Tibberton to Dunhampstead (Worcester & Birmingham Canal)

We are chugging on to Dunhampstead today, all of 1½ miles so normal service is resumed, doing all those miles and locks in one go is not in our nature!

Leaving Tibberton

Passing Oddingley with small church

It had been raining in the night and when we set off, it was a bit drizzly but not heavy rain.  We left Tibberton and chugged along the canal passed Oddingly and the small church near the canal, under a few bridges and then we were at Dunhampstead and we moored up and we didn’t pass any boats, the canal is very quiet this morning.

Cowslips & bluebells lining path

We chilled out for a bit.  Kev said that the rain was forecast to turn heavier around 1pm, so what did we do, we went out for a walk at 12.30pm and yes you’ve guessed it, the rain turned harder and we got wet!  We walked along the tow path to Dunhampstead tunnel and walked up over it and back down a lane to the bridge over the canal. 

The Firtree Inn

We walked down to the pub The Firetree Inn where we were going to have some refreshment, but like last time we were here it was closed, this time there was a sign saying closed due to flood!

So we got wet for nothing!!  Never mind, we walked back to the boat and had lunch on board instead.

We are staying here tonight then depending on the weather, we may chug on to Hanbury Wharf a couple of miles up the canal or stay here again .

Moored at Dunhampstead

Worcester Marina to Tibberton (Worcester & Birmingham Canal)

Moored in Worcester Marina

Leaving Worcester Marina Behind

In Gregory Mills lock

Waiting for lock to empty

We left the boat in Worcester marina on the Friday night while we went back to Weston for my annual check-up at the hospital which went well and I got the all clear for another year.  We also stayed in the marina Saturday night as well as we didn’t get back to Worcester until early afternoon and then had shopping to do.  Worcester marina is really nice, it is a hire boat base so can be busy with boats coming and going but the staff there are all very friendly and it has a nice feel to it.

The sun was shining this morning, so we did the washing, filled up with water and then chugged out the marina and set off for the locks.  We have 12 locks to do today as we are mooring at Tibberton tonight.  All these locks are not very deep and have steps as you go into the lock, so Kev stepped off there with a long rope and shut the off side gate and did the paddle that side while I did the tow path side, this way it saves me going back and forth from one side to the other, our system worked very well and we were soon making steady progress up the locks. The down side was that there was a boat in front and so every lock was against us and also that boat was going like a snail, we go slow but they were even slower than us and we kept catching them up.  Eventually a couple of boats came down which helped the boat in front of us and they pulled a gap.

In last lock of the day, hurray!!

Working up Offerton locks

We worked our way up the locks and soon we were coming out the last lock and a short cruise along the canal and we were at Tibberton where we moored up.  I was glad to stop as it has been very hot today and quite humid at times, but we shouldn’t complain as I prefer that to rain!!

Tibberton is a small village four miles from Worcester yet that is four hours boating on the Worcester & Birmingham Canal!  This canal was built between 1794 and 1815.  Many different cargoes were carried by narrowboats including coal, matches, flour and chocolate.  Two big companies used to use this canal were Cadbury and Worcester Procelain.  The boats were often pulled by a pair of donkeys. This worked well unless the donkeys did not get on!

The village has two pubs, The Bridge Inn which is on the canal and Speed the Plough in the village, there is also a shop/post office.

We are staying here for a couple of nights here now.

Moored at Tibberton

Worcester Basin to above Blockhouse Lock (Worcester & Birmingham Canal)

We are going up two locks today and mooring above the second one, Blockhouse Lock, it is less a mile so a hard morning for us!!

In Sidbury Lock

We have to go back to Weston-Super-Mare tomorrow as I have my annual check at the hospital and we are leaving the boat overnight in Worcester Marina which is a few bridges up from Blockhouse Lock so if we move up there today we can then go straight in the marina tomorrow morning and have plenty of time to get our train.

Words on railing by Commandery

It was a glorious sunny warm day.  We pulled back to the water point first and filled up, then we set off to the first lock, Sidbury Lock which is a deep lock.  By Sidbury Lock is The Commandery Civil War Centre and on the top of the railings there are some words which are hard to read, but when the sun is out they cast a shadow on the path and hey presto you can read what it says, clever! 

In Blockhouse Lock

The lock was full, so I emptied it and then Kev brought the boat in and soon we were going out the lock and onto Blockhouse lock.  This one was almost empty so didn’t take long to go through and we moored a little way from the lock in a nice sunny spot.

Kev did some sanding down of the boat and painting as it was such a lovely day and I gave the inside of the boat a clean then had a wander around the shops.

We will stay here tonight then off into the marina in the morning and back to Weston-Super-Mare we go.

Moored above Blockhouse Lock

Train Trip to Droitwich

Droitwich Railway Station

We decided to go to Droitwich today as it is only a short train journey and cost £2.50 return each with our rail pass.  We walked up to Worcester station and got on the train and soon we were in Droitwich. 

Vine Park

The town is a short walk from the train station.  There is a very small bakery in Droitwich which sells delicious bread and cakes so we went there first to get a few things, then we headed to Waitrose to buy some sandwiches and a drink and then went and sat in Vine Park and had a picnic as it was lovely and sunny, a couple of boats came through the bridges but it was very quiet.  

Droitwich Town Centre

We walked down to the marina where there was quite a few boats moored, then we had a walk around the town, stopped for a coffee then headed back to the train station and got the train back to Worcester. 

We are staying here again tonight then off up a couple of locks tomorrow.