Tibberton to Worcester (Worcester & Birmingham Canal)

Lock by M5 Motorway

We are on the move again today chugging down to Worcester, we have 12 locks to do and about 5 miles to travel.  It was rather cloudy but at least it was dry as we set off down the canal, under the M5 motorway to Offerton locks, a flight of six locks, they are all close together so that makes life easy and Smugger walked down the flight with me.  Unfortunately the locks were against us so we had to set them first, but they are not very deep and so it doesn’t take too long to go through them. 

Hello I'm down here!!

Smuggler in Bilford Bottom Lock

We met a boat coming out of the one of the locks and he had left the gates open for us so Kev started making his way past him to the lock and you could see that’s what he was doing but the chap on the other boat started waving Kev on furiously , he looked like a demented windmill, it was rather funny, Kev was wondering what he wanted him to do, he was going as fast as he could.  The chap was so busy waving Kev on that he then lost control of his boat and went all over the shop, quite comical, Kev just went past him smiling!

Back in the Big City!

After the flight we then had another six locks to do, a couple were spaced out and then a couple together so didn’t take long to get through them all and by now we were on the outskirts of Worcester.

We chugged on along the canal and moored up just before Blockhouse Lock.  We are staying here tonight then going down two more locks tomorrow and will moor in Diglis Basin.  It is Smugger’s last night with us, the 11 days have gone really quickly and he has been a really good boy, it has been nice having a dog around again to look after and take out.  Sharon and John are coming to Worcester tomorrow to pick him up, then we will stay in Worcester until Tuesday.

Dunhampstead to Tibberton (Worcester & Birmingham Canal)

Waiting patiently for us to moor up

It was a bit overcast as we set off to Tibberton this morning, we are only going a couple of miles again today, but that’s enough for us!  We had a few rain spots while we were chugging along but luckily not enough to get my hair wet!  It then brightened up and the sun eventually came out for a while.

The Bridge Inn

We didn’t meet any other boats and soon we were at Tibberton and moored in the visitor moorings by The Bridge Inn pub.  There was only one other boat there so very quiet and that left not long after we moored, but during the afternoon three other boats joined us, the canal is very quiet though but still a lot of hire boats around for this time of year.

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 to use this canal were Cadbury and Worcester Porcelain.  The boats were very often pulled by a pair of donkeys. This worked well unless the donkeys did not get on!

Tibberton has two pubs and once had a famous drinker and strong man.  In the 17^th Century, Roger Tandy could drink a hogshead of Beer which once empty he could replace on the ground with only a slight movement of his arm.  I know three people (Kev, Steve and Ian) who can today drink a hogshead, but not of beer its usually Gin or Wine but the only thing ending up on the floor is usually them!

Smugs in my chair by the fire!

There is also a shop/post office up in the village so I walked up there in the afternoon to get some milk and just along the road there was a house selling bags of kindling for £1 and free range eggs for 80p a half dozen, so got some of those.

It got rather chilly late afternoon so we lit the fire and Smuggler curled up in my chair!  

We are staying here tonight then off down 12 locks tomorrow to Worcester.

Moored at Tibberton

Hanbury Wharf to Dunhampstead (Worcester & Birmingham Canal)

Smugs & I in Vine Park

Yesterday we stayed put, so we had breakfast then we walked down the Droitwich Canal to Vine Park in Droitwich.  It is a nice walk down the locks.  There is a nice little bakery near the Waitrose and so we went there to get some bread and tea cakes and a few little treats.  It is really good stuff and delicious.  Kev and Smuggler went back to the park and I had a wander around the shops.  We met back up, then walked back up the locks and back to the boat.  It was a nice sunny day so we sat in the pub garden and had some lunch, then just chilled out for the rest of the day.

We are moving on today, but just to Dunhampstead less than a couple of miles along the canal.  Before we left, we walked down to the house where they sell the eggs to get some more and to see if the lady had any jam.  The lady was in her garden so I chatted to her and she said that they hadn’t made any damson jam this year but she would look in her cupboard to see if she had any other pots and she came out with a pot of plum jam and charged me50p!  If its anything like her damson jam we are in for a treat.

Dunhampstead Tunnel

We went back to the boat and chugged off along the canal.  The canal is very quiet and we only met one boat and soon we were at Dunhampstead Tunnel which is only 230yds long.  There is no towpath in this tunnel so the horses used to walk over the hill while boatman pulled the boats through using the handrail along each side, luckily we have an engine so no pulling was required!

Smugs in Dunhampstead Tunnel

Soon through the tunnel and we were at Dumhampstead where there is a boat yard and a hire boat firm and we moored in the visitor moorings just beyond the bridge.

There is a small craft shop here and we went up to have a look, but unfortunately it was closed.  It was another nice sunny day so in the afternoon we put Smuggler on a lead tied around the metal piling and he sat outside for quite a while, he likes that.

We are staying here tonight and chugging on a bit further tomorrow to Tibberton.

Moored at Dunhampstead

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

Flying Visit by Biggles and Toad (Steve and Ian)

The Three Wheeler Car

We are staying put today so had a lazy start.  It is a glorious sunny day today and warm as well.  Our friends Steve and Ian were at a Classic Car Rally not too far from us this morning so on their way back, they made a slight detour and we met them in the car park of The Bowling Green pub about a 10 minute walk from the canal.

Steve & Ian's lovely cars

They came roaring into the car park, Ian driving their lovely Morgan car and Steve driving their wacky three wheeler, such a fun car and it is just fab.  They couldn't stay too long as they had to get back for Henry so we had a quick catch up, then they roared off into the distance.

It was really nice to see them today and lovely they made the time to drop by and see us.  We will catch up again when we get to Gloucester in a few weeks time.

It has been a glorious day today so this afternoon we walked down the locks with Smuggler.  We are staying here again tonight then moving on tomorrow.