Sunday 4th February - Hyde Lock, Kinver
Today was a beautiful day so we took ourselves out for a long walk through Kinver, on towards Enville and up through The Million and finally back along the canal to the boat.
Much of the walk followed the Staffordshire Way, and parts were incredibly muddy, churned up by off roading cyclists.
We met some pretty little ponies who seemed very friendly and not in the least bit bothered by Toby.
The Million is a plantation of pine trees that probably dates back to just after the second world war. The name may have stuck as local people referred to it as "there are millions of trees growing up there".
We joined the canal and walked back passing the Devil's Den on the left.
Monday 5th February - Hyde Lock to Wolverley
Monday was a bright and cold morning and we set off through Hyde Lock down into Kinver.
The view across the lock was lovely.
We passed through our second tunnel, Cookley Tunnel, 65 yds long this time. The tunnel goes under the road with the houses above it.. Looks quite strange!
We arrived at Wolverley and moored up above Wolverley Lock. We treated ourselves to lunch in the Lock Cafe and then went to explore Wolverley and the surrounding woodland. One of the unusual features of the village are the rooms cut into the sandstone cliffs behind some of the houses.
Tuesday 6th February - Wolverley to Stourport
Another fine bright morning, so we set off on the final leg to our destination of Stourport on Severn. As we passed through Kidderminster we stopped at the large Sainsbury's at the Retail Park and stocked up on essentials.
St Mary and All Saints Church looks down over Kidderminster Lock after which the canal dives under the inner ring road.
A new road spanning the canal and the River Stour.
When we came this way in 2016 it was still being built.
We arrrived in Stourport and went straight down into the basin where we were able to moor at the visitor moorings.
That evening, around about 6pm, there was a lot of commotion at the lock and we learnt the next day that a man had been rescued after having fallen into the lock. Locks can be very dangerous places especially in the dark.
Wednesday 7th February - Stourport Basin
After a very cold night we woke to brilliant blue skies and sunshine.
The gulls were having fun skating on the frozen basin!
We walked along the River Severn as far as Lincomb Lock. When we did our Helmsman Course we came down onto the river and had our first experience of river cruising. Lincomb Lock was our first river lock and I remember going through it 4 times in total!
Stourport has 2 sets of locks going down onto the river, a wide lock and
a narrow lock, obviously depending on the size of your boat.
In the afternoon I went to have my haircut, another first for me as I usually wait until I get back to Market Drayton and go to my own hairdresser. However, this time my hair had grown so long, it was driving me mad and I just wanted it cut as short as possible!
I was very pleased with the result!!
Thursday 8th February - Stourport to Wolverley Court Lock.
Today we begin our journey back up the canal, we filled up with water, winded the boat in the basin, filled up with diesel and made our way back up the first lock. We bought lunch at the cafe beside the lock and set off for Wolverley.
Pratt's Wharf Bridge is all that remains of a disused arm that used to feed through to Wilden Ironworks until 1949, now an industrial estate. There was also a junction with the River Stour via Pratt's Wharf Side Lock.
I am always fascinated by graffiti and this example was on Falling Sands Bridge, I wonder how they managed to do it?
As we left Kidderminster and headed for Wolverley Court Lock we saw a pair of kingfishers carved from tree stumps, lovely work!
Friday 9th February - Wolverley Court Lock to Whittington Lock
Today we waited for the rain to pass before we set off for Whittington Lock, just out of Kinver.
It was a pleasant cruise, sunshine and a chilly wind until we got to Debdale Lock. Here a squally shower of rain, sleet and snow and high winds caused us to pull over on the lock landing mushrooms, to sit it out. 20 minutes from the first drop of rain and we were under blue skies again! Amazing!
We moored up below the lock and had a quiet afternoon on the boat. In the evening we walked toThe Manor House for our supper.
It was built in 1310 by Sir William de Whittington, a knight of arms and owner of land around Kinver. His grandson was the famous Dick Whittington who went to London in search of pavements paved with gold and became the Mayor of London three times over.
It is also supposed to be haunted, and one of the famous ghosts is Lady Jane Grey, who was Queen of England for 9 days in 1553, and is said to come back regularly to haunt the building.
Saturday 10th February - Whittington Lock
A walk into Kinver to go shopping and an afternoon on the boat watching Six Nations Rugby!
Map Key Week 1 - Brown Week 2 - Purple Week 3 - Dark Blue Week 4 - Light Blue
Week 5 - Green Week 6 - Olive Green Week 7 - Yellow Week 8 - Orange
Week 9 - Pink Week 10 - Dark Pink Week 11 - Dark Brown Week 12 - Light Purple Week 13 - Indigo Week 14 - Blue/Green Week 15 - Dark Green
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