It was a grey day when we awoke but at least the blanket of cloud kept the colder blasts away during the morning. Before we set off Mike walked to Asda for the usual paper, milk and bread (but he did add beans and wine to the shopping basket!)
On the way back he had a good view of our overnight mooring.
We set off and dropped down the final two locks - much deeper than those we came though yesterday which were much more uniform in size. The final lock at The Commandery is almost squeezed in between the buildings before the canal below dives under the road bridge.
We tied up at the service station. We connected up the water pipe, expecting to empty the elsan whilst the tank was filling. However the facility was padlocked shut with no notice about what other option there was. Fortunately a boater on the opposite side pointed Mike in the direction of the marina facilities just around the corner which were just being cleaned. The cleaner told Mike that there is a real problem with vandalism and the main one canalside has been out of action for some time after being totally destroyed. The marina facility has also been attacked - she understands it is all drug dealer related - and even the lock had glue put into it. They are awaiting a replacement lock!
After we had finished servicing we moved the boat back a short distance to the visitor moorings and locked up so that we could take a look at the river.
We walked across a swing bridge that crosses the entrance to the main part of the marina before arriving at the two Diglis locks that take the navigation down to the river.
The large amount of rain over the last couple of months have kept the river very full although just here the flood plain is just about able to contain the waters. Going by the debris it seems that the level has dropped about 300 mm from its peak.
The lower lock - in the distance of the above photo because we could not get any closer - is only just visible above the water level.
The middle pound is only a little below the marina basin level - normally the lock has a rise of over 2.5 m with the lower lock a further 2.2 m.
The automatic water level indicator board was showing both places unnavigable - an understatement!
We then walked as close to the river as we could - at least we could cross the entrance to the Oil Basin - again this is normally well below the road level. The blocks of apartments in this are have all been designed to cope with flooding around the base of them but the signs are that it has nit quite risen that far (yet?).
We continued on the access road leading to Diglis Lock on the river. before long we could see that there was a limit to how close we would be able to get! That pontoon gangway normally points downwards.
The lock is well and truly inundated - the zoomed in picture suggests that the gates cause just a little backing up of the river which otherwise looks quiet calm.
On the way back we managed to photo the lower canal lock.
By the time we returned to the boat and had turned it around in the basin it was still not quite lunch time so we opted to go up the first two locks back to where we moored last night.
Just after the first lock we passed the rear of Fownes Hotel. This has been created by converting an old Victorian glove factory.
After lunch we continued back up the canal but before long rain arrived and with it the temperature became much chillier. As we approached the lower Bilford Lock we could see a boat attempting to wind in the space between the locks - there is a proper winding hole here. However, as we came up the first lock it was obvious that they were in some difficulty. Mike went to see if we could help and found that the couple, on a hire boat from Droitwich, had been there for half an hour trying to turn so that they could make there way back to the base. The problem was that they were trying to do so by reversing into the winding hole and then unable to turn the boat at all. They happily accepted some instruction - principally that the only way to make the manoeuvre is to point the bow in first and then use the engine to turn from the stern. before too long they were happily on their way having done something that they had never tried before!
Although the rain had eased a bit we pulled in for an overnight mooring not much further above the two locks, opposite the fields of Perdiswell Leisure Centre
3.0 Miles - 8 Locks
Hi,very interested to see your photos as we are hoping to make the same trip next week (we are moored at DSM just along from the sales pontoons). We have been checking the webcams at Diglis Lock and the road bridge periodically, and heard that the water on the racecourse almost reached the lower branches of the trees. So no mooring there for us this trip!
ReplyDeletebest wishes
Debby