Last blog for now

Set off at 0800 down the final section of journey to Stourport, crossing into Worcestershire between Whittington and Cookley. Pretty uneventful journey arriving at Stourport at 1400.

Staffordshire/Worcestershire boundary marker

Kidderminster Lock

Well 250+ miles and we have circumnavigated the Midlands. Met lots of people particularly at locks which become little social gatherings. A Dutch couple who spend their summer on a boat on the canals and their winters in Portugal. They never do more than 4 hours and a day and mornings only. They had travelled from Rufford which I think is near Wigan.

The family who move boats from one part of the country to another for the boat owners and their clients.

The chap from Seattle who came over every summer totravel the canals.

The rather rough looking couple who helped us through the locks in Leicester who were actualy very nice.

We have returned slightly earlier than planned as we after sort out the aftermath of The Flood. The boat has performd well though with the only other problem being with the shower drain pump switch which is now sorted.

I still havnt seen a combine harvester but here is a nice JCB 2D from the 60's in Penkridge

Enjoyed the IWA show and its a pity that its not happening next year although the 2013 show is now planned for Newbury which could mean a crossing of the tidal Severn from Gloucestershire to Bristol which would be exciting!
246 miles 205 locks and nearly 6 miles of tunnel

Brass plaque from IWA show

Back of beyond

After yesterdays baking hot day it was a surprise to awaken to a overcast day with showers which remained on and off all through the day. Nevertheless in many ways it was a better days boating. We were going from just south of Wolverhapton to Kinver by the Staffordshire and Worcestershire canal which winds its way through the back of beyond apart from the small town of Wombourne. Set off 0800

The tiller problem from yesterday seems to have righted itself. No explanation but now seems fine. Maybe something like an old carpet had got jammed in it and had now freed itself although there was nothing obvious when I checked last night. First feature of the day were The Bratch locks. Three locks placed together with a complicated series of side ponds to make them work. A lock keeper was on hand to help and also explained something of the locks history. He also checked our licence detail.

Approaching The Bratch locks




Lock keeper checks our licence plate.



Bratch Locks

Bratch Locks

Bratch Locks

We passed through the other Swindon, Swindon Staffordshire, site of the last trade on this canal from Stourbridge railway goods station to Swindon forge. A trade in specialist metals it was replaced by road transport in the late 50's. The other trade on this canal in the 50s was coal from Cannock to Stourport but a surcharge on loading canal boats saw the trade switch to the railway.

We had lunch of jacket potatoes (Last of Ivor's potatoes)

After lunch I was stung by a bee.

After lunch we also entered the best section of this canal which we had to ourselves as the showers seemed to keep the other boaters tied up.



Gothersley Lock

This section of canal always feels almost prehistoric to me with Herons flying around like Pterodactyls and the large overhanging trees with outcrops of red sandstone adorned with flowering Himalayan Balsam. At one point there is a locked door set into the sandstone at a place called, according to Ordnance Survey, Devils Den. Is it an entrance into another world or just an old boat house. Probably the latter.




Devils Den

 

At Stourton the Stourbridge canal came in from the left meaning that from now on we are retracing ground already covered.

Moored up at Kinver 1610

238 miles 197 locks

High's and Low's

Set off from Penkridge today about 0830. Approaching Lynhill Bridge another boat was coming full tilt from the other side. I had time to stop and reverse but struck something under the water when backing up. Watever it was it was solid and stopped our boat dead The tiller has been stiff since although it is functioning ok the stiffness has not worn off. This was a low.

We passed two fishing contests which went on for ever. You have to slow down for fishermen so this added at least 30 minutes to our journey. This was a low.

Approacing Slade Heath we came across a trip boat stuck in a winding hole. The skipper asked if we could help. We put our bow into the winding hole and the skipper threw a rope which Joanne secured around the front stud. A gentle reverse of the engine and the trip boat came free. This was a high. I then finished Joannes Tuna sandwich (another high)



Trip boat stuck in winding (turning) hole

We then got into a bit of a convoy going towards Wolverhampton as traffic on the canal was very heavy (Low). Through whats known as Pendeford Rockin the canal is so narrow its single file.

But most of the boats turned off our route onto the Shropshire Union leaving us on our own again. (High)Approaching Oxley there is some really clever graffitti. I took a photo but its a bit blurred I am afraid



Moored up below Wightwick lock at 1610. A middle aged man on a bicycle asked us for a glass of water. We gave him one half expecting that this would be some precursor to a attemt at a confidence trick. But he drank his water and went. Perhaps he thought we looked poorer than him and it wasnt worth his trouble. Not sure if this was a high or a low.

226 miles and 179 locks.

Trent and Mersey to Staffs and Worcs

Left Rugeley at 0700 in bright morning sunshine. This is a particularly nice stretch of canal through Shugborough Hall estate.

Colwich Lock Trent and Mersey

Colwich Lock Trent and Mersey

Shugborough Hall and  grounds

After a short stop in Great Hayward for provisions we turned off the Trent and Mersey onto the Staffordshire and Worcestershire canal. The junction is framed by a great single arched bridge dating from when the canal was built.

Junction Bridge Staffs and Worcs canal

The canal passes through some glorious countryside in the valley of the river Sow which it crosses by a brick aquaduct. Then on through the attractive wharf at Tixal.

Tixal Wharf



Aqueduct over the river Sow



The canal skirts around Stafford before coming to the remote Deptmore Lock.

The old lady who used to live there had a little boat for going to get provisions and the well for water is across the lock in a little wood. She is now in a bungalow as she couldn't manage any longer and it has been bought by the farm whose land abuts it. I guess they are the ones doing the work as they have a son in his mid twenties so maybe it is for him.

 Moored up at Penkridge the ancestral land of the Copes at 1700.

170 locks and 213 miles since starting.

The Road from Burton

Hi there readers. Set off last night at 1740 through the lines of moored boats visiting the festival. On the south side of the festival the boats extended for about a mile and we didnt clear into open country until 2030. Moored next to the steam narrow boat President. A guy on President said "did  you know SL was a steam engine"

Just a couple of pictures of the festival as it was a great 3 days topped off by a brilliant performance by the Mikron theatre company (... they travel around the waterways putting on plays on the Narrow Boat Tyseley) Visited by Alan and Lynn for a look round the festival and a picnic lunch.

Bunting flying at Burton



Two loaded boats (Fazeley and Clover)being turned at the IWA festival



Set off Monday 0700. A lot of traffic already on the move. Inevitable queuing which got to its worst at the lock after Barton Turns. This is the view we had behind of the queue after we had waited nearly two hours. Followed by a working Boat Aldgate with a very enthusiastic and agile steerer on board who was helping us as well as everyone else through the locks. He even produced a strimmer at one point to cut back some nettles on the towpath!

This is a dreary stretch of canal paralleling the A38

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A38 from the Trent and Mersey canal.

From here we rejoined the Trent for a short distance. You have to watch the weirs!

A guy shouted have you ever seen a boat called Agenoria (the sister locomotive to SL. I said no.

A woman came out waving her arms and shouting. "Your dead if you havnt got a ring on" she shouted waving her fist. It turned out that a rogue swan had been drowning cygnets near her boat.

Then the queue's vanished and it was plain sailing through the delightful village of Alrewas. Particularly liked the free range hens in someone back garden.

Then on through Fradley Junction. Someone shouted "Why have you called your boat SL" I told him. He said "Well I am from Ambelcote and my great grandfather drove Agenoria" Dont know what it is today about Stourbridge Lion but everyone is picking up on the name.

Moored up just after Brindley's bridge over the Trent at 1900 after a full days running. Joanne did well with the locks. A guy passed and said "Stourbridge Lion is locomotive not a boat" I shouted something after him but I dont think he heard-which was probably just as well.