Brum bound

 

We puled pins from below Tardebigge top lock and headed off towards Birmingham. We soon passed this sunken boat below the M42 bridge .With only inches to spare we just squeezed through.

Such a shame . It had a Beta engine and it looked like it had been burnt out .

Entering the 2726 yards of Wast hill tunnel on the Worcester and Birmingham canal. And yes it was wet  !!!

Guess we are getting near to a city. I did say to Carolyn were do these Scroates get all their money from to buy the spray paint . She was probably right with her reply that “The thieving gits just nick it”.

We had intended to spend a day at Bourneville and the home to Cadbury, But unfortunately all the moorings were full. The guide book tells you not to moor on the towpath side because of thieves working the area . There is a secure gated area on the offside which was full of boats……

We passed this boat which was moored outside of Birmingham university . I think i am going to have to look at converting Inca to Hydrogen !!!!

How lucky are we ? . Brindley place is supposed to be one of the best moorings in Birmingham. We did stop in Gas street next to a night club and then walked up to Brindley place to see if any moorings were available.  We were glad we did as it is so quiet here and you would never think you are in the middle of Britain's 2nd largest city.

                                                                                      Happy Days

Tardebigge … A boater’s Rite of Passage !!

 

After a night moored below Stoke bottom lock on the Worcester and Birmingham canal we made an early start at 07.00 as we had 36 locks in front of us. These are made up of the 6 Stoke locks and the 30 of the Tardebigge flight. Its said that doing these locks is a Rite of passage and everything you encounter after this is a doddle. Well we did do it when we started out over 2 years ago so it will be interesting to see if it is easier or harder than then.

Come on Carolyn , put your back into it ………OOPS !! I shouldn't have said that.

A lot of the balance beams have a considerable amount of rot in them and this one has under gone a temporary bodge repair.

We soon got a system going and believe it or not we worked as a team (That's a first for us after 34 years of wedded bliss happiness)  .With me stepping off and doing the lock while Carolyn went ahead and prepared the next one. Before long we were racing up the flight until we came to a bit of a hold up . The boat in front was a hire boat with a visiting Australian couple on-board . There was originally 2 couples ,but they fell out as one couple hated the canals and all the work involved of doing the locks , so they just packed their bags and left . The remaining couple carried on although the lady didn't really want to be there.

We eventually reached the former pump house near the top and passed the Australian couple who were moored up. Unfortunately the lady was sat on the back of the boat in floods of tears. Its such a shame that people don't realise that it can be hard work on a canal holiday , Especially when they do a ring where it can be 7 to 10 hours a day of hard work just to get around it.

Well …In the end we did cheat a bit and moored before the top lock ,so we only did 35 out of the 36 in just over 6 hours. Was it any easier than last time ? Of course it was, and just as enjoyable………..

                                                                                                          Happy Days

Droitwich Canal

 

We pulled pins from the Racecourse moorings at Worcester and headed up the river Severn towards Bevere lock .As this this sunken boat shows you can not take a river for granted .

We shared Bevere lock with a local boat and mentioned to them that we were heading up the Droitwich canal . The reply we got was , “well if you like reeds and no moorings you will enjoy it,but I certainly wont go on it again” . The guy then went on to explain that he thought the environmentalists and Anglers took over the restoration of the canal and it ended up being a canal that didn't particularly want boats on it. As we have always said we will have to try it for ourselves and see what we think of it.

With me operating a lock just for a change we head up and onto the Droitwich canal

The course of the newly opened Droitwich canal

There's certainly plenty of reeds . In fact you don't get to see a lot of the surrounding countryside .Also we did have a comment from a walker saying that you don't get to see a lot of the canal whilst walking because of the reeds. As for mooring anywhere before Droitwich you can just forget it. Although we did speak to the crew of a hire boat who said there were plenty of good moorings above and below every lock and they spent a good night on one the night before.,of course they meant the lock landings which you cannot moor on.

Having said there were no moorings before Driotwich once you reach the town the moorings in the basin are excellent. They are all gated and unlocked with a watermate key also with a water point and rubbish disposal just across the park you cant knock it.

After a peaceful night we headed on up the canal and soon came to the tunnel/bridge under the M5 Motorway. This is the lowest structure we have ever been through . Our cratch board just missed the height indicator by millimetres so we headed in very slowly.

When we came out the other side we hit the height indictor a good 3 or 4 inches up it which meant if we were coming from the other direction we wouldn't have got through…Work that one out ??? To John and Anthea on NB Digitalis … I think you might have been OK and got through , But i have to admit I would have done what you did ……

Making our way up and out of Droitwch and we have to go up this lovely new staircase lock.

On the top 3 locks we had the assistance of a Volilockie ( Volunteer Lockkeeper ). He told us that these were the only locks on the canal system that had side pounds and paddles in the middle of the lock which you had to operate before using any other paddles on the locks.

Eventually after reaching the end of the canal and discovering there were no moorings above Droitwich I don't think we will rush to get back here, but we were glad we did it ….If you know what I mean.

 

                                                                                          Happy Days

Up the Severn

 

We left Tewkesbury as soon as the lock opened at 08.00 and headed towards the main river.

Well , Carolyn got her wish and we turned right on the Severn and soon reached Mythe Bridge .The bridge was built by Thomas Telford in 1825 and as you can see its one good looking bridge.

One of the last commercial businesses on the Severn is this fleet of barges that carry aggregate just a couple of miles from one wharf to another. They are named Elver, Perch .Chubb and Pike.

We would have stopped at Upton Upon Severn on the way up but as usual the moorings were full with boats double moored on the pontoon.

We arrived at Diglis lock and phoned the lockkeeper to let him know we needed passage up through the lock.

Diglis lock is a fairly big lock and after entering you have to secure your boat fore and aft using the steel wire.You have to pass your rope behind the wire and then control your boat as the level in the lock rises.

Carolyn on the Bow and in full control as we go up in the lock.

Out of Diglis lock and with Worcester cathedral in the distance we head towards the moorings where we hope there is enough space for us .

After passing the miserable Ferryman we pass under Worcester Bridge.

We managed to pick up a mooring next to Worcester Racecourse , You can see Inca on the right . The Racecourse is open all the time and you can walk around it which is great for Hamish.

With the sprinklers at Worcester Racecourse on it looks like the going could be good to soft.

With Carolyn desperate to get back on the canals we will have a night here and then head up through Bevere lock and then go up onto the Droitwich canal. Its one of the latest canals to be restored ,so it should be interesting to see what the restoration has turned out like.

                                                                                                 Happy Days

Tewkesbury Bound !!

 

After a brilliant night at Comberton Quay we pulled pins at 09.55 and headed towards Tewkesbury , passing the Cotswolds on the way.

We have driven over that bridge on the M5 near Tewkesbury so many times in the past . We used to just dream about passing beneath it on our own boat. What a good feeling it was today to pass and look at all of those vehicles passing above.

As soon as we moored in Tewkesbury we left Inca and headed towards the Abbey.

Wow, How amazing is this.

Apart from being free which we always love they allowed dogs in. As we don't normally leave Hamish on the boat for very long periods we end up with one of us sitting outside anywhere we visit with him, while the other one of goes in to look around. This is a beautiful building and is well worth a visit.

Walking through the town and you can see all the medieval flags that fly above the shops during the summer months.

This is our mooring just before the lock that drops you down from the river Avon to the river Severn. With the lock opening at 08.00 we plan to be first in line to drop down onto the river. There is a slight difference of opinion on what direction we will take when we get on the Severn .With me wanting to go down to Gloucester and Carolyn who doesn't like the Severn after our journey up it 2 years ago wanting to dash up to Worcester and then back onto the canals…….. Lets see who gets their wish !!!!

                                                                                                      Happy Days