Droitwich lock in

Droitwich lock in

May 2018

It was only supposed to be a short trip, so not much chance of anything eventful happening.

With a lousy forecast for Wednesday morning and a fine afternoon we stayed put till noon and, with the rain clouds giving way to blue skies we wet off for Hanbury Junction. Then we turned west and saw the most enormous black cloud over Droitwich and heading our way. Oh er - better grab our waterproofs.

An unexpected mooring on the lock landing

The new water level boards at the top lock were showing green for the Severn and amber for the Salwarp. Boats were coming up so all was fine to proceed. The heavens opened as we descended and we squelched our way through the staircase pair only to find a CRT employee at the last lock before the M5 tunnel. We were told that the water levels of the Salwarp has risen sharply and were now into the red - which meant that the river section was impassable and had to be closed.

A locked canal and the Smestow in flood

Our options were to stop before the M5 tunnel (advised) or to continue through to the lock landing above the last narrow lock. A mooring beneath the M5 is very noisy so we decided to have a crack at the tunnel. We approached the gauging board and were about an inch too high, but these things are always a bit pessimistic. We therefore edged into the tunnel with a warning that it dips a "bit" in the middle. With just an inch of clearance above our cratch plate we were keen to understand what a "bit" entails. No clarification was forthcoming and I was told it was my call.  We went in very slowly and can report that the min clearance when the level board showed 1.8m was about one centimeter. Just enough if no one flushes a lock of water.

Flood waters at Vines Park Lock

And so we made it to the lock landing above the river section and instead of a trickling stream these was a seething torrent, sliding smoothly over what is usually a small waterfall. A cursory examination of the lower landing stage showed that the water had recently covered it, but oddly even with the barge canal locked, the river in spate and the gauge in the red, the depth reading at the top stayed firmly in the green.

Contradictory levels at the start of the Narrow Canal

An odd observation about dog ownership. As we sat on the lock landing a passing dog walker asked if we had a plastic bag. We supplied a bright orange Sainsbury bag which was duly used to pick up the poo deposited by his Staffie. Good on him we thought.

Locked in!

Later we walked into town and there at a towpath entrance was the said Sainsburys bag, complete with poo - discarded and abandoned. On our way back the bag was gone, presumably picked up by a civic minded resident. Sadly not, because on our passage down the next day there was the knotted bag hurled into the midst of a big bramble patch. Why, if you bother to pick up your dog poo, do you then leave it wrapped in polythene for all to enjoy!

After a night on the lock landing the water dropped into the amber and the padlock was removed letting us enter Vines Park and take up our position for trading over the weekend.

Worcester wanderers

Worcester wanderers

May 2018

One of the lovely things about our watery lifestyle is that we are rarely in a hurry to go anywhere. 

Blockhouse Lock Cottage in Worcester

When we arrived in Droitwich we knew we had five days spare and decided to pay Worcester a visit. Droitwich is great, but it does lack an Elsan facility. Not the most glamorous aspect of boating, but the need to find one every two or three days and is pretty much essential. What Droitwich lacks Worcester provides in Diglis Basin, well maintained and cared for on behalf of a large and vibrant live aboard community.

Then there is the Little Laundrette in Lowesmoor Street, whose modern and efficient washers and driers made short work of our laundry requirements. We do have a small twin tub in the butty which is very effective and cost efficient (washing and drying two loads at the laundrette cost £13) but the challenge is getting everything dry. In warm weather we rig up lines in the hold of the butty, but when its cold and wet this is not very practical. Hopefully the warm weather is on the horizon and DIY washing can resume.

Functional, if not beautiful ground paddle in Worcester

Worcester is a good place to stop, with the canal handy for all the shops and a bit of sightseeing. The towpath was quite busy and having left our sign boards out we made some sales, either to boaters or residents in the adjacent flats.

One particularly satisfying discovery was the St Richards Hospice store in St Swithin's Street. This is a charity shop but one which is a cut above the usual format of musty clothes, bric a brac and a few old DVD's. This store is modern and well laid out but its real hidden gem in in the first floor. Go up the winding staircase and you find yourself in a second hand bookshop, all professionally laid out and ordered. Add to that there is a high quality and reasonably priced cafe and you have a winning combination. We ended up buying lunch, six DVD's and a book or two - which should keep us entertained for a while.

A great spandrill in the railway bridge in Worcester

Tuesday dawned dry and relatively warm so we set off up the 14 locks to the Hanbury pound. We found ourselves tripping over the heels of a couple from Canada who were finding their feet on their first flight of locks, but hey - we were not in a hurry. We noted that the barn sandwiched between the top lock and the M5 is being developed into a huge dwelling (or maybe two). It will be impressive but the location is more deafening than loud - not a location I could come to terms with.

Today's mooring is just half a mile short of Hanbury Junction.

Down to Worcester

Down to Worcester

April 2018

Boaters have a rather intimate relationship with the weather and it therefore comes as no surprise that many blog posts start with a reference to the prevailing meteorological situation.

Well, that hot spring weather has well and truly passed and we woke at Hanbury Junction to a very chilly and wet scene. Not a sight which inspired us to proceed with plan a and descent down to Worcester via the canal. Instead, we hatched a plan b and made the relatively short hop down to Droitwich. 

The Penguin get it!

Before we turned off the Worcester Birmingham we tied the butty to come work boats at the junction and motored around to the boat yard where filled with fuel and picked up some more logs to stave off the forecast cold.

We arrived at the top locks just as the lock keepers arrived on duty and had a long chat with a new volunteer who was plodding around in a comedic manner. He must have selected some old shoes and both soles were flapping around. I do hope he enjoyed the experience and found some safer (and more comfortable) footwear before the day was out.

The rain had raised the level of the Salwarp and this in turn reduced the headroom under the motorway to little more than 180cm, enough for us to pass but much less clearance than we are used to. Few boats were moving on such a damp day and we cut a lonely passage through Vines Park to adjoining bays in the Netherwich Basin. Carole and Adrian (Harbourmasters) returned to their boat during the afternoon and it took surprisingly little persuasion to entice them into the warm of our boat and ply them with a tipple or two of Gin.

Thinking of Tipples, we met Towpath Tipples at Hanbury Junction who will be one of three trade boats at this years festival. This was a great bonus because I had only just been having a look at their web page and selecting which Perrys I wanted to try. It looks like the trade boat line up will be a select one comprising the Glass Barge, ourselves with the Jam Butty and Towpath Tipples occupying what has been the Homebrew's spot.

The forecast for the event is looking up with temperatures nearing 20, no rain and light southerly breezes so, if you have time, do drop down and take in what should be a great weekend.

Safely off the Severn

After a night in Droitwich we travelled down the Barge Canal, entering the Severn via a very muddy lock. The water levels have only recently dropped and even after a period of drier weather it was still hovering between green and amber. As usual, we breasted the boats up with the butty on the right and idled along with a strong current sweeping is down at about 4.5mph. With this amount of fresh on we were glad not to be pressing upstream against the flow. Fingers crossed that it has slackened a bit more before we go upstream to Stourport after the festival in 10 days time.

Foden Steam Tractor in Worcester

We made use of the services in Diglis Basin and moored just before the first lock, all set for a spot of laundry and shopping in Worcester.

Pretty as a picture

Pretty as a picture
April 2018

Helen has been keeping secrets from me and, as we all know, "suspicion tears you apart". Not good news on the run up to our 30th wedding anniversary (23rd July).

She has been nurturing this secret from months, coyly alluding to "something special" every now and then, but never letting on what she was keeping from me. Whats more,I knew there was money involved, which disturbs an ex banker to his roots. 

Jan Vallance's painting of our boats under way

Finally. a few days ago Helen started a gradual reveal. The money was for a gift to both of us to celebrate our forthcoming anniversary, but such was its physical size there was no way she could smuggle it onto the boat for the actual day, or even hide it away at home.

Today I was expecting a big pre season glass delivery, but instead the parcel man arrived bearing a big flattish package which was snatched from my grasp by "Mrs Secrets". She returned beaming with a pair of scissors and asked me to open it. 

After a brief tussle with the parcel tape I got in and there was the back of a picture. Oh er - we are not always in agreement when it comes to artwork, so it was more than a bit of nervousness I turned it over. 

It was a specially commissioned Jan Vallance painting and not just of any old canal scene, but instead it was one of our own boats making their way north along the Worcester Birmingham Canal. It is fantastic, lovely, amazing and all so technically accurate! I love it and immediately saw that the chimney breast in our dining room was the ideal place for it. As you can imagine, Helen was there way before me....

Barry's original photograph

But that's not all. The actual image is included in Barry Tutenberg's top fifty photographs from their 2015 travels.

So a vote of thanks, first to Helen, the continuing Mrs Tidy whose secretive behaviour is not only forgiven but forgotten. Secondly to Jan Vallance for creating such a lovely and unique painting which will inspire be during the long winter days at home, and finally to Barry Teutenburg who not only supplied the original image but also suffered my glacially slow progress along the Worcester Birmingham canal for hour after hour!

What a wet one!

Hockley Heath

May 2017

I don't think I have ever seen the Birmingham Level fill so quickly.

For weeks the Birmingham Level has been nearly two bricks down, a reduction which left the tug boats iall sorts of problems and one  crew reported a 22 hour marathon to get from the Black Country Living Museum to Hawne Basin.

I have a soft spot for little buttys, even than they are really push tugs!

What we needed, we all agreed, was a bit of rain to fill the monster pound which extends for over 40 miles. Well today the heavens opened and water was spilling into the canal from every quarter. The forecast was for heavy rain all day and rain it did.

Tuesday saw us holed up in Birmingham doing some shopping, banking and washing before Helen was interviewed and photographed for a magazine article. During the evening she hosted her book group aboard the boat so Dan and I made ourselves scarce and had a delayed birthday meal and trip to see the latest Alien film.

But Dan isnt with us just for a jolly. He is also with us to help us down the locks to Warwick and for that we needed to get to Hockley Heath. The problem was the weather which was forecast to be awful all day - and so it was. Whilst I wouldn't tackle the locks in teeming rain, there is no reason not to travel if wrapped up in the right clothes. So it was waterproofs from the off at 7.30am and I did my best to shelter under my umbrella for the next 10 hours. We made slow but steady progress to Hockley Heath. As we travelled every pipe was gushing storm water and you could almost see the level rising and swamping the grass edges. By the end of the day the water was nearing the overflow weirs so it must have added a good 4 inches.

And so we sit perched and ready to make our descent. I will just have to prise Dan from his sleeping bag in the butty - no mean feat. 

All stop at Alvecurch

Alvechurch weekend

May 2017

I am not used to dawdling along and for the last week we have done little else.

With over a week to get to Birmingham from Droitwich we have been taking things slowly, very slowly. We don't want to be in Birmingham before Tuesday, so our destination for Monday night was Hopwood, the last countryside mooring before Wast Hill Tunnel and the West Midlands conurbation beyond.

With guests on board our schedule is being largely dictated by the availability (or non availability) of sanny stations (Barry dont laugh). There is a distinct absence of this essential facility in the area with the last being at Black Prince in Stoke Prior and the next being in Kings Norton. Luckily, for a small fee, ABC Leisure will let you use their "little room out the back" so we elected to set up camp on the 48 hour mooring opposite. Whilst the mooring may not be the quietest, there is lots to watch in a busy hire base.

I always find myself drawn to boats being craned out or in, with 15 tons dangling below an ancient crane and all depending on the integrity of a single shackle. Of course, these machines are regularly inspected and the operators trained in their use so there were no hitches, but you always wonder "what if ?"

Saturday was cold and windy but not withstanding this we had a steady trickle of customers wanting to buy preserves. Sunday, by contrast, was roasting hot so we sat out the back all afternoon and didn't sell a single  jar - inexplicable! On Sunday morning we decided to visit one of the local churches and initially St Lawrence was the hot favourite, but a closer inspection of their service times swung us in favour of the Baptist Church in Red Lion Street. This traditional Baptist chapel has just been extensively refurbished and the welcome was a good as the ambiance. 

Having used up our allotted 48 hours on the mooring we progressed on to Hopwood, a mere 2.5 miles distant stopping for water at the Lower Bittell Reservoir. The pressure is good but the associated mooring is horribly silted, which explains its lack of use. CRT have just spent a lot of money on the reservoir and its surrounds, dredging and piling the feeder from the canal to the upper reservoir. They have also spent a lot of money on electrically operated hydraulic stop gates in the bridge holes at either end which are needed should the embankment with canal on top breach. The lower reservoir is way down at present to accommodate the trout fishing club who wanted to net the fish, and are now chuntering about the time it is taking to refill.

The old lengthsman's house at the end of the reservoir is still empty and awaits CRT attention to make it let-able. It is quite an attractive three bedroom house but is probably unsaleable given its lack of foundations and its precarious closeness to water on all sides. Still, its a shame to see it empty. It appears that it suffers from damp and the remedy is to apply a waterproof membrane, insulation and rendering.

And so we arrive at Hopwood with a plan to visit the Hopwood House Inn for a meal this evening. And as for trade in this remote location - I had a queue within 15 minutes of our arrival!

Tardebigge

Tardebigge

May 2017

Having had the new gearbox installed we set off up the Droitwich Narrow Canal, mooring near Hanbury Junction for Wedneday night. Then it was an easy day to the Queens Head where we sampled some rather fine G&T's. The mooring opposite the Queens Head is ok, but as Thursday included live music it was a bit noisy till 11.00pm.

The last boat at the Droitwich Party!

Friday was the big push up the thick of the Tardebigge flight, something we were a bit nervous about given Helen's limited strength and the high easterly wind which made towing very tricky. In the end we swapped back and forth, with me winding the paddles and then steering the more tricky pounds where the cross wind was likely to blow the boats onto the shallow offside.

Starting Tardebigge

The first 10 locks were awash with water and it appears that a boat we passed was leaving the paddles open. From then on the pounds were over two feet down which gave us trouble getting the butty over the cills of some locks. This shortage of water continued till we reached the water take off to the reservoir.

Radio Tardebigge gets ever bigger

We stopped just before the top lock, selling some jam to fellow boaters who came over to see the butty.

Saturday was an easy day, using the Tardebigge facilities before pressing on to Alvechurch. Oddly, by passage through Tardebigge Tunnel was simple but then it all fell apart in Shortwood Tunnel. Firstly Helen decided to light a fire just before we entered and then about a third of the way through the butty decided to have a mind of its own and swung from side to side. Nothing I did could bring it to heel and, of course, that was the time we had to encounter another boat! In the and I found myself glued to the left hand wall and the oncoming boat went past on the "wrong" side.

Hmm - a bit of smoke! sorry......

Then, as if by magic, the butty centred up and out we came, shrouded on a huge pall of smoke. My apologies to the boat we passed, who took it all in good part - all in all I made a right mess of it!

So we ended up opposite ABC Leisure's base in Alvechurch where we will spend the weekend. The preserve menu board was put up and as a result we had a steady trickle of customers buying a sample of our wares.

Alvechurch Beer and Boat Festival

Alvechurch Beer and Boat festival

May 2015

This was phase two of the Worcester Birmingham and Droitwich Canal Societie's marathon bicentenary celebration of the Canal's completion.

Trading at what is essentially a beer festival is breaking new ground for us. Sure there were several boats in attendance, most of which were known to us, but by far the bulk of the customers were there for the beer and were not looking for preserves.

 Traders in full swing

But we were not there alone. We were a select little bunch of traders including Sue and Aide on The Cheese Boat, Sandra and Barry on The Homebrew Boat / Funtastic Facepainting, Wicked Wood and ourselves.

Saturday was a slow start but come the afternoon the sun shone, the crowds flocked in and the real ale bar sold 50% more beer than last year. The crowds thronged the site and the patch of grass in front of the boats was smothered in people soaking up sun and beer in equal measure. Suddenly sales took off and we did a whole day's trade in four hours.

As a surprise bonus, BBC radio Hereford and Worcester were there with and OB unit and Helen was duly interviewed and Sticky Toffee Pudding jam sampled live on air.

The word on the street was that the Beer Festival, itself over 10 years old and run by The Weighbridge Pub, was significantly enhanced by the boating dimension with a huge selection of bands performing from noon till 11.00pm. For my part the act of the show came on Friday evening in the shape of The Reflections - a cover band who poured energy and enthusiasm into an electrifying set.

The alternative Morris Men

All in all it was a very enjoyable show which offered an opportunity to sample a wide range of excellent ales from a menu of over 60, plus the ciders and perrys. Perhaps the hidden stars were the ABC team who toiled in the background to run an busy boatyard around the festival, turning round the hire fleet in the mornings before the crowds arrived.

Sadly work impinged again and the boats were handed over to our relief crew for their run back to the new moorings in Aldridge.

Wet work at tardebigge

Droitwich to Tardebigge

May 2015

After several days of glorious weather we awoke on Thursday to forecasts of high winds and driving rain - perfect conditions for an ascent of the Tardebigge flight of locks,  the longest flight on the system.

On any other day I would have moved up to the Queens Head at the foot of the flight and waited for better conditions but be were on a timetable.  We are trading at the Alvechurch Beer and Boat Festival Saturday to Sunday and with Bally and Sandra waiting for us at the top lock we really wanted to make the climb on Thursday.

As it turned out Barry was at a loose end and very generously offered to cycle down and help us up, rain not withstanding.

His offer was a Godsend particularly when Helen started to flag after 15 locks so Barry and I pressed on. Whilst the weather was not at its best we were blessed by a complete flight of empty locks which helped us on our way and in the end we emerged from the top lock exactly 3.5 hours after the entered the bottom one.

No photos I am afraid - far too wet!

Worcester 2012 - Tipton

Worcester 2012

Tipton

May 2012

17,5 miles - 3 locks - 7.5 hours

Its all ying and yang on this route - all locks and no distance yesterday and visa versa today.

Icknield Loop

But the constant theme is the sun - yet another day of clear blue skies - the fifth in a row. What a way to start the day, birds crying out from the trees which line the canal, their new leaves dappling the cut in shade.

The first landmark of the day was Wast Hill Tunnel, or is it West Hill - I see both descriptions on the maps. Its one of the biggies and today it was particularly foggy in the middle. The odd thing was that it was foggy ahead, reducing visibility to 100ft in places but then clear behind. I can only conclude that the pressure we caused created the mist. All in all it was a particularly eerie place to be.

Wast Hill Tunnel air shaft

I was struck by the light streaming down the ventilation shafts and set myself the challenge of photographing the phenomena. Easier said than done as I couldn't get the auto foucs to lock on, I could see very little and of course the boat kept moving! I did end up with one slightly blurry image which gives an idea of how it looked.

Wast Hill Tunnel

We took advantage of the service boat in central Birmingham, buying a new tank of Gas but passing on the diesel at 99p plus self declared tax. Much cheaper at Oxley Marine (87p).

We did pause long enough to get some supplies from the shops on Broad St, noting the hoards of office workers taking their lunch in the sunshine of Brindley Place. I was so glad that I wasn't among them.

Hockley Port

For a bit of variety we took in the Loops. Icknield with its BW yard and the Soho Loop which offered an opportunity to enter Hockley Port for the first time - and was punished by a jacket round the prop.

We continued on Brindley's route, rising up the three locks at Smethwick, scene of four tragic deaths in recent months. Of all the BCN this area is one of the dirtiest. The prop was never fee of rubbish, chucked into the cut by uncaring locals. Don't expect to make fast progress in the Smethwick area.

All this muck resulted in several weed hatch visits and much to my surprise I discovered 6 inches of water in the engine bilge as we passed Titford. Silly me, I had left a foreign object trapped in the weedhatch seal. Easily solved but a pain none the less.

The old main line is pretty, but it does have a tendency to be weedy. As usual the lillies were coming up and coating the canal margins. Keep to the navigaton channel and you are OK but stray into the edges  on a foraging mission and you will spend ages trying to get the prop clear again.

We slipped into the Black Country Living Museum at 6.00pm and made a swift exit to pay homage to Mad O'Rourkes who offer a splendid Monday special - a choice from a limited menu plus a pint of Lumphammer for a fiver. Cant be bad.

And so another day played out beneath a cloudless sky. Perfect.

Worcester 2012 - Hopwood

Worcester 2012

Hopwood

May 2012

14 miles - 50 locks - 11 hours

Today was a lockfest by any standard. If 100 locks is typical for a weeks cruising, 50 in one day is a bit excessive and this lockfest was played out beneath a scorching sun.

Droitwich Rugby Club bridge

We knew we were up for a bit of a challenge so 7.30am found us motoring out of Vines Park, slipping through the Barge Lock on the level with the gates open at both ends, and then on up the river section where the banks are being colonised by new undergrowth. 

We crept through the M5 culvert and into the new narrow locks, Jeff using his extensive canal knowledge to chat to locals and surprising himself at his emerging canal nerd status. Before we left the top section we passed a huge new marina, its banks still raw earth and its basin home to a sprinkling of craft - 30 at most. Its early days yet.

New locks at Droitwich

The lock keepers garden at Astwood bottom lock was at its spectacular best, a true labour of love. We had the place to ourselves as boaters seemed to have deserted the area, probably beaten back by the heat, but at least they were all set for us as we started into the thick of the Tardebigge flight. It was no record ascent, into the locks at 1.00pm and out at 5.00pm enlisting the help of a lock keeper for about 10 in the middle. It was a slow and methodical climb, finding shade wherever we could.

The weather brought the gongoozlers out in force, the towpath busy with walkers of all shapes and sizes. One elderly gent caught my eye and I made it my business to engage in conversation. It turned out that he was a contemporary of Tom Rolt, and had met the great man on a number of occasions. He confirmed my suspicions when he summed him up in one word "curmudgeonly".

Tardebigge bird house

We were joined by friends at the Reservoir and they rode with us to the top lock. Strangely they seemed more interested in drinks than working locks in the heat - but at least they brought a good supply of muffins.

We need to be in Tipton tomorrow so we pressed on through the tunnels which seemed unusually gloomy till I realised that I was wearing my prescription sun glasses - what a Wally! We saw Starcross moored at Alvechurch, but no Jim and pressed on to the Bittell Reservoir, mooring in the shade of the cutting to the north, protected from the sun and with an earth barrier deflecting the rumble of the M42.

Droitwich Double 6 - Diglis to Droitwich

Droitwich Double
Worcester to Droitwich
7th July 2011

11 miles - 22 locks - 7 hours

Today's objective is to haul ourselves back up to Hanbury and then drop down the Droitwich Junction Canal into Netherwich Basin for another night in Droitwich. 

Droitwich Junction canal - with audience

It all feels a bit like the Beatles "Helter Skelter" - was that on the Double White Album? I think it went along the lines of.... I get to the bottom, and go back to the top, of the ride, turn and go for a slide..... helter skelter, helter skelter.... Well, we enjoyed the ride down the first time so after two days we have got back to the top for another run on this aquatic flume.

Diglis gets mixed reviews. Some complain of noise, overcrowding, failed pump out machines and even eggs thrown from the adjacent flats. We have never encountered any of these problems and it remains one of my favourite moorings.

Cherry Plum picking in Worcester

Its a bit of a slog up out of Worcester - 14 locks to reach the Dunhampstead level and the junction with the Droitwich. But this bash up the hill was interrupted at the very start. We had only just left the lock at the Commandery when Belle spied a yellow cherry plum tree overhanging the canal, its branches literally groaning with ripe fruit. Chery Plums are Nirvana for foragers I am told so we pulled up beneath its branches, climbed onto the roof and accumulated about 7kg's in ten mins - Belle in her basket and me in my keep net! More jam, jelly and syrup coming up.

Oddingley

That moment of excitement aside, we ground on up the hill with intermittent showers hitting us every 30 mins or so. Finally, the climb ends with a flourish of six locks at Offerton where the canal passes under the M5. This location offers an automotive overture, with the steady drone of the motorway overlaid with the scream of cars and bikes pulling away from six ways down the hill and the high pitched tenor provided by the two stroke moto cross course on the hillside beyond the motorway. Against this cacophony the poor old bass line rumble of the narrowboats is all but lost.

But then, just as all the noise and bustle seems overwhelming, peace descends as you pass through the tree lined cutting into Tibberton. From here the canal acquires is distinctive reedy image - similar to the lower Droitwich. Long narrow stretches where opposing boaters play chicken to see who will dive into a slightly wider sections last. We passed Waterway Routes at Dunhampstead, probably waiting for the rain to stop before filming the Droitwich.

Then it was back to Hanbury and the start of the Droitwich. This time the heavens obliged and we were blessed with fine weather and we had the canal to ourselves.

A helping hand down the locks

Whilst the crowds have gone, all that draw on the water has taken its toll on the Worcester Birmingham. There is enough water, but the pounds are low all the way down. With the side ponds of the Droitwich Junction full we operated the locks in the conventional way, still under the watchful eye of the lock keeper.

The new bit

The emptiness of the canal allowed us to stop and get all the photos we missed 1st time round. This time the locals were out in force, still fascinated by the sight of boats moving up and down their canal. They continually engaged with us, asking us our opinion and seeking confirmation that the canal will be popular. They needn't worry, its a guaranteed hit!

Inside the M5 culvert at Droitwich

After the euphoria of the first run, the second descent into Droitwich allowed for a more objective view. The top end is functional rather than beautiful and my observations of the locks in practice are consistent with those I made a year ago. There are no wings to guide boats in so entering the new locks is an unforgiving exercise. Any error is rewarded by a huge bang and a visit from my Irish boating cousin Rick O Shea! This issue can be remedied by the installation of some timber guides to offer jaws for the less than perfect steerers among us.

Droitwich and one her favoured sons - Edward Winslow (Pilgrim Father)

Then it was back into Netherwich Basin and another night in Droitwich. What a great spot!

Droitwich Double 3 - Into Droitwich

Droitwich Double

Tardebigge to Droitwich

5th July 2011

7 miles - 19 locks - 5 hours

This was a real red letter day for boating. Not only is it new water to travel on, but its also a new canal and therefore something of an unknown quantity - very exciting! Our aim is to reach Droitwich today so we will cover just the narrow Droitwich Junction Canal, leaving the wide Barge Canal for tomorrow.

Netherfield Basin, Droitwich from St Augustines

Having seen the multitudes flocking away from Droitwich yesterday we felt a bit like the Biblical foolish virgins who arrived at the wedding after the feasting had ended. The party may have finished but the locals were still coming to terms with the changes they had wrought. Anyway, I am getting ahead of myself.

We were up and away by 9.00am, marching down to Stoke Prior (6 locks) and then the Astwood flight (6 locks). I always find it difficult to say where Tardebigge ends. Technically I know its at the Queens Head but the short pound feels like an interruption in a greater descent - a bit like a ledge on the face of the Eiger, just big enough for a handful boats to rest on their way up or down.

A helping hand from BW

BW were hard at work by Black Prince, also catching up after the Droitwich opening. They set the lock for us and shared inside observations about the new canal and were rewarded with slices of Belle's Rose Hip Bread. 

The garden at Astwood Bottom Lock was its usual glorious self and the offer to buy six duck eggs was an opportunity too good to miss. Huge yokes and full of flavour.

Side pounds in use at the top locks

Finally, we reached Hanbury Junction with rain clouds building over our heads. All morning the hay bailers have been dashing round the fields but this all has to come to an end. Its just a shame it ended at the exact moment we started down the new canal. I tried to grab some photos but keeping the camera dry was a major headache. No matter - we will be going down again in a couple of days - this is the Droitwich Double after all!

Map of the Droitwich Canals

It was like Paddys Market at the junction, two boats emerged and one of the on line moorers, his boat fendered to the hilt, was repositioning his craft, plus BW were moving a dumb barge and tug down the first three locks. These first few days have been a baptism of fire for the canal, probably carrying more concentrated traffic than it will for many years to come. As a result they are juggling water levels and ironing out the teething troubles. 

New section at the Rugby Club

The top three locks are very deep at nearly 13 feet each, comsuming copious quantities of water. To help contain this pressure on the Worcester Birmingham Canal the side pounds are being used, which is something of a novelty and found only on the Foxton Staircase to the best of my knowledge. A volunteer lock keeper was also on duty, keeping an eye on things - a resource soon to be withdrawn.

There was quite a crowd at the restored top locks, we passed Martin Ludgate on a Viking afloat boat -  he seemed familiar but I couldn't place him as I dashed down the towpath shrouded in my waterproofs - but he recognised Wand'ring Bark and Belle at the tiller. Then Vaughan Welch (Deputy National Chairman of the IWA and Vice Chair of the Droitwich Canal Trust) came up making his acquainatance. Awareness of Captain Ahab spreads far afield it seems.

The staircase pair on the Droitwich Junction Canal

And of the canal itself? Well, the first section comprises the original three locks restored several years ago. In the intervening years the entrance of one has moved in to less than 7ft, and this issue was only discovered at the 11th hour. The offending stones were removed and await a permanent repair.Then the course of the canal is lost beneath the gardens of some houses to the south, so a diversion takes place pretty much all the way into Droitwich. This is effectively a brand new line, set maybe 100 yards to the north of the old.

First there is a shallow stretch past the Rugby club, site of a soon to be built 200 berth marina, and then on to the new staircase pair - all clinically white in fresh concrete. The top paddles were built with an over generous capacity, causing a huge surge in the lock below. It seems that some principles of lock design have been lost in 200 years! The solution is to peg the paddle gear to allow them to be only 1/3rd lifted.

That low M5 culvert

Then it's another short pound to the new single lock which drops the canal into the stream which is used as the means of getting under the M5. This box culvert is tight, there is no contesting the fact. Because you are on a stream the water level fluctuates and this can render the tunnel either too shallow for beep drafted boats (as Barnet discovered) or with too little air draft. There is very little margin for error. The good thing is that the height warning bars are 100% accurate - not like the noddy guide at Froghall which is 1.5 inches pessimistic. If you can get under the bar you can pass through the tunnel - unless someone draws a lock above or below you, and then all bets are off. I can see this tunnel being a talking point for years.

Then you burst out into a beautiful winding river section before dropping through yet another new concrete lock into the canalised River Salwarpe. In time this area will soften I am sure, but at present I can only describe it at utilitarian. Lots of steel piling and concrete capping, the banks are bare earth as work only finshed a couple of weeks ago. Nature is good at healing such scars but for now it does the job without a lot of concession to beauty.

The last narrow lock

Then its into the Barge Lock - a wide lock but still part of the Droitwich Junction Canal and gateway to Vine Park. At the time of our visit it was merely a flood lock with a fall of maybe  an inch, so having moved the swing bridge we sluiced through with both gates open. 

Vine Park, Droitwich

The park itself is beautiful, with three swing bridges carrying footpaths from one side to the other. Luckily, one is chained open but that still leaves the shore based crew member dashing like a mad thing through the park to unlock the other two (BW key needed) and swing them out of the way before the boat arrives.  You are not left with much time to stand and admire the view.

The new Droitwich pass time - boat spotting!

Then there is Netherwich Basin, a truly great mooring ringed with reeds and room for about 30 boats hanging off finger pontoons. Its quiet and secure, all protected by a locked gate and a moat like surround of water behind the reeds. The town is a real delight too, but more of that tomorrow. I have bored you enough for one day!