Sunday 5th August - Day at the Bratch
Today was a rest day. We spent the day relaxing in the sunshine and walking along the disused railway.
Monday 6th August - Bratch Locks to above Hyde Bridge, Kinver
We set off from our mooring about 8.30am and were pleased to see the Lock Keeper and a volunteer there to help us down. They had been working boats up and down non-stop since 8.00am, quite a busy morning!
This is the Lock House at Bumblehole Lock, such a substantial building but in a poor state of repair, although there is some evidence of habitation.
Most of the locks along this canal have the circular weirs, but this one at Marsh Lock has an oval weir, most unusual.
Plenty of fishermen along the canal, this one fishing from the shed roof!
Dunsley Tunnel, the shortest tunnel on the system at 25 yards is simply hewn out of the rock.
Our mooring for the night above Hyde Lock just before you get to Kinver. A shady spot after the heat of the sun all day.
Tuesday 7th August - Hyde Lock to Whittington Lock
A lovely view across to the church above Kinver taken from Hyde Lock.
A short cruise today, after about an hour we had moored up below Whittington Lock having a well earned pot of coffee!
Some interesting manoeuvres going on in front of the lock. This poor chap had real difficulty bringing the whole length of his boat into the side, the boat in front of us had moored up whilst he was trying to control his boat!
We went for a walk up onto Kinver Edge, but it was so warm that Toby found the only bit of shade available! Can you see him?
Again here, Toby is virtually the same colour as the ground. The last time we were here it was very green and damp!
Whittington Bridge is one of the prettiest bridges on this canal.
Wednesday 8th August - Whittington Lock to Wolverley Court Lock
The canal passes alongside steep cliffs of red sandstone, causing the canal to twist and turn and narrow alarmingly around many many bends.
We then passed through Cookley tunnel, with the village of Cookley stretched out above the tunnel.
We moored up for the day just before the isolated Wolverley Court Lock and walked back into the village of Wolverley.
The golf course in front of the Lock Inn is doing a roaring trade, but in the summer of 2016 this was all under water as the River Stour had burst its banks.
The elegant red brick church built in Italianate style stands above the village and the white cottages below are built into the sandstone rock.
Back at Wolverley Lock, there is a flight of steps leading nowhere, their path blocked by the addition of a walkway over the canal.
Thursday 9th August - Wolverley Court Lock to Stourport, River Severn
We left our mooring and continued into Kidderminster where we moored up at the large Sainsbury's and did a food shop.
We locked down through Falling Sands Lock, there are three locks in Kidderminster which need the water conservation key to open the locks to prevent vandals from emptying the pounds between the locks.
We then continued on to Stourport where we pulled up alongside a boat at the services putting on water so that we could empty our rubbish.
We then continued through the basins to the first of the narrow lock staircases locking down onto the River Severn.
There are two sets of double staircase locks with a very small pound between them. It took some difficult manoeuvring to get the bow of the boat into the mouth of the second set of locks, and with a lot of people watching it was pretty daunting, but the volunteers were very complimentary about it!
The funfair on the riverside was in full swing and incredibly noisy, we were quite relieved that we didn't buy a property in Stourport!!
Once down on the river we turned left to head downstream to the visitor moorings. We ended up on the very end of the pontoon which, strictly speaking, was the lock landing for the wide locks, but they are rarely used these days.
When on a river you should always moor facing upstream as it is easier to bring the boat in safely against the flow of the river.
Friday 10th August - Stourport to Worcester
Friday morning we set off early from our mooring to head down to Worcester.
This is where we moored overnight with the Angel Inn above the pontoon.
Looking back upstream you can see the road bridge over the river. This marks the limit of navigation for powered craft, there doesn't appear to be anyone responsible for making sure the waterway is clear, so it is used by rowing boats and small boats.
We passed through Lincomb Lock, the first of the river locks on the way to Worcester and then pulled over to put on water.
We enjoyed going through these locks, they are worked for you by the lock keeper and there are wires set into the wall that you thread your rope through to keep the boat steady as the lock empties.
I enjoyed spotting the wildlife, there were many herons, this one took flight as I took the photo.
We weren't able to get a photo, but along this stretch we saw a deer swimming across the river in front of us, by the time we had realised what it was it had leapt out of the river and along the bank.
Very attractive river front cottage, very understated compared to some of the properties on the River Thames.
Waiting for a river cruiser to exit the Holt lock before going in ourselves and this time sharing it with a hire boat also heading for Worcester.
This is the mouth of the Droitwich Barge Canal. Our new Marina is at the other end of the Canal before it joins the Worcester and Birmingham Canal.
Bevere Lock was the last lock of the day, as we left it another narrowboat was heading in.
A good view of Worcester Cathedral as we approached the city bridge. Unfortunately the heavens opened and we got soaked by a torrential downpour!
The juvenile swans gather at the Swan Sanctuary where they rely on the people of Worcester and visitors to feed them. In the middle is a black swan, the only one we saw.
We moored up for the weekend at the visitor moorings beyond Diglis Basin Locks. The boat in the distance is turning off the river onto the Worcester and Birmingham Canal. Above us is the apartment we are hoping to buy.
Saturday 11th August - day in Worcester
Today we are staying in Worcester and plan to explore the riverside walk.
We walked south as far as the footbridge and looked back towards Worcester and the double locks which are the Diglis River Locks.
We then walked up the other side of the river past the weir and could see nbElla moored at the visitor moorings.
Here, you can see the boat and the block of apartments where we hope to live quite soon.
A clear view of the Cathedral from the other side of the river. Today is the first day of Worcester Festival and the bells were ringing in celebration. Quite an impressive sound.
We had a cup of tea at Foley's looking across Worcestershire County Cricket ground. Another lovely view of the Cathedral, a very pretty ground, preparing for a T20 game on Sunday against Nottinghamshire Outlaws.
The annual duck race was having a few problems. The river is flowing slowly but the wind blowing upstream was pushing the ducks backwards, so the fire and rescue boats were trying to help them on their way!
A little further on we saw the Cathedral Ferry bringing people across the River for a small donation.
We returned to the boat and spent the rest of the day aboard as the rain set in and it became very wet!
Map Key
Week 1 - Purple Week 2 - Brown
