Top of Astwood Locks to The Queens Head Stoke Pound (Worcester & Birmingham Canal)

In lock at Stoke Prior

Working up the Stoke Locks

The sun was shining again as we set off along the canal, we stopped at the water point to fill up with water, then headed on along the canal and into the first of the six locks we doing today.  Mind you the lock was full so I had to empty it first.  We were soon through there and on along the canal to the next locks, the next four are close together so quite easy to do.  Unfortunately these were all full as well, but never mind it was a lovely sunny day so no need to rush.

Boat going in lock on its own!!

In Stoke Top Lock

The canal was very quiet and we didn’t see any boats until the last lock, so that was good as that meant the lock was set for us.   We did our usual method up the locks, Kev got off lock at the steps and the boat went in on its own, clever boat, but where's Whally oops I mean Kev!!

Under the bridge we went and moored opposite The Queens Head pub at the bottom of Tardebigge lock flight, we are saving that for another day!!

The Queens Head

We chilled out for a bit, then walked down the road and along a footpath, into an industrial estate and you come to a Morrisons and an Aldi.  We got our shopping and headed back to the boat.

When we got to the moorings this morning they were empty then one boat joined us, but when we got back from our walk they were almost full with hire boats.  What we couldn’t then believe was that two hire boats went up Tardebigge and it was 5.30pm, what were they thinking, it will be dark before they get to the top, the thought of doing that at this time of the day will give me nightmares!!

We are now staying here for a couple of days, resting after doing two days on the trot and six locks each day, what were we thinking of!!  Tardebigges 30 locks will wait for another day.

Moored at the Queens Head

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

Passing Droitwich Canal

Coming into Astwood Bottom Lock

Passing house on lock

Working Astwood Flight

The sun was shining this morning but a tad cooler than of late, but did warm up a lot as the day wore on.  We set off along the canal, past the entrance to the Droitwich canal and on up the canal to the Astwood flight of locks, there are six locks in this flight but they are not very deep and quite close together and have steps up the side of the locks so we can put our routine of pulling boat in and Kev doing one side and me doing the other into action.  There was a boat in front of us so it was quite slow going as I had to empty each lock before we went in but it was okay and it was such lovely weather and these locks are set in lovely countryside so we were in no rush. 

Astwood Top Lock

We worked our way up the flight and soon we were in Astwood Top lock, our last lock of the day.  Soon through there and under the bridge and then we moored up in a lovely sunny spot.

Kev is going to spend the afternoon painting the gunnels and I have a few chores as well, then when the work is done, we will chill out.

We are staying here tonight then moving on tomorrow up a few more locks. 

Moored at top of Astwood Locks

Walk down to Droitwich

Thursday 12^th May

On our way down the Droitwich Canal

We are off down to Droitwich today and the sun is shining and its nice and warm yippee!  It is a nice walk down to Droitwich about 1½ miles down the Droitwich canal.  We set off down the towpath past the locks, there was a couple of boats going through.  It was warm when we started out but it got really hot during our walk down.  Soon we were in Vines park and then in the shops.  There is a nice bakery there so we went and got some bread, today they had Stilton, Walnut and Honey and Tomato and Garlic so we got one of each.  They had tasters and they were both delicious.

Sitting in Vines Park

Selfie in Vines Park

We had a walk around the shops, my sunglasses broke so I went into Boots and bought some more, can’t manage without them with all this sun! We mooched around for a while and sat in Vine Park for a bit and I took my first selfie, mind you with the sign in the background it looks like I am a volunteer, not sure what for, maybe sitting in Vines Park and soaking up the sun, I am up for that!!  We then walked back up the canal to the boat.

We then went and sat in the garden of the Eagle and Sun and had a few drinks and a bit of lunch as it was so nice and sunny and hot. We then chilled out for the rest of the day.

We are on the move again tomorrow and we have six locks to do, better get plenty of rest tonight to tackle those in the morning.

Dunhampstead to Hanbury Wharf (Worcester & Birmingham Canal)

Leaving Dunhampstead

Approaching Dunhampstead Tunnel

In Dunhampstead Tunnel

We had a lot of rain in the night, quite heavy as well but when we got up, it was dry so we had breakfast then decided to move on before the rain forecasted came, so we set off from Dunhampstead along the canal and Dunhampstead Tunnel, our first tunnel of the trip and easing us in gently as it is only 230yds long.  Soon through there and we chugged along the canal in the dry and it was quite warm but no sun and before we knew it, we were at Hanbury Wharf.

Our lovely Carveries

We moored outside the Eagle & Sun pub.  The pub is a carvery pub so we decided to go and have our lunch there today.  When we got into the pub, it was fairly quiet but within an hour the pub was heaving with everyone having carvery.  It is a great carvery with a choice of three meats and 14 vegetables so Kev was in his element as he does love his vegetables.   We weren’t disappointed as it was really good and I had a lovely chocolate mousse for dessert, Kev had ice-cream.

Eagle & Sun

After lunch we walked down the lane by the bridge where there is a house that sells eggs and vegetables and sometimes jam, but today they  only had eggs.  We spoke to the old lady that lives there and she said there may be some jam later in the year.  We have bought it from her before and it is delicious, but out of luck this time.

We are staying here for a couple of nights and if it is dry tomorrow which the forecast says it should be, we are going to have a walk down the Droitwich canal to Droitwich, so that will be good.

Moored at Hanbury Wharf

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