Pratts Wharf to Stourport-on-Severn

Today it's a two mile hop into Stourport-on-Severn where the Staffs and Worcs meets the River Severn.

The trees have become a little invasive here requiring Trev to duck.....

and Arkholme to ground and in need a heavy push.

We have seen so many families of Moorhen this year.

In the last mile into Stourport we have the choice of three visitor  moorings so we decide to moor at the first one and do a 'recci '

Well there is a nice looking pub here!!!

Decision made we are going with the recommended 5-day visitor moorings above York Street Lock.

This old red brick canalside building comes complete with terrace housing large tropical fish.

Here we are moored opposite the site of the canal company's workshops, redeveloped into attractive modern day housing

York Street Lock which drops down into the Upper Basin

which connects to Clock Basin

The Upper Basin connects through two wide beam 'barge' locks with the river, built to withstand the Severn when in flood and with the capacity to take the Severn Trows.

So pleased we won't be going through these!!!

We will be going down the two staircase locks from Clock Basin. Unlike normal staircase locks there is no need to ensure the bottom chamber is empty before going down as there is a by-wash that overflows into the next basin.

The Pearsons guide describes Stourport as suffering from a personality disorder: half convinced that its a seaside town; half a rich heritage of canal wharves. Yep cannot argue with that!!!

We came across a fellow member of the facebook page "Women on Barges"  and helped them down the staircase locks - I must be addicted to locks!!!

We recognise each other 'on the cut' by having a teapot on the boat roof.  They are going all the way down the Severn to no doubt we will be getting to know them well.

Tomorrow we are going on the Severn Valley Railway......