Tardebigge locks between locks 1 & 2 to Tardebigge Bottom Lock (Worcester & Birmingham Canal)

Working through the Tardebigge Flight

Passing the Fishing Lake

The forecast for today wasn’t great, so we thought we might get a bit of rain, but we were lucky as although it was abit overcast when we set off, the sun came out and it was really warm again.  We are tackling the Tardebigge flight today, all 29 of them, oh what joy!!  Actually they are really nice locks set in nice countryside and are close together so quite easy to work through, but hard work.  Set off at 8.45am, the middle of the night for us!! And onto the first lock, had to set it, and the next few , but got through them okay as we got a nice system going.  Then a boat came up, so that was good as the next ones were set for us.

We were going down one lock and Kev said that he would try to shut the gate on the off side when the boat was out the lock as there were some steps at the end of the lock and a hook to put the rope on, so we opened the gates and Kev drove the boat out, stopped at the steps, put the rope on the hook and went up and shut the gate, so far so good, he went back to the steps and the boat moved and the rope came off the hook just as Kev got there and slipped into the water, and the boat moved on!!  This meant that I was on the tow path and Kev was on the lock, so who was on the boat!!! Well you have heard of the Mary Celeste, well we now had the Gordanneus Celeste, Marys brother!!  Well, what do we do now, we ran some water through the lock to try and bring it over, but it seemed to stay in the middle for ages, then went towards the pound sidewash by the next lock, Kev went across the lock and waded on the top of the weir to try and push the boat to the lock, meantime I decided to let a bit more water through but on reflection maybe shouldn’t have as it raised the water level and instead of being at Kev’s ankles, it was going up towards his knees, needless to say I got shouted at!!  The situation eventually got under control and we got the boat in the lock and Kev back on board.  Luckily no-one was around to witness Laurel and Hardy at work, but five minutes later, a boat came up the next lock and two CRT workers came walking down the tow path, phew, that was close!!  Needed to say, Kev didn’t offer to shut the gates on any of the other locks, can’t understand why not!!

Not too far to go now

Hurray, Tardebigge Bottom Lock

On down through the rest of the locks with no more incidents and soon we were at Tardebigge Bottom lock, 4hrs later, I must say I was really glad to see that sign, through that lock and we moored up just around the corner opposite the Queens Head pub.  Last time we were here, it was being refurbished, but it is now open, so we chilled out for a bit, then went up to the pub for a drink and a meal. 

Moored just past Queen's Head Pub

The Queen's Head Pub

It is really nice inside and out and we had an excellent meal, if you eat there Monday to Friday between 5.30pm and 7pm, you get 25% off main meals, and they have happy hour with discounts on certain drinks between 4 pm and 7pm, so really good value.  It is such a nice place and well worth a visit.  Walked back to the boat and chilled out after our busy and eventful day.  Chugging off again tomorrow.