Friday, 15 May 2015

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......

Thursday, 14 May 2015

Wolverley to Pratts Wharf


Arkholme had settled in a little too well overnight , the stern refusing to move. A passing boater tried to help ease her off but to no avail. Three of us pulling the bow did it!!!


C&RT giving Wolverley Court Lock a lick of paint.


The trees begin to thin out as we approach Kiddiminster.


Carpet works and factories long gone.


Art alive and well!!!


Now we know what Kiddiminster did with all the carpet they had left!!!


A family of Canada Geese at Kiddiminster Lock,


overlooked by this handsome church on one side


and modern day Britain on the other.


A remaining carpet factory,


now the home of Debenhams.


Moored for a quick trip to Tesco

We always make use of a canalside supermarket.
Just as we set off we met another boat, of no consequence, until a short while later a young girl came tearing down the towpath after us asking if she could borrow our handcuff key ( the locks around Kiddiminster are all fitted with anti-vandal locks) as her key had been dropped in  the lock and the boat was unable to get out!!! Fortunately another boat passed by in her direction and offered to help. There but for the grace of god go I !!!!

Aqueduct over the River Stour and the viaduct which takes the Severn Valley Steam Railway between Kiddiminster and Bridgenorth.

We find the countryside again at Falling Sands Lock






Moored at Pratts Wharf where boats were once  able to lock down to the River Stour 


This river used to be navigable from here for 1 1/4 miles down to the Wilden Ironworks.

It has poured with rain all day today so we 'stayed put'

Tomorrow its off to Stourport.....


Tuesday, 12 May 2015

The beauty goes on Kinver to Wolverley


Lunchtime start for us today after having two trips to the chemist to collect the monthly meds!!!


Mr Heron accompanies us along the way.



Whittington Horse Bridge



Whittington Lock....


and legs are bared to the world for the first time this cruise!!!


Watching me... watching you!!!


It is difficult to think of another canal bounded by so many trees, only broken by the occasional outcrop of Triassic Rock.

At Caunsall the Bunter pebble beds of Austcliffe Rock loom over us.



Love this boat name from Bedrock Austcliff!!!

I think it's a long time since a train went this way.






Cookley Tunnel is 65 yards long burrows beneath the old iron-making village of Cookley.


Wasn't expecting to see these odd canoes around the bend!


Debdale Lock - what a fantastic setting!!!



Looking back.


Approaching what can only be described as a hairpin bend and taking this line leads to grounding!!

After a lot of rock,rolling and reversing this is definitely the better line.



Rock on both sides now. The navvies who dug out this canal certainly had their work cut out!!!


Moored a Wolverley and time for a stroll around the village.






4 1/2 miles, 2 locks and 1 tunnel.