Tardebigge Bottom Lock to Astwood Bridge (Worcester & Birmingham Canal)

Going into Stoke Top Lock

Working through Stoke Locks

Chugging off today and we were pleased to see that it was sunny.  We stayed put yesterday and had a lazy day just chilling out after all the locks and our incident the day before!!  Set off along the canal to the first of the six stoke locks, we were lucky as it was set for us.  Through here and on to the next one where there was a boat coming out, so that one was ready for us too.   

Heave Ho! Plan B in Action

Plan B worked, Hurray!

After our incident with the Gordanneus Celeste, Kev has come up with a Plan B, as these locks have the steps at the end of the lock as well, we put it into action.  We take the boat down the lock on a rope, when the lock is empty, we each open a bottom gate and Kev then pulled the boat out of the lock by the centre rope and then held onto the rope while he shut the off side gate and I shut the tow path side gate, then he walked down the steps and back on the boat and onto the next lock, it worked like a dream, no ropes going into the water and no boats going off on their own, so Plan B works, hurray!! 

Moored at Astwood Bridge

On through the next three locks, and then we were at Stoke Wharf where we stopped to use the services and also Kev popped over to the café and got us bacon sandwiches for our breakfast, very nice.  Suitably fed, we went through Stoke bottom lock and on along the canal and stopped at the water point for water, then chugged on abit further and moored at the top of the Astwood flight just before the bridge, we are going to save those locks for another day! 

Bowling Green at back of pub

Cheers!!

The Bowling Green Pub

Walked up over the bridge and up the road to the pub, well first of all we went right but couldn’t find the pub, so asked someone, and at the junction we should have gone left, typical!, so we walked back down the road and up around the corner and there was the pub, it was called The Bowling Green and yes you’ve guessed it, it actually has a bowling green at the back.  We went in the pub, it is really nice, proper olde worlde.  We got a drink and as they do cobs, we had one of them as well, they were nice but not quite as nice as the cobs at the Anchor pub in Caunsall on the Staffs & Worcs canal.  We sat outside by the bowling green.  The landlady was very friendly.  Walked back to the boat and just chilled out.  Early evening, it went very dark and then there was a heavy rain shower, first one for ages, but it didn’t last long.  We are probably staying here again tomorrow, gearing ourselves up for the six Astwood locks on Friday.