Top of Astwood Flight to Hanbury Wharf (Worcester & Birmingham Canal)

In Astwood Top Lock

We are moving on today but first we decided to walk the boat back about ½ a mile to the water point as this is the only water point between here and Worcester that is free (there is one at Dunhampstead but they charge £3 to use it!) and as we won’t be in Worcester until Saturday we wanted to top up the tank so we won’t have to worry about running low.  Kev pulled the boat back we tried to get Smuggler to help but he was having none of it!!

Is he Coming?

Luckily it is a fairly straight bit of canal back to the water point and there were no moored boats in the way so it didn’t take too long and soon we were filling up with water.  Once the tank was filled, we got on our way and set off to the Astwood flight of six locks.  The sun was shining again today but quite chilly first thing.

The first five of these locks are quite close together so Smuggler got out and walked the locks with me.  He was really good but does want to be with Kev who is on the other side of the lock and so every so often he does a funny howl, it’s quite comical but he doesn’t pull or anything when he is tied to the lock beam and does lie down, so he is no trouble.

Ooooh the Happy Couple!!

We met a boat in the second lock so that was good as that meant the next couple of locks were set for us, but there must have been a boat in front of us as the next couple were not, but they aren’t very deep locks so don’t take long to get through.

We came out the last lock and chugged along the canal, past the entrance to the Droitwich canal and moored at Hanbury Wharf outside the Eagle and Sun pub.

Eagle & Sun Pub

We chilled out for a bit then walked up on the bridge and down the lane to the house that sells eggs and vegetables and sometimes homemade jam.  We were lucky with the eggs and at only 80p a half dozen good value.  I also got some tomatoes for 50p but unfortunately no jam.  I did knock to see if the lady was there but no-one was home so we will try again tomorrow.

We then went for a walk down the Droitwich Canal as it was such a lovely sunny afternoon.   We are off to the pub this evening as it is a carvery pub and it was very good when we were here in May and want to try it again.

We are staying here tonight and tomorrow and having a walk down to Droitwich.

Moored at Hanbury Wharf