nb Bridge Street

Monday 20 th May 2019 We left the mooring, crossed over the junction and immediately entered the Droitwich Canal, via the very narrow bridge hole and, after just 100 yards, encountered the first lock. The Droitwich Canal provides a through route from the River Severn, through the town of Droitwich, to the Worcester and Birmingham Canal. It was actually built as two separate waterways, the two being just 7 ¼ miles long with 16 locks. The Droitwich Barge Canal leaves the River Severn at Hawford Junction and terminates in Droitwich. This was one of the earliest canals built, engineered by James Brindley and opening in 1771, to a wide gauge allowing Severn Trows and Wych barges to transport salt to the ports of Gloucester and Bristol. The Droitwich Junction Canal was one of the last canals to be built, on a narrow gauge, being completed in 1852, well after the period of “canal mania” and after the advent of the railways. This not only connected Droitwich to Birmingham ...

After bacon butty breakfast we set off later than intended. Another lovely day. Michelle and myself did the locks with Phil and Brenda on the boat. Upsetting at one of the Astwood Locks, to find a dead Mallard duckling in the water. We duly arrived at Hanbury Junction after a slow cruise back, and Phil and Michelle left us at 1:30 for their long journey home. It had been really good to have them with us. A short visit but Phil starts work tomorrow at 4am. Just 40 minutes later, Aaron arrived. We had a long chat, a walk down the Droitwich Canal and Sunday carvery in the Eagle and Sun. Really good value here. Weather: another lovely day. Day Total: 6 locks; 3 miles; 0 Tunnels; 0 Swing Bridges; 0 Lift Bridges; 0 Boat Lift; engine running hours 2.1 Overall Total: 503 locks; 901 miles; 45 tunnels; 11 Swing Bridges; 3 Lift Bridges; 2 Boat Lifts; engine running hours 590.3 ...

Saturday 18 th May 2019 Phil and Michelle with Murphy arrived at 8:30, having travelled from Bognor Regis that morning. A 3 ¾ hour drive. A long way but it was really good to see the two of them and we always appreciate people making the effort to visit us. Michelle had brought many M&S treats with her and not a few bottles. Hhhhmmm. After a full English we walked down the Droitwich Canal as far as the M5 motorway. It really is a beautiful canal and full credit to all the volunteers who maintain it. Back at the boat we made ready and had a slow cruise heading in the Birmingham direction. We only travelled 3 miles, doing the 6 locks of the Astwood Flight and Stoke Bottom Lock. Brenda and Phil did most of the locking, while Michelle and myself stopped on the boat. The Worcester and Birmingham Canal is very remote and tranquil, passing through lovely countryside that is interrupted a few times with busy roads and motorways, and the occasional sleepy village througho...

Friday 17 th May 2019 We moved to Hanbury Wharf and used their water and Elsan facilities, cost us £3. We were then facing the wrong way and so had to travel 2 miles, passing again through Dunhampstead tunnel, to turn. We could have attempted to reverse but there were many moored boats, a very narrow channel and a skewed bridge to negotiate. Travelling back the way we had come a few days ago, it is surprising what you miss with not looking back. Returning back to Hanburywe moored outside the pub. There is a boat ahead of us that has been on these 24 hour moorings now for 5 days that we know of, with nobody on her and nobody been near. So wrong this, when boats are left on prime moorings, there should be more enforcement, after all your registration number is taken every week in the summer months. We were treated to watching a wide beam boat from the brokerage opposite, being craned out of the water and loaded onto a lorry for onward transportation. All 32 tons of her. ...

Thursday 16 th May 2019 We had a busy day of maintenance and jobs today. I walked over to the chandlery only to find that the paint had been delivered to the New and Used Boat Company yesterday but for some reason they hadn’t passed it on despite speaking to the woman who had actually signed for it. Neither I, nor the chandlery owner were best pleased and there was a fair few shamed faces. Quite a few of the scratches had first to be sanded and primed before the side could be painted. The boat always looks so much better when the blackening has been touched up and personally, I don’t understand boat owners that don’t do this. The engine room was wiped out. Virtually every time it rains the drain from the weed hatch cover blocks and water overflows into the engine room which is really annoying. Also started making up the platform for the coal on the roof. The bathroom door has never closed properly and springs open if not bolted on the inside. I found that all it too...

Wednesday 15 th May 2019 The port side of the boat was washed and polished and made ready for painting the hull side. It has been a long time since this side has been against the bank and the marks and scratches left from the Birmingham and Stratford canals able to be treated. It was a glorious day and we walked down the Droitwich Canal as far as the tunnel beneath the M5 motorway which we had heard so much about. The Droitwich Canal was only reopened as a through route in 2012. It was certainly not what we were expecting, it is really nice. Exceptionally well maintained with the grass almost manicured and lots of wild flowers planted. Most of the route of the canal at this side of Droitwich had been abandoned and filled in and the restoration was a major task. No provision had been made when the M5 was built for restoration of the canal and so the canal passes below the canal using the River Salwarpe culvert which is very low. The tunnel roof slopes downwards and so is m...

Tuesday 14 th May 2019 Waking early, the starboard side of the boat was washed and polished and the hull sides touched up. The mushroom vents were also polished but the chrome is beginning to look tatty. The bases of these we have already decided are going to be painted when the roof is done in September, but something might also have to be done with the mushrooms themselves. Very disappointing on a boat that is not yet a year old. To give the paint a chance to set before moving off, we had breakfast and then went for a walk. Tibberton is a quiet suburb of Worcester of no great interest. The pub that has closed down has the unusual name of “Speed the Plough”, said to come from the saying “God Speed the Plough, To Haste the Harvest”. Never heard of a pub with that name before.  Beyond Tibberton a railway comes alongside the canal and is then never far away until Hanbury Wharf is reached. The village of...