After barely a fortnight back home, which had been a rather fraught time, we were more than ready to set off once more even if we might have to spend time sorting 'things' by phone or email.
We drove up yesterday - the motorway was again mostly remarkably quiet with only a few stretches that could be called anywhere near busy (especially in comparison with previous years) We arrived at the marina around 1 o'clock having had our lunch sandwiches on the final part of the journey.
The boat seemed well and we unloaded - not a lot as it was a short break at home and we planned to do most of our food shopping in the afternoon, staying in the marina overnight.
The only problem was, when sorting out medication at night time, Mike discovered that he had packed only 2 of his daily contact lenses instead of 20! Whilst he can cope, it is a risk that he may have eye strain - he only needs a lens in one eye for normal activity, using reading glasses for close work.
First thing this morning we went into Droitwich town centre to visit an optician and collect a newspaper. Alas, 'regulations' prevented them for even considering assisting.
Back at the boat a last try was to speak to Sanders, our own optician in Wadebridge, who was, as always, most helpful. We had identified that Specsavers had several branches within a short driving time from the marina so she emailed the prescription to their call centre in Kidderminster. They promised to come back by 1 o'clock.
So, we unhooked ourselves from the pontoon and crossed the marina to the diesel point where we topped up - Christine picked up a large container of plums being sold by the two small children of the marina manager. (They were not there but photos encouraged donations!)
Eventually, by half past eleven we could set off, planning to go up the top three locks of the Droitwich and wait at Hanbury Junction for the phone call. If necessary it would only be a ten minute walk to fetch the car.
We were on our own for the first two locks but then could see that a solitary blue figure was preparing the top lock for us. This seems a popular place for volunteers but most are more interested in the weekends which are busier.
Alas, when we eventually had a call from Specsavers, none of their local branches had anything suitable in stock. It seems that most opticians have gone over to holding very little stock, even of small quantities, and have orders sent direct by post - this happened at home earlier in the lock down, for the first time. Whilst this might be better for the opticians profitability, it does mean an expected wait of almost a week at the moment!
So, we opted to have lunch on the go during the short run to the bottom of the six Astwood Locks.
The second lock up is called Astwood lock and has a well maintained cottage, now a private house, but with a very full garden on the offside of the lock.
At this and the next lock we spotted coping bricks from different manufacturers. Pynson Wilmot Bennitt (who had an MA from Oxford) was a brickmaker at Littlefields in Oldbury and in 1881 he was employing 30 hands. However, ten years later the business had become bankrupt. His father developed the business and at one time was one of the largest in the area. Pynson Wilmot also played a role as an officer in the Queen’s Own Regiment of Worcestershire Yeomen Cavalry. (see)
Joseph Hamblet must have been persistent: after following his father into brick making he is recorded as twice being hauled in front of a court for being insolvent, first in 1847 and then in 1851. However it seems that his fortunes changed quickly and later than year founded his own brick works in West Bromwich, rapidly becoming one of the largest producers of the famous Staffordshire Blue bricks (as in the sample above) This reference contains a photo of him in 18709 holding a contract for 74,000 bricks, his largest order to date.
Nearly three o'clock as we were half way up the Astwood flight, darker clouds started to appear and for the rest of the afternoon we had several intermittent, but thankfully brief, light showers.
The former Stoke Works, a very significant and well-known salt producer in the past, has now completely disappeared, apart from this towpath bridge which passed over a very short arm into one of the works buildings for loading.
Nearly done for the day at the top of the six lock Stoke flight. There is only a short distance to the start of the very long Tardebigge flight so we hopes for an overnight mooring just below the flight.
The Top Lock Cottage, again now longer for a lock keeper, has looked well maintained when we have passed this way for several years. Comparing photos, it seems hat the main obvious change is to rebuild or extend the single storey section at the rear of the property.
Fortunately there was room for us at the visitor mooring - well, not on the official stretch with rings, but armco next along. Good enough for tonight and it means that we have a start in the morning straight into seemingly endless locks!
4.8 miles - 15 Locks
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