just visable

Insisting I jumped on board to go down the bottom lock whilst she did the paddles I did as I was told. The bottom gate opened and there at last after 25 days we were actually on the river. Instead of 13 miles and 3 locks we’d come the long way round, 68 miles and 98 locks! As we exited the lock the board was just level with where green met amber, almost green. Then it started to rain!

Worcester & the River Severn

Turning left, we headed down stream to where the floating pontoon moorings were. An hour ago there had been space for us, but in the mean time two cruisers had filled the gap. So we slowly turned to face up stream and came in very slowly along side a narrowboat moored at the end of the pontoon. ‘Hello, anyone on board?’ A lady popped her head out, yes we could breast up. She took our bow rope and passed it around her T stud. NB Chrysalis had just come up from the Avon and would next week be heading back down stream on the Severn.

Worcester Chilled Medication

To celebrate getting onto the river we stopped off on our way back and enjoyed some chilled medication, Blackcurrant Sorbet and Salted Caramel. Very nice they were too.

10 locks, 4.73 miles, 1 left, 1 wind, 1 missing boat, 48hr moorings no more? 1 lovely Lockie, 3 cruiser git gaps, 1 more day without shore leave! 1 woofer next door, 2nd time lucky, 2 chilled medications, 1 river verging on the green, 2 tbsp of Lee and Perrins in our dinner,  1 NB Oleanna on the Severn at last!

The Queens Head to Astwood Bottom Lock 17

The annoying dog managed to stay quiet this morning and only started to make a racket at around 8am. Other boats had moved off ahead of us leaving us to do chores before we could push off. The yellow water tank needed emptying along with Tilly’s pooh box. The next thing was to make sure we both had sun cream on any exposed skin as yesterday we’d forgotten and ended up being a touch pink!

Avoncroft Museum windmill

We spent a few days around here three years ago and we can highly recommend a visit to Avoncroft Museum of Historic Buildings, you can see the windmill from the canal. Here’s a link to the blog from that day. If you are interested in Telecommunications it is a great place to visit with its kiosks and exchange.

The Queen’s Head this morning

I set the trip computer going and we pushed off with the aim of reducing the remainder of locks into Worcester by about half. Stoke Prior locks came first, the top five close together. We got into our rhythm again quickly. By the time we were in our forth lock I could see a chap walking up from below wearing the familiar bright blue t-shirt and red life jacket, a volunteer lockie. He helped with the forth and fifth lock and then walked down to set the last one which was some distance away.

Stoke Wharf winding hole

Stoke Prior bottom lock

Once at Stoke Wharf we had finally reached our destination of a couple of weeks ago. After Droitwich we’d planned to head up the locks to moor here for our night away in Beverley and then to see the John Godber show at Artrix in Bromsgrove just a couple of miles away.

The Black Prince base was busy with boats being made ready to go out and the lock was in use with boats coming uphill. We thanked the volunteer who headed back up hill to help with a boat that was light on crew, we dropped off our rubbish and carried on down.

A box of matches on a narrowboat

At Stoke Works we pulled in to fill with water and got a load of washing on. Once the tank was full we moved on to the top of the next set of locks where we paused for lunch. We’d just passed a hire boat who’s crew had walked down Tardebigge yesterday, they’d asked a lot of questions about working down locks. We’d both thought at the time that they were waiting to come down the flight, but no they’d winded below the flight and had been concerned about avoiding the cil.They pulled off just as we passed them and zigzagged their way along making slow but diagonally steady progress.

Pretty lock cottage

Next came the Astwood Locks, pretty, heading out into the countryside with the occasional train passing. At the fifth lock two ladies were sat in the off side garden knitting in the shade. The cottage just needs its fence painting white to be on the front of a chocolate box and they certainly look after their garden well.

All sorts

After the sixth lock there is a long pound which it would have been good to do today, but instead we decided to pull in so that Tilly could check out an M mooring on the Waterways Route map. Another reason was that I was wanting to take some photos of my knitting and crochet that I’ve been doing over the last few months. My aim has been to set up an Etsy shop to sell what I make, maybe even take orders. It’s been all good and well making things but without photos of it all I can’t open my shop. I’d been wanting a pretty looking lock and some good sunshine in a quiet location, so today was going to be my last chance for a while.

First whirlygig without the possibility of frozen clothes

Finding shade on the catwalk

With a length of washing line and the red pegs I walked back up to the lock to arrange things for my photos as Mick erected the whirligig and hung out our washing. I in the meantime was checking what this mooring had to offer. Paul has chosen an M mooring rating here and it deserved it. Trees, sideways trees, grass a plenty, friendly cover, not too many woofers and very little towpath traffic. Tilly liked it here so much that she over stayed her shore leave, not a problem on such a warm evening. Plenty of calling for her brought her out onto the towpath but only for her to carry on trotting further into the distance. Just as our food was about to be ready I walked down to see if some encouragement would help. No white tipped tail visible, I walked what felt like half the way to Worcester before she replied to me calling and popped out from some trees. There was lots to tell me as she ran along infront, occasionally stopping for a roll around in the dust. Once she’d been fed and watered she retired to the bedroom to recover.

Red Lock socks

12 locks, 3.06 miles, 1 tick box ticked, 1 trip computer reliving our first ever recorded trip, 0 trip recorded today! 1 lockie, 2 coming up, 2 weeks late, 1 load washing, 1 zigzagging boat, 1 early stop, 267 photos today, 8 pairs socks, 2 hats, 1 rug, 1 throw, 2 pink shoulders, 1 load washing dry, 1 top M mooring, 4 hours of towpath fun, 0.5 miles of towpath shouting, a good job there weren’t too many people about!

Severn River level at 9am today (at Bewdley a mile upstream from Stourport) 1.254m. It’s gone up!

Alvechurch to Queens Head

The alarm went off early again for me to turn my phone on, just in case there was a text message from Ricky saying that he was on his way. We rolled over and had some more sleep knowing very well that a text wouldn’t arrive.

After breakfast we gave Ricky a call, we knew that the rest of this week they were busy but wanted to have an idea of when the next opportunity for a visit might be so that we can find a suitable mooring where we want to be. Tuesday was suggested, so we decided that we should press on and get onto the Gloucester Sharpness Canal by then as we have other commitments next week.

We’d timed our stay in Alvechurch well, as in not over a sunny weekend. Three years ago we’d been here for Mick to attend two RCR courses on boat maintenance and to have Lillian blacked. We’d moored in the same space over two weekends and witnessed hire boats heading out for a weekend in Birmingham, stag and hen dos. Most would come through the bridge and aim straight at the visitor moorings! Pirates brandishing boat poles that by the time they reached Hopwood were broken in two. This time there have only been a few boats pass us all on good behaviour.

Holidays waiting to happen

NB Morning Mist

The schedule we’d set out with from Birmingham had us not moving far today to the top of the next flight of locks, just over an hours cruise away. Wanting to get a couple of days ahead of ourselves and the weather being good we decided to press on further. We passed a Black Prince hire boat at the marina and soon passed Kate Saffin’s boat NB Morning Mist. Alarum are touring their Idle Women show again this year following the journeys of Daphne March and  Nancy Rideway, cruising from Worcester to Tipton and Cannock then further north on the Leeds Liverpool. We’d been hoping to catch the show again this year, but sadly due to the Severn getting too fat we’ve missed it.

Tardebigge Tunnel

Approaching Shortwood Tunnel we could see a light coming towards us, so we held back before entering. The rapeseed fields are just starting to get a hint of colour and it looks like the number of bluebells along the wooded stretch will be a mass of blue next month.

Tardebigge Church

The sun was out and our layers started to reduce. The sight of Tardebigge church as you come through the tunnel was wonderful, such an elegant spire.

Having her bow thruster checked

Bow thruster in working order

We pulled over to dispose of our rubbish deciding to leave filling up with water until we reach Stoke Wharf tomorrow. Keeping our eyes peeled for NB Tentatrice we moved on to the top of the locks. Not having met Chris and Jennie I didn’t recognise Chris and I only realised it must be him when he started to reverse Tentatrice out from between other boats. Hopefully next time our bows will cross properly and we’ll have time for a chat.

The longest flight

The Black Prince hire boat had just beaten us to the top lock, just as well as they had a crew of four and would have caught us up quickly. Once they were through we refilled the lock and brought Oleanna down the first of the thirty locks that makes up the Tardebigge flight the longest flight in the country. Here’s hoping my twinging back was going to be okay.  A chap from NB Drekely pulled up behind us and came to help with the gates. .

Top Lock

I walked down to the next lock knowing that it would need filling, but handily enough there was a boat coming up in it so we waited our turn. The couple on board looked a little bit pooped and the lady was so relieved to hear that they were going to stop now for the day. On we carried, the hire boat in front meeting another coming the other way a couple of locks down hill. I went ahead to set the next lock in our favour leaving Mick to empty the one Oleanna was in. Returning to open the gates I was fooled by the bywash bubbling away below the gates thinking the lock was still emptying, this only happened once! Mick moved Oleanna into the next chamber as the hire boat coming up was just opening their lock gate, they brought their boat out and waited for us.

Everyone does things their own way, we’d have stayed in the lock below with the gate open and then passed the other boat in the pound. But the chap clung onto their boat with the centre line whilst the lady closed the top gate. A good fault to have, but it did mean that she then had to raise a paddle so that she could open the gate again.

Swapping at the second lock

Mick emptying as I fill the next one down

This was the last boat coming up hill and sadly this was the only lock we had set in our favour for the remainder of the flight. The Black Prince boat ahead with their four crew vanished into the distance whilst we settled into our routine of working a flight downhill. Surprisingly my back eased with all the pulling, pushing, winding, kicking gates open and walking there and back and there again.

Radio Gaga

Dog in a sink

50s and 40s done. Just the 30s to go

We’ve only done the flight once before, three years minus three days ago. Then we had the assistance of Bridget and Storm from NB Blackbird, we moved her down the flight the day before. Today wasn’t quite as hot as three years ago. I found myself taking the same photos as we worked our way down hill.

By the last few locks we could see that NB Drekely was catching us up, I don’t think we held them up as they hadn’t quite reached the bottom lock as we exited. The Black Prince boat ahead had come down the flight competently, one paddle had been left open a fraction half way down the flight. However their relief was obvious when they’d reached the 30th and final lock of the day, both paddles fully open, I could almost hear their cheers as they ran down towards the pub after closing the gates.

Last one for today

50s, 40s and 30s now behind us

We pulled in, let Tilly survey the outside and then remembered the down side of mooring here. The pub was very busy hardly a seat left outside and there was a birthday party going on in the teepee, so there was music and a lot of hubhub going on. This we were expecting, a shame we’d forgotten about the barking dogs locked up in the field next to us. Maybe Tilly walking past didn’t help, certainly the kids howling in response only added to the racket! Next time we’ll move a bit further on even if it means one more lock.

30 locks, 5.32 miles, 2 tunnels, 0 visit, 1 blue boat spotted, 1 Monty sensible woofer, 1 boat ahead, 2 coming up, 2 set for us, 28 against us, 2 gates help with, 30 yarn bombed locks, 0 beers at the cottage, 1 woofer in a sink, 5 volunteers on tomorrow! 1 beautiful sunnyday, 3 hours of me time, 1 stupid noisy ugly ridiculous woofer, 40th birthday, 1 extra glass of wine each.

Severn River level at 9am today (at Bewdley a mile upstream from Stourport) 1.175m.

Alvechurch

As the title of this post isn’t All Powered Up, AMPS! 150!! BATTERIES!!! AT LONG LAST!!!! you may have guessed already that the text message we awoke to this morning told us that Kris was still off work, therefore we’d not be seeing our boat builders today. We’re starting to wonder if the lithium batteries were a figment of our imagination all along.

The message did however mean that we didn’t need to rapidly get dressed and try to have breakfast before they arrived, so we rolled over and had a few more zz’s instead. The last few days we’ve been cruising much longer hours than we’ve been used to for some months so a day off was allowed, the chaps might be with us tomorrow, so there was no point in moving on from such an ideal place.

Breakfast

Mick set to cooking us a breakfast whilst Tilly made the most of being allowed to come and go.

The forecast for the last few days has suggested that we’d be waking up to days where the temperatures would be starting to rise, so we keep leaving the fire to go out. Today with not much activity going on the boat felt cold, so a new fire was light and we settled down for the day. An episode of Inspector Morse and the next Breaking Bad episode were watched as the weather outside got more and more blustery.

Where is that bakers

A walk down the hill into the village broke up the day. Alvechurch has a couple of butchers, barbers, post office and a bakers, if you can find it! As we approached the cross roads we started to look out for the secret bakers, was it that building or the next? No it’s the one that just looks like a house with a granary bread sticker on the front door. We walked over to have a closer look only to find a sign in the door saying that they had closed in February. We stocked up on milk, bread and lunchy bits from the Co-Op and headed back to Oleanna waiting to hear if Kris was on the mend or not.

Gone for ever!

Tilly’s playground!

Late afternoon a message came through saying that it was unlikely that Finesse would be with us tomorrow, the remainder of the week now wouldn’t be possible. We decided to stay put overnight just in case we woke to a message saying they were on their way, but if not we’ll push off and start our descent down to the Severn.

Today we received two good bits of news. According to C&RT the river is now fully open, so when we reach Worcester we will be able to make it down to Gloucester without hanging around.

Four jars of tastyness

Mysteron Lamb and Veg

The other, I have won some mayonnaise! Our friends at Charlie and Ivy’s (Yorkshire Rapeseed Oil) had a facebook giveaway last Friday. All you had to do was tell them what your favourite Friday night meal was to be in with a chance of winning. That night we were going to have what we I call Mysteron Lamb. This was a recipe I came across when we were in Misterton on the Chesterfield Canal. You roast small potatoes, maybe with some other veg, sear seasoned  lamb steaks in a hot hot pan, pop these on top of the potatoes in the oven for five minutes, then drizzle over some balsamic vinegar and leave to cook for a further five minutes before resting and serving. I suggested that I was going to try doing it with one of their bread dippers, Juniper Lemon and Balsamic. This turned out to be the winner, not sure if Jennie had anything to do with choosing me, certainly the lady who got in touch had no idea that I know them quite well. Have to say using their dipper did make the lamb extra tasty. So we know have a mayonnaise filled summer to look forward to, hopefully with new batteries!

0 locks, 0 miles, 6.50am text, 30 mins extra, 2 cooked breakfasts, S2 Ep3, 1 Morse, 1 lost forever secret bakers, 1 giant bank to play on, 2 stupid diddy woofers, 1 knitter stuck for what to do next, 4 jars of mayo, 0 batteries.

Severn River level at 9am today (at Bewdley a mile upstream from Stourport) 1.283m.

Sheepcote Street Bridge to Scarfield Hill Bridge 61, Worcester and Birmingham Canal

Noel and Carolyn

Mick popped out to stock up on bread and milk after breakfast and was back in time to greet Noel and Carolyn who’d popped over for a cuppa and guided tour of Oleanna before we headed off in different directions. Yesterday was really the first time we’d chatted to Carolyn and today she and I discovered each others crafting habits. Noel had had a look round Oleanna when we’d reached Crick last year, boxes of stuff piled high as we moved boats. Today he got the more homely version still with things piled high in places, but that’s just where those things live now. It was lovely to have met up with them and for Noel not to have been at work. Hopefully our paths will cross again later in the year.

Old Turn Junction

As we pushed off we could see Noel just about to clear Leon’s prop before they set off back towards Crick.

Gas Street Basin

No locks to do today, just a flat run out of Birmingham. My navigation duties would be much less today as we only had one right and one straight on to do. The sun was out to start with but a chilly wind blew down from all the high rise buildings as we made our way through Gas Street.

Edgbaston Tunnel towpath widening

At Edgbaston Tunnel works on broadening the towpath were on going. The tunnel used to be wide enough for two way traffic, but the towpath was narrow causing problems with cyclists and walkers. So the decision was made to broaden it, reducing the canal to one way traffic. We don’t see a problem with this as you can easily see through the tunnel and when ever we’ve been through we’ve not see another boat, but others have been up in arms about it all.

The old, not so old and the soon to be new

Reaching for the sky

Plenty of building work was going on around the University. Plenty of cranes and rubble all around.

Cadbury Purple

Telly signal must be good round here

There were a few more moored boats than I remembered, Sainsburys moorings were full (no need to stop, we’re still okay for wine!), an H2 powered boat. Yet there was only one boat on the secure off side Bournville moorings, a rarity.

How many locks ahead?

Anyone would think it was wet in there!

At Kings Norton Junction we carried straight on and headed to Wast Hills Tunnel. Another long one at 2493m straight. When we saw a tunnel light near the north portal Mick slowed Oleanna down, the tunnel is two way traffic, but why bother when pausing for a few minutes means we would both have the tunnel to ourselves. Seeing that their roof was a flood of water I quickly bobbed back inside for my waterproof coat, a good job as in some places the drips were hard to avoid.

Sneezing mid tunnel is really quite amazing. The height and length must alter what happens to the sound. My three sneezes were amplified and echoed around our ears for sometime. It’s worth a go if you ever feel the urge.

Coming out into sunshine we hoped to warm up, but the temperatures seemed to be having difficulty reaching double figures. Not far to where we wanted to moor today at Hopwood where there was plenty of space. Despite being the only boat we pulled further along past the pub to where there is a layby on the narrow road. Tomorrow we are due to meet Finesse and here was a possible mooring where they could get the van close.

Tilly went out to roam whilst we had a late lunch. Possibly a good mooring, but there were strange things in the field that I was cautious about.  We weren’t worried about the pigs, just the amount of traffic including some very big wagons! The layby was obviously well used because of the wagons. Another look on google earth and I noticed a join between the towpath and road which looked big enough to park a van. But sadly there were large barrels of flowers strategically positioned to discourage such parking. After lunch and lighting the stove we decided to move on to our second choice of mooring. However Tilly was still out!

Coaxing a cat back indoors is hard enough normally, but after weeks of very little shore leave it’s even harder! There’s nothing worse than walking a few paces behind her hoping for that split moment you think you’d be able to catch hold without her sprinting off! Luckily for me a hire boat was just pulling up in front of us. They were hammering in spikes so that they could walk up to see if there was any space on the moorings. I saved them the walk, they pushed off again  and had the whole stretch of rings to themselves through the bridge. Their presence had pushed Tilly back towards Oleanna and then the local farmer pulled up to chat, which encouraged her to jump in through the side hatch, which was quickly closed behind her.

Grand Prix fishing lake

All back on board we pushed off again. The fishing pond by Bittell Reservoir looks more established than it did three years ago, only one solitary fisherman sat round the grand prix pond. The M42 got louder and louder until we bobbed under it then the sound almost vanished straight away.

Ricky rang from Finesse. He was needing a measurement from me and then everything would be ready for their visit tomorrow, well except for one thing. Kris their carpenter had called in sick this morning, very unlike him. Ricky could come out on his own to install the batteries, but the other jobs would then necessitate a second trip. Much better if everything could be done in one day, we agreed. It was decided that we would carry on as planned as Kris might be at work in the morning. If not we’d wake to a text message.

Whithybed Marina

Coming into Alvechurch a new marina looked about ready to have it’s stop planks removed. Full of water, electric and water points on the pontoons all that was missing were boats. Withybed Moorings first applied for planning permission back in 2007 and was to have 75 berths. This has obviously taken time and the number of berths has been reduced to 54.

Around the next bend and there was a perfect sized gap for Oleanna. Just before the bridge and Alvechurch Marina there is a track that comes down to the towpath. We checked the gate and we could unlock the padlock, a perfect place for Finesse to meet us, being able to get their van so close. We just have to hope that Kris is well enough in the morning.

Hopefully we’ll miss the stag do’s heading out this time

It turns out that three years ago Lillian had just been blacked and was put back into the water at Alvechurch. We then headed up to Hopwood where we joined NB Blackbird for the evening. Funny how we find ourselves back in the same places.

Thank you to Tom, Mike and Paul who pointed out that the islands on the BCN are toll islands, where the boats were gauged as to the weight of their cargo and charged a suitable toll. I did know this, I’d just omitted an ! and a .

0 locks, 11.14miles, 1 right, 2 straights, 2 visitors, 1 sofa, 1 tunnel, 3 sneezes, 1 roof washed thoroughly, 2 soaking boaters, 1 mum, 3 baby piggies, 1 noisy mooring, 2 outsides, 3 hours shore leave, 16:54 to Redditch, 1 gate, 2405 long, 59.5 wide, 1 poorly chippie, 2 boaters hopeful for a speedy recovery, 3 batteries sat in Sheffield!

Severn River level at 9am today (at Bewdley a mile upstream from Stourport) 1.44m.

Stourton Top Lock to Merry Hill

The forecast was for sun and it certainly obliged today. We woke to sunshine and blue skies, perfect for a proper boating day.

First job was to give Tilly her worming pill. Mick positioned it in prime position on her biscuits and put down her morning dingding. It and only a couple of proper biscuits were gone within seconds. The easiest pill given to a cat ever and we both still had all our fingers!

With a long day ahead of us we pushed off and soon got rid of our coats as the morning warmed up as we made our way to Wordsley Junction. I’d reread Lillian’s blog from three years ago when we did the Stourbridge flight for the first time. It was a useful read in that some of the bottom gates do not want to stay closed, so cracking a paddle at the top end of the lock will hold them in place. Having said that the second lock caught me out and I had to return to close the gates for a second time.

With few bridges at the bottom gates and short railings I had to walk round to both open and close the gates. As last time, Mick on a few occasions brought Oleanna gently up to the gates and nudged the off side open to save me one trip all the way round. At the forth lock Mick had a go at stepping off on the off side with a rope, to close the gate behind Oleanna. This entailed the rope getting caught on the stone work as our boat made her own way into the lock and Mick frantically trying to free said rope before it ran out. He did succeed  and then scrambled up to the top to hold the centre line as I filled the lock.

We still have to visit Red House Glass Cone, today wasn’t going to be the day. It would be better to do it on the way down the flight than the way up, next time.

So far all the locks had been empty, but the next one was very full. I left Mick to finish rising and went to open the paddles on the lock above. This is the really pretty stretch of the canal. Hanson’s Dock General Stores and the double lock which works similar to The Bratch on the Stafford and Worcester  Canal along with a boat yard which had NB Swan moored on the outside (she’d passed us near Worsley last year).

Looking up the flight from here I could see a chap opening gates on the locks above. There was no boat coming down so I gave him the thumbs up, this would save me quite a bit of walking round. After a while he came down to the lock we were at. A man of few words, but it seemed that he was one of the kindly folk who spend their life assisting on lock flights. After a couple of locks where the gates were open waiting for us I could see that the chap had put on a lanyard. He made sure it had it’s writing visible and he seemed quite proud of it. It said ‘John, Towpath and Lock Operator and Volunteer’. Maybe John has the newly branded C&RT uniform, but I doubt it. He’s not an official volunteer, but we weren’t complaining. He walked up ahead emptying locks and opening gates, he then closed gates on the off side and only twice did he wind paddles with Oleanna in the lock. He took his time and kept an eye on what I was doing, never lifting a paddle before I did.

John said that he helps out most days and has been doing so for ten years. Today we were the first boat through the locks and I suspect the only one. He certainly made our trip up a lot easier, so Thank you John.

We paused on the off side for some lunch before turning right at Leys Junction and then wound our way around Brierley Hill. Now we were on an urban canal, the amount of rubbish both in the water and around it makes me ashamed to be human. We are such a disgusting species! At least the wheelie bin floating by was full of rubbish. The bed of the canal undulated under us as we passed under bridges making our journey a bumpy one.

The bottom of Delph Locks and Dudley canal No1 came into view after about three quarters of an hour. Ahead of us eight more locks. All but one were empty, some with a gate open ready for us. No John on this flight, so a lot of walking around instead. The sun had brought plenty of Gongoozlers out. Many had questions, but few thought of lending a hand.

The bottom gates had better handrails so I was able to push many of them open saving time and steps. Along the six central locks the bywash cascades like a waterfall to the side, as you start to fill the lock the flow stops as the pound level is lowered which gives you a sense of power. Soon Mick had managed to enlist a family to help with gates which was great. But as we reached the top lock all help and bystanders had left us to it. This lock filled very slowly as I could only get one of the anti vandal locks on the ground paddles to open. Once up it was a matter of just pootleing along to the embankment high above Merry Hill Intu shopping centre where we planned to moor for the night.

It now being 4.20pm and we still hadn’t got our Saturday newspaper, Mick hightailed in down the hill to get one. Whilst he was in the temple to retail he stopped off at the EE shop. Yesterday he’d noticed that Virgin are currently doing a deal on a data only sim, cheaper than we are currently paying EE and for twice as much data a month. So Mick wanted to see if EE would match it, the chap in the shop said that they couldn’t to snap it up! We may well do!

Late afternoon we had a visitor. When I say we, I should really say Tilly had a visitor. Paul from Waterway Routes had come to talk to her about suitable symbols on his maps for his feline customers.

It was nice to meet Paul and see for myself his maps. Tom and her say that they are very detailed. Moorings come with different classifications. The ones I wanted to test out, Stourport, Chester, that fantastic field on the Shroppie and Houdini’s field were looked up for me. Official M moorings can sometimes be alright, but sometimes not as in the case of Chester and Stourport! But the other M’s are pretty good, fields tend to be marked by these. I shall insist we moor on Ms from now on! Oh except the Cat Heath and Safety Committee deemed here to not be suitable for me today and that is an M! I think some work still needs to be done for feline moorings. Anyhow Paul has gone away to think of what symbol he can use for rabbit holes and I can inform him of their locations for future updates.

We also enjoyed meeting with Paul and hearing about his planned cruise this summer up to Yorkshire. A new stretch of the Pocklington Canal which has been restored is to be opened and he will be there to record and map it.

24 locks, 5.39 miles, 1 straight, 1 right, 229ft 5 inches risen, 1 tricked cat, 1 other boat moving today, 1 sunny sunny day, 1 helper John, £3.90 for a pint, 1 proper cruising day, 2 geese nesting, 1 weelie bin, 1 duck not enamoured with chips, 1 unlockable lock, 1 high above everything M mooring, 4 mucky hand prints, 2 many fans for one day, 1 visitor, 1 map master, 2 pooped boaters, 1st night without the stove.

Severn River level at 9am today (at Bewdley a mile upstream from Stourport) 1.847m.

Wolverley Bridge to Stourton Top Lock, Stourbridge Canal

So, just as we finished our breakfast this morning this C&RT Notice dropped into our inbox!

The notice says that the river was now open from the next lock down from Stourport to Worcester then closed from there for 17 miles to Upper Lode Lock. Hmm! What should we do?

If we turned round and headed back to Stourport the river there was almost certainly still going to be in the red at the locks today. We decided to give the Lockie at Lindcombe Lock a call. He chatted away to Mick. The flow was still quite strong but we would be able to navigate our way downstream to turn onto the Droitwich Canal, with care. But should we have carried on to Bevere Lock half a mile further south the Lock Keeper wouldn’t let us through to get to Worcester, as the levels were still too high. So either the C&RT notice was wrong or the Lockies on the ground were telling porkies! We decided to believe the chaps on the ground. He said that the level may have dropped enough by tomorrow to get to Worcester or it might take a couple more days, river levels are not an exact science.

It didn’t take us long to make our minds up. We were going to continue going the long way round, if the weather forecasts are correct and there will be little rain then the levels should be fine by the time we reach the river again and we won’t have got bored of twiddling our thumbs.

Last night we spent a bit of time trying to find a suitable place to meet up with Finesse on our route. Heading towards Stratford didn’t come up with anywhere suitable that we’d be able to reach comfortably, but heading towards Worcester gave us two options. So that was our route sorted. The next few days we have to keep up with our plan so as not to fall behind.

We pushed off and soon had reached the next winding hole, we went straight ahead not wavering in our decision. The day was cold and grey again, damp hung in the air even though it didn’t rain.

This stretch will be filled with bluebells next month their lush green leaves appearing everywhere. On we climbed back up the locks we’d passed through three weeks ago. No one was ahead of us which made life easy, each lock sitting empty waiting for our arrival. It was too early for us to have chilled medication as we passed through Wolverely Lock, but I could see a young chap inside with a cone piled high with several scoops!

Today the air was filled with insects, gnats or mossies. At times it was hard to breath without inhaling them! We used to get asked if yellow attracted insects when we had Lillian, but it didn’t. Today dark blue most definitely did! Mick got so fed up with it that he lit a citronella candle and popped it in a guiding light to try to clear a small patch of air at the back of Oleanna.

After Hyde Lock we pulled in, after the house, opposite the grassy field for lunch. A purrrrfect mooring this, if only they had let me out! Tilly eyed up the huge trees, we don’t believe that she’d only be an hour in such a place so she remained in lock down.

On up Stewponey Lock and then a right onto the Stourbridge Canal. Up the four locks.

Between the third and fourth locks houses back onto the canal each with immaculate gardens. Sadly the house with the Aubrietia that floods over the walls hasn’t as yet had enough sunshine. A couple of dots of blue, but not the cascade  that we’ve seen before.

We soon found a suitable spot to pull in, away from too much traffic noise and not too close to Wordsley Junction. Tilly went straight out of course, only to get bullied by a local crow not too keen on her presence.

Tomorrow will be a standard day of climbing up into Birmingham. Plenty of locks ahead of us, at least we’re keeping busy!

10 locks, 6.77 miles, 1 right, 0 about turns, 1 lying C&RT notice, 1 Lockie chat, 0 chilled medication, 1 route planned and we’re sticking to it, 63763436378947364235272892927254 insects, 3 hours, 1 big black feathered bully, 2 many bikes, 4 muddy paws, 1 m mooring.

Severn River level at 9am today (at Bewdley a mile upstream from Stourport) 1.99m.