The weather today was in marked contrast with yesterday - now very bright and sunny, gradually getting hot enough to seek shade at times!
However, when we set off, for us earlier than normal, we were still in the shade of our overnight mooring and so a bit chilly. It did not last long.
By the time we were working down the locks towards Kidderminster and then on to Stourport, the sky was almost clear of clouds.
At Kidderminster the obligatory shot of the church that towers over the canal - and originally even more so over the River Stour which is quite a bit lower than the canal.
Little and Large - two bridges.
Just before Stourport we passed under Mitton Chapel Bridge. We showed a picture of the nearby churchyard last year. Christine found out a bit more of the history thus year. Where the parish church of St Michael and All Angels now stands, was at one time a much smaller structure, created as a chapel-of-ease from Kidderminster, long before Stourport began to develop its own identity. (A chapel of ease denotes a place of worship set up under the oversight of a nearby parish church and its vicar, often for a community that is a but to far away for ready travel to worship) In the 16C, the records show just 23 families in the Mitton area. A new church was built in 18C and by 1833 the population had grown to over 3000 and the church was not considered sufficient. So it was enlarged from 450 'kneelings' to over a 1000. The arrival of the canal revolutionised transport and so Lower Mitton turned into the town of Stourport - the older name now largely forgotten except by those living nearby.
We reached the York Street lock which leads down into the main basin. Alongside, Blossom's Te Room was doing a good trade, using the tables alongside the lock which were 'not for use' when we came up.
At the service block we stopped long enough for the usual disposals. Andrew then walked around the basin towards the narrow locks so that he could take some pictures and video from the air with his drone. We waited with the boat long enough to let another boat ahead start down the locks as there is only room for one boat to moor on the landing.
That's the view of the lower barge lock - not for us!
As it happened, it was only just entering the top lock as we arrived as the was another coming up. Mike backed our boat away from the through channel but the upward boat turned very late causing Mike to back even further during which he was blown sideways!
A view of the narrow locks and the fairground alongside.
Eventually we were able to begin the descent through the two staircases. This view also shows the unhelpful (non)alignment between the two pairs which we have mentioned before.
Below the upper staircase (no damage to human frames this time! Although we did work out what trip hazard probably caused the incident)
The second pair proved less eventful and it was 12:30 as we set off down the river. Soon we passed the trip boat returning to Stourport.
By the time we arrived at Lincomb Lock, the boat that had been ahead of us in the staircases was waiting for the gates to open - the lock is large enough to hold both of us - and more!
The rest of the way down to Hawford Junction was uneventful and very pleasant - the river was much busier than just a few days ago. Mike had to be awoken from a nap as we arrived somewhat quicker than he had anticipated . . .
14.8 Miles - 13 Locks
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