Tibberton to Worcester (Worcester & Birmingham Canal)

 

Thursday 9^th October

The forecast was not good today, but when we got up the sun was shining, so we had to decide to stay put or risk going on and not getting wet doing the 12 locks, so decided in the end to stay put and catch a bus to Worcester and do the food shopping.  Got ready and walked up the road to wait for the bus and it started raining and got harder and harder, we got very wet waiting for the bus but was really glad we weren’t doing locks in the rain and it was very windy as well.  The bus came along and we got on and off we went.  We got off at Shrub Hill Railway station and walked down the road and within 5 to 10 minutes we were at Asda and Aldi.  Did our shopping and it rained the whole time.  Walked back to the bus stop and caught the bus back.

Walked back to the boat.  The rain did go over in the afternoon and it brightened up a bit but we were glad we had made the right decision.  We will chug down into Worcester tomorrow.

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Friday 10th October
 

Going under the M5

Into Offerton Top Lock we go

Six locks down, six to go!!

We are chugging off today and the sun was shining.  We have 12 locks to do, so set off early and chugged off to the Offerton locks, there are six in this flight.  The boat that was moored in front of us at Tibberton had set off before us and were in the lock when we got there, we followed them all down the locks, they were a bit slow and we caught them up at most of the locks, but I gave them a hand so not too bad, but we had to fill everyone today before we could go down, so that added a bit of time.  Also there was a hire boat behind us who gave us a hand every now and then, so that helped.  We used our Plan B on the locks as they had steps, so once again Kev was in training for Team Mabey in the tug of war!!  It worked really well and we got a good rhythm going.  Soon we were through all 12 locks and we were in Worcester.  We moored just past Bridge 5 before Blockhouse lock.  We will save that lock for tomorrow!! 

Lock No. 12 done, hurray!!

Walked up to the shops and got some more shopping.  Then back to the boat and just chilled out.  It turned out to be a lovely sunny day, the rain they forecast didn’t come, so we made the right decision staying put yesterday and chugging down to Worcester today in the sunshine instead of in the wind and rain!  Chugging down into the basin tomorrow and will stay there a couple of days before heading out onto the mighty River Severn!!