Dunhampstead to Tibberton (Worcester & Birmingham Canal)

 

Tuesday 7^th October

We decided to stay put again today, but needed to fill up with water.  Saw that there was a tap outside the gift shop, so Kev went down to the shop and asked if we could fill up with water.  We could, but there was a charge, one of Kev’s beer tokens, but never mind, we really did need some, so he had to make the sacrifice!!  Only thing was, we had gone way past the tap, so Kev practiced his reversing skills back down the canal, he was very good, had to go past several moored boats and he didn’t touch one of them, he must be getting better ha ha!!!  

The Firtree Inn

Filled up with water and chatted to the shop owner, Andy, then walked down to the pub, The Firtree Inn for lunch.  They were doing a two course meal for £12.50, we had that, it was really good, excellent quality and the staff were very friendly.  Back to the boat and just chilled out for the rest of the day, the sun came out and it was a lovely afternoon.

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Wednesday 8th October

Passing Oddingley Church

Chugging off today, so got ready to leave and guess what, it started to rain, but as there are no locks to do today, I can stay inside so didn't really affect me!! I gave Kev his rain coat and an umbrella, but luckily for him it was only light and a shower so soon stopped, on along the canal we went, past Oddingley which has a nice church and moored at Tibberton.    The rain stopped and we had some sun for a bit, so walked up the road to the shop/post office, it is open every day from 7am, but shuts Wednesdays at 1pm and Saturdays at 12.30pm.  Walked back past the other pub in the village which is called Speed the Plough, it doesn’t look very inviting, so decided to give it a miss. 

The Bridge Inn

Went to the pub by the canal called The Bridge Inn for lunch, they do a lunch club menu, two courses for £6.99, really good value.  We had home made soup to start and it was really good.  Walked back to the boat.  Had a couple of rain showers during the afternoon, but sunny spells as well, so not so bad.  Might be chugging off tomorrow, but if the forecast is correct and its pouring with rain, we will be staying put!  

Moored at Tibberton

Hanbury Wharf to Dunhampstead (Worcester & Birmingham Canal)

Coming to Dunhampstead Tunnel

Coming out Dunhampstead Tunnel

Got up early this morning as the Japanese F1 Grand Prix was on at 7am.  Watched the race, had breakfast then chugged off.  Along the canal past all the moored boats, there are a lot of long term moorings in this area and into Dunhampstead Tunnel, this tunnel is 230 yds long.   

Going through Dunhampstead Tunnel

 Soon through there and on along the canal and moored at Dunhampstead.  It is a nice spot here. There is a small gift/craft shop and a nice pub.  

Moored at Dunhampstead

Went for a walk along the canal as it was a nice sunny afternoon, but there is a chill in the air now.  Back to the boat and we lit the fire to keep the chill off, very cosy.   Staying here tomorrow as well as the forecast is not too good and then will chug off on Tuesday.

Astwood Bridge to Hanbury Wharf (Worcester & Birmingham Canal)

We are chugging off today, so got ready, then off we went to Astwood Top Lock, we have six locks to do today.  It was empty, so had to fill it first, then in Kev came.  We decided to put our Plan B into action today, Kev pulling the boat out the lock (he is in training for Team Mabey in the tug of war!!), holding onto the rope, shutting the offside gate and then getting on the boat via the steps, it worked really well and we flew through the locks, well not literally, but at a nice pace!!  And we had to set every lock.

Going into Astwood Top Lock

Working through the Astwood Flight

We got through the last lock and coming down the canal towards us was a monster, well, it was the reed cutting machine, but it looked like a monster!!  Past that and also the machine that picks up the cut reeds and puts them on the bank and moored up at Hanbury Wharf outside the Eagle and Sun pub. 

Pretty lock on the Astwood flight

Passing Reed Cutter

 

In Astwood Bottom Lock

Chilled out for a bit, then walked down the Droitwich canal to Droitwich.  It is a really nice town.  Had a wander around, went for a coffee in a nice coffee shop and got abit of shopping in the Morrisons, then walked back up the canal to the boat.  There is a house near the canal that sells free range eggs and vegetables, so walked down there and got some eggs, onions and a lovely pot of home-made Damson jam.  Had a drink in the pub and sat outside by the canal.  Chilled out for the rest of the evening.  We are staying here tomorrow and chugging off on Sunday.

Moored at Hanbury Wharf

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.

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.