After much debate we eventually set off towards Hawford Junction to complete the length of the Droitwich Canal. What was still uncertain was whether we might turn around earlier and where we would moor for the night. Much hinges on the optimum location (or the least effortful) from which to collect both cars. We know that we will go by train from Droitwich to Nantwich (in Mike's case) or Chirk (in Andrew's case) but there is still some detail to agree in order to minimise extra journeys beyond that!
It was a very dull day, not cold, with almost no movement in the air, certainly nothing to call a breeze. Both Andrew and Christine went for a wander from the boat after breakfast so it was well after 10 before we set off. Most of the other overnight boats had already left.
Originally the wide, barge canal, went as far as the lock at the other end of Vines Park but the reconstruction through the railway viaduct just beyond Netherwich Mooring reduced the usable width by using a poorly designed corrugated lining that curves around under the waterline, but also by adding a towpath. The result is that now there are distinctive warning signs that mean that only narrow boats an proceed from here.
A team of contractors to reduce overhanging branches - not from the canal so much as the towpath. It certainly looked a job needing to be done.
When the canal was first re-opened it was well-known for the narrow channel between the reeds that quickly developed. Since then a better plan for maintaining the balance is in place and we could see clearly where the reeds have been cut back, although the new season's growth has sprung up. But at least it stops the spread towards the middle.
A couple of swing bridges fell into disuse some time ago and did not form part of the restoration. At the first the old swing deck is still in place, albeit very overgrown and decayed. However, aficionados can at least still and have their picnic whilst contemplating the design!
At the second, the deck is now abandoned in a nearby hedge although the underwater structure is a potential hazard to deep-drafted boats.
After about an hour cruising we arrived at the top of the five Ladywood locks. At both top and bottom lock there is a former lock keeper's cottage.
At the second lock there is a very different style of overflow weir - quite an impressive design.
We shared the last few locks with a friendly hire boat that was on its way back to Worcester. At Lock 2 there is a new high tech warning display that should show the water conditions in the River Severn just above and below the junction. Alas, it was not working (the one we saw yesterday at Hanbury was operational) so we wold have to resort to tried and tested methods to judge the safety of proceeding out of Lock 1.
There are some very new warning signs concerning a pinch point below Lock 1, where the canal joins the river.
The problem seems to be that the tail of the lock, along with the lock landing, is at a slight angle to the alignment of the lock itself. Why do we get the feeling that the signs are a response to one incident where boats got into difficulty? Still it is not too much of an inconvenience gto go out separately - it is the only sensible option really gto maintain adequate control when joining into a river stream which here is on a bend and running across the line of the canal.
We let the other boat go ahead as all that we were doing was going out onto the river and turning around to come back in and start making the ascent back to Droitwich. Mike stayed at the lock to close it once the boat was safely back inside whilst Andrew made the turn. A photo cannot show that at this point it looked as if the boat was going fast sideways without making much forward progress but eventually the boat and lock were lined up for a safe entrance.
New houses have been built alongside the lock but the ground is much higher so a retaining wall was put in place. Either initially, or perhaps later, serious retaining bolts have had to be provided although the wall does seem to have a slight bulge. However, we did not feel that this prop would make a lot of difference!
A boat came up the river just as we were about to ascend so we waited - it turned out to be a single hander. Both of us moored just above Lock 2 for lunch but he was still there when we left later - after enjoying good potions of Christine's latest soup (we had the first portions yesterday so it had had another day to mature)
The return journey did not yield any surprises and this time we saw no moving boats. However Mike did manage to capture the moment at which water starts to come into the lock chamber from a top paddle. In these locks the entry culvert is well below the normal water level and so shows for a couple of seconds as a large bubble stream before bursting to the surface with the usual turbulence which means that boaters need to take care to operate the paddles in the correct sequence to minimise the effect on a single boat - not so much of an issue when there are two boats in the lock.
Just before 5 we arrived back at the moorings with plenty of space - signs indicate that the whole of the visitor mooring is to be designated a Winter Mooring but that does not start until the first of November.
11.2 Miles - 16 Locks
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