Wolverley Court

 Today's Canal - Staffs and Worcs

After a slightly nervous night wondering what the river might do, we awoke to some bright sunshine. The day continued with very contrasting sun and rain, the former being noticeable warmer than any so far this year with the latter being very heavy indeed.

The river level had risen about 70 mm overnight but, if anything, the flow rate was a little less. We looked carefully from the end of the pontoon where we moored at the current just outside tight lock entrance but it seemed quite calm.

Christine set the lock leaving Mike to bring the boat in. He cast off the bow rope and at first it seemed that the current was keeping the boat tight to the pontoon but as soon as he started to walk to the back the front began to turn out into the stream. As he knew that this could quickly lead to a difficult situation if the boat swung right around and jammed the stern rope which could then not be freed, he hurried to cast off at the stern. However he soon realised that he should have readied this rope first as it need unfastening on board before getting back on to the pontoon to finally free it. At that point the boat really did want to go out into the stream and it took a few tense moments before Mike could pull the stern back in far enough to jump aboard. Actually guiding the boat into the lock entrance was relatively straightforward after that even if we did bang into the wing wall beside the bottom gate!

We came up the two sets of double staircase locks - at the top a small, mostly overlooked, sign was a reminder that at one time each canal - in this case the Staffs ans Worcester - was each a separate company, at times competing with each pother for the better routes. This was how Stourport came to be so prosperous, being little more than a small village before the arrival of the canal.

After crossing the basin we pulled onto the service point. Luckily when the first heavy shower arrived we were able to remain inside whilst the water tank filled up!

It was a short distance above the next lock that we again stopped, this time to visit Lidl, conveniently alongside the new Baldwin's footbridge which we guess was built to link the main shopping area with that site which is otherwise the wrong side of the canal. Christine also decided to pop to the Co-Op on the other side for the coffee that she likes.

Now we could really start on today's cruise. The Staff and Worcs is often lined with trees and woodland - the bluebells are just really coming out, somewhat later than is often the case. Why is it that the eye can see the carpet of blue but the camera often fails to highlight it.

We stopped for lunch just below Falling Sands Lock - well timed as for most of our break the rain was again heavy.

On the approach to Kidderminster, just as we passed under the Severn Valley Railway Viaduct, we saw this shopping trolley, abandoned beside an accommodation bridge. The puzzle is that the track over the bridge is quite a long way from the nearest supermarket.

At this time of the year, the trees have sprouted plenty of green leaves but still yet to reach their full cover so the shape and structure of the trees can be seen clearly. Often they make interesting patterns - here they shield from view a rather inelegant industrial unit not far from the canal.

We had no reason to stop in Kidderminster so continued through the town. Weavers Wharf is dominated by its original 'anchor' store - Debenhams - but as this has now closed for ever, we wonder what the future for this shopping precinct will be. Several of the fast food eating places seemed yet to have re-opened.

As were were leaving the outskirts as particularly heavy shower suddenly replaced the bright sunshine from moments earlier. This time the rain was accompanied by sharp hail so we paused for ten minutes under the new wide road bridge! The dark cloud also brought a couple of very loud thunder claps.

As quickly as the shower arrived, so it departed. We continued through Wolverley Court Lock but opted for a good mooring just above. It is a while before there is anything similar where tv and mobile signals are likely to be much use. We failed to upload any photos last night to go with the text so perhaps tonight we can do better. There was some really warm evening sunshine to keep us cheered up!

6.2 Miles - 9 Locks