Back to our home moring

 We are now berthed in our home marina after a short journey from Rugby.

We set off at 8:55 and after about an hour reached the 3 lock Hilmorton Flight.  Fortunately all the locks were set in our favour by boats coming down so we were quickly through.  We entered our marina and moved straight onto our mooring at 11:55.  We will stay here tonight so we can take Densie to nearby Braunston for the urgent work on the engine vibrations and prop shaft leak that provided continual concerns during our journey.

Despite the problems this has been a very enjoyable trip. But time to go home.

3 hours travelling, 3 locks,  6.24 miles

Statistics for the whole journey:

37 days out, 196 miles travelled, 210 locks, 8 moveable bridges. 126 hours on the move.

Rugby

 Another good day's travelling in dry sunny weather.

Densie in Hawkesbury Stop Lock

We set off early again at 8:15. The change from Covrntry Canal waters to those of the North Oxford occurs at Hawksbury Stop Lock which prevents the Oxford Canal waters flowing into the Coventry - very important 200 years ago when each canal was owned by separate companies.  The picture shows the lock empty.  When full the water level is perhaps 6 inches higher.

On the North Oxford Canal in Rugby

Having asended our only lock of the day we cruised on steadily for about 11 miles through isolated countryside the only housing seen being the small village of Ansty. Other than Ansty it was all fields and trees and the occasional road bridge.  We finally reached Rugby and looked for moorngs.  Unfortunsately all of the offical moorings were full so we had to moor about half a mile further on.  Although we always stop in Rugby to visit the nearby Tesco this tme it was not necessary as we have more than enough groceries to take us home.

We did have a period when we were seriously worried.  Checking the voltages of both the engine and domestic batteries we were shocked to see both were unusually low.  This coud indicate a major fault in the electrical system, perhaps both sets of batteries failling or a short circuit somewhere that would prevent us restarting the engne.  We rechecked several times and the situation was the same.  However perhaps 20 minutes later we checked again and the voltages were normal - a great big sigh of relief.  But what could cause the low readings I have no idea.

5 hours 45 mins, 1 swing bridge, 1 lock, 13 miles

Hawksbury Junction

 Sorry, no photos today as we are focussing on getting home so that ongoing problems with the boat engine can be fixed.  Fortunately they have not interrupted our journey so far and do not seem to be getting worse.

We set off at 9:50 pleased that the rain is over.  The weather for the whole day turned out very pleasant.  The first job was to complete the 5 locks of the Atherstone flight which we did in hour, much faster than expected.  This was made possible by the help of the volunteer lock-keepers who ensured that the constant stream of boats up and down was coordinated so that as one boat left a lock it was set ready for the next boat moving n the opposite direcion - one up, one down.

We then passed through attractive scenary to Nuneaton which seems to have improved since our last journey through the town and on to Hawksbury Junction in the outskirts of Coventry.  Here the Oxford Canal leaves the Coventry Canal and we hope will take us back to our marina over the next 2 days.

6 hours 20 minutes, 5 locks, 11.44 miles.

Rain

We are not moving today - rain stopped play.  Cold as well, the central heating helped.

Atherstone

 As today's rain was postponed until tomorrow we decided on another long day in case we did not want to move on Tuesday.

At Tamworth the Coventry Canal crosses the River Thame 

Our journey took us through Tamworth where there are 2  notoriously slow locks.  Fortunately when we arrived we were first in the queue to go up - we are now ascending after having descended all the locks since Gailey on Thursday last week.   By the time we left the first lock 5 boats had turned up at the bottom waiting to follow us.

Then out of Tamworth into pleasant but unremarkable agricultural and wooded countryside via Polesworth to Atherstone.  Here there are 11 locks and we had debated whether to moor at the bottom or possibly go all the way up.  However we compromised and have now moored halfway up at official moorings near the town.

10 miles, 8 locks,5 hours 45 minutes

On the Coventry Canal

Fradley, approaching the junction

The Swan at Fradley

On the Coventry Canal

 Another day another canal.  This morning we turned off the Trent& Mersey onto the Coventry Canal which will take us to the outskirts of that city.

The weather forecast today was for rain in the afternoon and the whole of tomorrow. So yet again we set off before 9am to descend Woodend Lock.  There was a small queue of boats wiating to go both up and down so it took a little time for us to eto through.  The delay was made worse by one of the paddles being out of use.  Oddly enough (or not) the same paddle had been unavailable last time we were in the area about 4 years ago.

The next point of interest was Fradley, perhaps the best known visitor boating location in the area with a junction, flight of locks, boating services, cafe, swing bridge, and the Swan, allegedly the most photographed pub in the country.   If you have a calendar picture or jigsaw of a canal pub, it could well be the Swan.

At Fradley Junction we turned right off the Trent & Mersey onto the Coventry Canal. The Trent & Mersey has always been a canal of  major importance whereas the Coventry really is second league.  In places it is narrow, shallow, winding and overgrown with vegatation.  The delights of the first 10 miles from Fradley are limited, today they were overshadowed (literally) by the dull grey sky.

Surprisingly there were a lot of other boats on the canal, both moored and on the move. At one point we met another boat coming the other way as we were passing one which was moored.  The oncoming boat was travelling too fast which forced us into the offside of the canal where we ran firmly aground.  The engine was not powerful enough to pull us off and even with the help of crew from the boat following us it took a lot of time and effort to get back into the main channel.

After lunch on the move we wer both getting tired and decided tro moor up in the outskirts of Tamworth.  We had only just secured the boat when the rain started.

11.5 miles, 3 locks, 1 swing bridge, 5 hours 45 minutes.

Down the Trent&Mersey Canal

The Trent & Mersey Canal follows the Trent Valley near the West Coast Main railway line

Aqueduct over the Trent at Rugeley

High Bridge at Armitage near Rugeley

Today we completed most of our travels on the Trent & Mersey Canal with pleasant warm mainly sunny weather.  Some years ago Densie was based in King's Bromey Marina here so we know the canal well, however it seemed more attractive then we remembered.

After leaving Great Haywood we descended Great Haywood and Colwich locks near which Denise saw a pair of Kingfishers which I missed.  Our next stop was Rugeley.  Formerly a mining town with a large power station there has been much improvement in recent years including on the canal side.  It has become a useful place to stop for passing boaters particularly since a large Tesco opened by the canal.  Here we shopped for the groceries we will need for the rest of our journey, except for some veg which we can get later.

Moving on to the edge of the town we refilled our water tank and then through a heavily wooded area to Kings Bromley Marina where we emptied our waste tank.  A further mile down the canal we reached Woodend Lock where we have moored for the night.

5 hours 55 mins travelling, 2 locks, 11.45 miles

Great Haywood,

We were prepared for rain and possibly hail, but fortunately neither was a problem.  As we were ahead of plan we started later than usual and around lunch time moored at Great Haywood where the Staffs & Worcestershire Canal joins the Trent & Mersey Canal.

The picture shows Tixall Wide near Great Haywoood where the Staffs & Worcestershire canal forms a large lake, a favourite mooring spot for boaters.

Tixall Wide

It is overlooked by the gatehouse of the long demolished Tixall House.  If that is just the gatehouse I wonder what the house was like!

3 hours 35 mins, 2 locks, 7.77 miles

Here comes the rain - through Penkridge.

Longford Lock with M6 in background

 I will not say much about this section of the journey on the north half of the Staffs and Worcestershire Canal because basically it is boring with flat farmland scenery, and the largest habitation, Penkridge, is of limited interest except for its two small supermarkets.  The main feature is perhaps the M6 which passes near to the canal for about 6 miles from Gailey to beyond Pnkridge.

As rain was forecast for troday we again started fairly early and stopped at Penkridge 3 hours and 6 kocks later for a smalle amount of shopping.  We then descended 4 further locks, all of whch were difficult to operate either because one of  the paddles was out of action, or the paddles were extremely stiff or the bottom gates would not stay closed.

After lunch on the move we stopped at 2pm near Acton Trussel and heavy rain started shortly afterwards.

5.42 miles, 10 locks, 5 hours 5 mins

Gailey

Compton Lock, Wolverhampton

Rain was forecast for tomorrow so we set off extra early at 8am with the aim of going a few miles beyond our planned destination.  The canal ascended through 3 locks in the suburbs of Wolverhampton to its top level, the locks for the rest of our journey on the Staffs and Worcestershire Canal will be down hill.  Travelling through Wolverhampton by canal there is little indication that one is in an industrial city.  Occasionally a back garden can be seen through the trees but little else.

The Shropshire Union Canal leaves the Staffs & Worcestershire

Beyond Wolverhampton the scenery becomes less attractive than the previous section from Stourport with more industry,  roads and fields and no distant views.   The Birmingham Main Line leaves to the east and shortly afterwards the Shropshire Union branches towards Chester. 

Narrow Cutting at Autherley

After the juctions there is a third of a mile or so of very narrow cutting little wider than a boat except in a few passing places.  We have cruised this way many times and this is the first time we have met 3 boats going in the opposite diection.  The cutting arose because when the canal was built in the 1760's the rock in the area was found to be too hard to easily remove and so the waterway has built as narrow as possible to minimise costs

We ate lunch on the move and arrived at Gailey, 3 miles beyond the planned destination at 13:30.

5 hours 30 mins, 3 locks, 12.3 miles

Through The Bratch Flight

Hinksford Lock

The Bratch Flight 

The gap between 2 of the Bratch ocks

Awbridge Lock

Moored above Dimmingsdale Lock

Yet another glorious day's boating through attractive countryside after another early start.

Our route took us through Womborne where we ascended the unique Bratch Locks. They are configured like a stair case except that each of the 3 locks has its own top and bottom gates with a "pound" between each lock and the one above of no more than a few feet long. So boats cannot pass when in the flight. To avoid confusion the locks are controlled by a permanent lock-keeper.

By 13:25 the sun was getting very hotso we moored in a shaded area about a quarter mile above Dimmingsdale Lock some 3 miles before the outskirts of Wolverhampton.

5 hours 5 minutes, 5 miles, 12 locks.

An early start - Kinver and beyond

At 25 yards Dunsley the shortest and possibly oldest
 navigable tunnel on the canals. 

Typical Staffs & Worcestershire view

 

Densie on the Staffs and Worcestershire Canal

We need to make up some lost time on our plan to get home so we started our journey today at 8am.  This should enable us to achieve the extra mileage before the weather got too hot for comfortable boating.

The superb canal scenery noted yesterday continued for the whole of today with tall trees, views,  cuttings through red sandstone and easy locks most of the latter being set in our favour..  We stopped at Kinver to fill up with water and then carried on non stop until 2pm when we moored up at the small village of Hinksford and ate a betaled lunch washed down with a bottle of beer.

6 hours, 8.5 miles, 7 locks.

North on the Staffs and Worcestershire Canal.

 

Oldington Bridge

Falling Sands Lock

Kidderminster Railway Viaduct

We left Stourport at 8:45 undr blue skies with a cool breeze. Ideal boating weather.  It is some time sonce we have cruised this canal and we had forgotten how attractive the lower section is.  The canal is on the edge of the Stour Valley with flat farmland to one side and wooded hills to  the other. At times it is cut through red sandstone, which adds to the enjoyment.

Narrow cutting through red standstone

Moored at Debdale

We stopped in Kidderminster in the mid morning and spent an hour shopping in Tesco.  Our last chance of a convenient large supermarket for a week.  We then moved on for an hour, mooring at Wolverley for lunch.  From the guidebook this seems an interesting village but sadly we could not afford to investigate as we are keen to get home so that the boat can be checked - it is still not running as smoothly as we are used to.

We finally stopped for the day at Debdale Lock  near Cookley.  The weather was getting hot and the noisy engine was getting tiriing. We are a couple of miles behind our plan but if we start early tomorrow and dont stop for lunch we hopeto catch up.

7 miles 4 hours 25 mins 6 locks

Up the River Severn to Stourport

The elegant Holt Fleet Bridge over the Severn

typical Severn Scenery

In Lincomb Lock

Early this morning at 8:30 we descended the 2 remaining locks of the Droitwich Barge Canal to get down on the River Severn. There followed about 3 hours of pleasant though unvaried woodland scenery.   Howeer the journey was memorable for my first sighting of a kingfisher this year.  Sadly Denise was inside the boat and missed it.  Apart from the kingfisher the only points of interest were the two large locks at Holt Fleet and Lincomb, both manned. 

Stourport double staircase locks

We moored on the river at Stourport at mid-day and took a load of clothes for a service wash at a nearby launderette.  Then back to the boat to ascend the 2 pairs of narrow staircase locks into the impressive Basin, one of largest and best surviving canal basins in the country.  It really is worth a visit.

We moved onto the services block to pump out the waste water and dump some rubbish and then moored a short distance beyond the basin near the town centre.

5 hours 45 mins, 9 miles, 9 locks

A day on the Droitwich Barge Canal

Our Italian meal last night at Al'Angelo in Droitwich was very good with excellent food and service.  Recommened to all visitors.

On the Droitwich Barge Canal

Densie and Sans Souci in Lock 8

Original James Brindley bridge dating from c. 1770

Moored above Lock 2

Now to today's happenings. There are in fact two Droitwich Canals.  The narrow Droitwich Junction Canal connects the town to the Worcester & Birmingham Canal.   This becomes the wide Droitwich Barge Canal in the town centre and takes one to the River Severn.  The Droitwich Barge Canal was one of the first canals to be built at the start of the industrial revolution. The Droitwich Junction Canal was one of the last ones, being constructed after the railways began to replace the canals.

We left our moorings at 9:15 travelling along the Droitwich Barge Canal with narrowboat Sans Souci.  The journey took us down 6 wide locks and through attractive counryside to the two locks that drop down to the river.  We stopped for the day at the CRT moorings above these final 2 locks whilst Sans Souci carried on his journey.

5.19 miles, 3 hours 15 minutes cruising, 6 locks

Quiet day in Droitwich

View of Netherwich Basin, Droitwich, from Densie's roof

We are not moving today as we need a rest after all the recent locks and the festival. This morning we walked around the town and shopped for enough groceries to last us until the  next major supermarket in Kidderminster..  The old part of Droitwich close to the canal and the River Salwarpe  is atttractive with half-timbered buildings although a fair number of the shops are empty. The upper town is modern with a shopping mall and seemed much busier.

We have filled up Densie with about 300 litres of drinking water which from our experience at the festival could last us another two weeks, but we wont let it get that empty.

This evening we have booked a table at a nearby Italian Restaurant with an interesting-looking menu.

0 miles, 0 locks, 0 swing bridges

Droitwich - new waters and an eventful day

 To complete yesterday's saga of the vibration.   Although RCR did not confirm that a mechanic was on his way one turned up in the late afternoon. He quickly confirmed that our problems were due to the engine vibrating and was able to adjust the mount which had been repaired when the engine was serviced a couple of weeks ago.  But he suspected that this would only be a partial solution as the propshaft may have been bent when the propellor hit a log.  However he advised that the problem probably would not get worse and we should be safe for our planned river trip.

So when we set off in the morning we were listening carefully for rattling noises.  Although still  occasionally audible they were much quieter.  So we are now confident about being able to continue ur journey as planned.

Turning onto the Droitwich Canal

After a couple of miles we reached Hanbury Junction were our cruise took us west onto the Droitwich canal.   This canal was only fully restored 10 years ago and was not open on our previous visit to the area.  So it's a new canal to add to our list.

Droitwich Top Lock

It starts with 3 deep locks followed by a 2 lock stair case.  A further single lock then takes the canal to the M5 where a very low tunnel passes beneath the motorway. Although Densie could just pass through without hitting the roof the driver has to crouch down barely able to see far enough ahead to steer the boat.  Beyond the M5 the canal enters the town of Droitwich.

One significant lock remained.  When we opened the bottom gates we were confronted with the sight of the boat ahead of us firmly struck in the mud some distance from the towpath.  Taking care not to get stuck ourselves we were eventually able to pull him into the main channel. Further delay was caused a quarter of a mile further on when we met a trip-boat blocking the canal having broken down. 

There followed 3 swing bridges across the canal each of which had to be opened and then closed after we passed though.  Finally at 13:30 we reached the visitor moorings where we intend to spend a couple of nights so that we can explore the interesting-looking town,  stock up with groceries and fill up with water for the first time in over a week.

4 hours cruising, 3.78 miles, 8 locks, 3 swing bridges.