Thursday 23rd May
2019
We spoke this morning, with the owners of the boat next to us. He had
been chairman of the Droitwch Canal Restoration Trust for 18 years and told us
of some of the many hurdles and problems they encountered. Many thanks to him
and all his colleagues for their work and perseverance that has resulted in us
being able to enjoy such a lovely canal.
After breakfast we made ready and left the marina having thoroughly
enjoyed our stay in Droitwich. A very narrow section of canal followed passing
under two railway bridges and a road bridge in quick succession, all of the
approaches being blind so having to take it very slowly. We then left Droitwch
behind us.
At bridge 7 there was a very nasty bend immediately after a high
bridge. The bend was so tight that the boat would not take it and had to be
reversed. We had intended to moor here and look at Salwarpe Court, but there
were no moorings, with trees on one side coming down to the canal edge and
thick, high reeds on the towpath side. The entire length of the barge canal,
while being very pretty, was like this.
The first of the locks was reached after 3 miles, Ladywood Top Lock.
The lock landing was very awkward, being set at an angle to the canal and too
short for Bridge Street. Eight locks were passed through over the day, and all
very heavy.
At Hawford Road Bridge we came across a CRT work party dredging and
repairing the canal side. It was a busy scene but the barges they were using
were blocking the canal.
We then came to the two Hawford Locks and the end of the Droitwich
Canal with the only moorings we had seen along the length of the barge canal,
for just two boats. The combined Droitwich Canals were lovely and not at all
what we had expected. Picturesque and mainly rural with a delightful town in
the middle.
Picturesque Droitwich Barge Canal
The Hawford Locks lower the canal by 13 feet and yet flooding of the
River Severn regularly covers them. To witness such flooding must be
fascinatingly frightening.
The bottom lock is very pretty with its canal side houses overlooking
the Severn. Leaving the lock, we passed out onto the wide River Severn, heading
downstream. On the river, all manner of flood debris is seen but, just before
Bevere Lock, Brenda spotted the rotting corpse of a young deer hanging from a
tree.
Exiting Bevere Lock
After ½ mile Bevere Lock was reached. The recommendation is that
you ring the lock before arriving, both to warn the keeper of your approach,
and also to allow the keeper to ready the lock for entry. We religiously, phone
ahead but on no occasion has the lock been ready despite there being no other
traffic. The river locks are all manned and operated from a control hut by the
keeper. They are big, being designed for the passage of river barges and
operate a traffic light system, red to holdback as the lock is against you,
flashing red telling of the lock being prepared and green to enter. The locks
only have one set of paddles. The flows from them are very strong and the
recommendation is that you sit your boat against the lock wall on the side of
the paddles. The flow then passes through the paddle tunnel, ricochets off the
opposite wall and pins your boat against the wall. Boats not heeding this, will
find themselves moving violently and uncontrollably around the lock.
Beyond Bevere Lock was a 3 mile run down to Worcester. Delightful
scenery but nothing much of interest until the outskirts of Worcester is
reached with some huge houses.
The waterfront of Worcester is exciting. A modern footbridge crosses
the river, followed by a high railway bridge and a very busy road bridge. One
side of the river is mainly parkland with the pavilion buildings of
Worcestershire County Cricket Ground. The opposite bank, where the city is
mainly located, has the Rowing Club and Race Course followed by river side
pubs, hotels, old warehouse buildings and modern apartment blocks. All of this
is completely overshadowed by the Cathedral which dominates the river scene.
The passed the entrance to Diglis Basins and the Worcester and
Birmingham Canal and so completed the Droitwich Ring. There are many canal
cruising rings and the Droitwich is one of the more modern ones. The ring is 21
miles long and has 33 locks. At 5 hours per day, hire boat companies allow 3-4
days to complete the ring, with a few diversions, it took us 10 days! Such is
our pace.
We winded just before Diglis River Lock but before the pull from the
weir, and retraced our steps before mooring on the Worcester river front just
below the race course. We had picked out a spot but found another boat had
beaten us to it. We attempted to moor behind them only to find the metal edging
just below the waterline was sticking out by 2 feet, the next spot had two shopping
trolleys just below the surface so we finished up right beneath the railway
bridge. The trains were frequent but, like anything, we soon became used to
them.
Weather: a lovely sunny day.
Day Total: 9 locks; 9 miles; 0 Tunnels; 0 Swing Bridges; 0 Lift
Bridges; 0 Boat Lift; engine running hours 6.1
Overall Total: 520 locks; 912 miles; 46 tunnels; 14 Swing Bridges; 3
Lift Bridges; 2 Boat Lifts; engine running hours 599.3
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