Here we go again

WE TOOK over our boat, Bounty, at Wolverley on the Staffs & Worcs Canal, on the way to Sharpness, and the very first thing I saw was the inimitable grey boat without a licence by the side of The Lock pub, plus a Viking boat halfway across the lock moorings and a private—nameless one—on the actual moorings. Here we go again, thought I.

We did think of staying for the night below Wolverley Lock, on the 48 hours moorings, but three boats with engines chugging away soon had us thinking otherwise.

A lock on the attractive Staffs & Worcs Canal

I like the Staffs & Worcs Canal, it really is attractive, though to me it is in two halves, above and below the junction with the Shroppie. The bottom half being particularly pleasing with its wooded slopes and sandstone cuttings.

All those supermarkets at Kidderminster, and on the Bank Holiday Monday, ner a one open. Not at the ungodly hour She Who Must Be Obeyed decrees we start in a morning.

By the time Stourport was reached however, our First Mate's Guide had a Tesco Metro for us, handy by the canal side.

Didn't look

NOTWITHSTANDING the notice by the staircase locks at Stourport stating not to enter the locks if another is preparing the lock the opposite way, a Black Prince crew pulled into the lower chamber after we had diligently filled the top one, thus stopping us in our tracks.

And what a crew. There seemed to be dozens of em, and so enthusiastic that they dropped all the top paddles before the lock was full, and three of them heaved and pushed to get the gate open.

The Severn

SO ONTO the Severn and the gin palaces, but we had mastered how to meet 'em since our venture on the tidal Thames, so they had little effect.

Dodging the gin palaces on the Severn

Even though a few showers, we enjoyed it so much more than when we last came down about seven years ago on our old boat, and we were certainly quicker. And before you comment, the speed limit is 8mph... Mind you, there isn't a great deal to see from the river owing to its high banks.

So it was an overnight stay at Worcester by the racecourse, the site of a Inland Waterways Association 'National' we exhibited at some few years ago.

Boring

THEN it was a full day on the Severn after Worcester, and boring it is too until She Who etc. etc. was told that after Upper Lode Lock it could be tidal. That did it! Even though it was just a neap tide, she wasn't at all happy, for there was now a strong headwind as well as showers not doing one little bit to encourage.

The mooring wall with the river flowing to the right

Then she read about coming into Gloucester Dock, and having to creep down the wall and mooring with the stern rope first, as far away from the lock as possible, which did nothing for her confidence. Then when we did moor, of course the bow swung straight out into the stream and that was it—hysterics!

Through Gloucester non-stop, well not quite, as there was trouble with the lights at the infamous Llanthony Lift Bridge.

Gloucester & Sharpness

SO TO the Gloucester & Sharpness Canal, wide and deep, and a dream for those of you who do not slow when passing moored boats, it's so wide and so deep, there's ner a wash. And a speed limit of 6mph.

Plus with vertical sides, no problems with mooring—virtually anywhere.

It's an idle boaters' canal, for there are no locks, though plenty of swing bridges, which open like magic as your boat approaches, and others that us narrowboaters can easily get under.

With all the staff at the manned bridges I thought that at least there will be few unlicenced boats around. How wrong I was—it's an oasis for dozens of 'em!

Swing bridge all open as if by magic

Then it was Saul Junction, famous for its annual boat show, which was our stop for a while, with a visit from our Steve Davis and Jenny, including a most interesting tour from Jenny around Framley.

Then the rains came in earnest, but we managed to get to Sharpness, the end of our journey, but then it was the winds.

Rough water on the canal at Sharpness

So to return, with the chance that the low level swing bridges would not be operating—courtesy of the health and safety brigade, don't you know.

So as the bridge keepers start at 8am, we were ready for the return journey—until we met John Chard, better known as Stokie. God, doesn't he go on? But he must have some influence for he's the only one able to get our esteemed to pose for a photo, and on a plastic effort at that!

John Chard kept us entertained at Sharpness

Dragged on

BUT owing to Stokie and his tales, even one about the ill-fated Severn railway bridge and it being clouted by two boats and then being shown the remains of the boats, the 8am start dragged to 9.30, but luckily, even at a 50/50 chance of the bridges not opening, it was signalled down that narrowboatworld was on it way, and every single one miraculously opened! Good eh?

So back to the Severn, and as it was now pelting down, and as we all know She Who etc. etc, worries about rivers, and with this part of the Severn likely to be tidal, we pushed on to the first of the river moorings, to find a 70 footer securely fastened in the middle, leaving no space for anyone else, so it was further up the river to Lower Lode on a floating pontoon for the night.

Risen a foot

A MARKER on the pole showed the river had risen a foot overnight, and with rain again forecast, our well thought out schedule went to pot, and so it was 'get off the river at all costs'—remember we moor on the Trent and so know all about rivers—and so to Stourport and the calm of the Staffs & Worcs.

Off the Severn and onto the Staffs & Worcs

Back on the canals

WE HAD espied an handy mooring just past the top lock out of the basin, but the continuous cruisers had taken it over (yes, I asked!) with two of 'em having their engines chugging away nicely, so it was forward yet again to pastures quieter—we were well and truly back on the canals...

The reason perhaps, I am so much against the non-continuous cruisers, who hog the best moorings—for months on end—and need to chug away charging their batteries at all hours. It really is about time our Sally Ash, Mistress of Boating, dragged herself away from her more devious schemes of late aimed at us honest boaters, and accepted the wishes of the majority and made these people cough up for their privileges.

There's a great deal of dredging going on on this waterway, which made mooring a doddle, providing you can actually see the bank for the undergrowth! Veg pledge? What's that?

Find it if you can. Grass cutting—but not for boaters

There's a nice single cut along the towpath, but nothing along the waters edge. It's the same along the whole length of the canal. The southern section at least.

And the anglers. Down there they are a happy lot, with a quip and a joke. A contrast, let me tell you, from those on the Trent & Mersey.

Back to Wolverley, and still one of the boats, Peregrine number 68415 ensconced on the 48 hours moorings below the lock—five days later.

Bratch Locks were different for us this time, for instead of the rather dour lockie, the relief fella who was on duty who was a jolly chap indeed.

Chugged past on Rome

THEN my old acquaintance, Graham Booth, chugged past on Rome on his way to Crick, telling that he was taking the long way round—thus cutting out the Wolverhampton Flight.

But dear Graham, you should get yourself a Watford Man to help with the flight. My old pal Eugene spent some time out of his office and joined us for the day, taking in the flight.

Good relations—face to face with a customer

There was a single-handed boater with a 70 footer going up at the front of us, but using his PR skills, Eugene had the boater pull in whilst we went past, having known of him in the past. That was a relief, let me tell you.

So up the 21 locks like a dose of salts, but She Who etc. etc. wasn't looking forward to mooring for the night by the top lock, as last time we stayed there we were a little too entertained by the winos.

Secure for the night in the middle of Wolverhampton

But no need to worry, we had the might of Watford on our side, so the secure British Waterways basin was put at our disposal. Result—one happy woman!

I don't really care to tell what happened on the Main Line towards Birmingham, methinks it is best forgotten.

It is six times now that we have ventured on to the Birmingham Canal Navigations, exploring its waterways, with this time the Wednesbury Oak Loop (by mistake!) Walsall Canal and Tame Valley Canal.

All alone on the Tame Valley Canal

We were hoping to get succour at the stamping ground of our Pam at Ocker Hill on the Walsall Canal, but with a beam across its entrance and all gates securely locked we had no option but to take to the Tame Valley Canal. But luckily the towpath upgrade brigade hadn't yet been at work, so it was in its natural state, so no bandits speeding by—motorised or otherwise.

Deserted Perry Barr Locks on the Tame Valley

After the early built-up area and the endless rubbish, we found the Tame Valley surprisingly rural, the locks very easy and an enjoyable cruise.

Yet that phrase 'Use it or Lose it' sprang to mind after a seven hours cruise taking in 16 locks over eleven miles in the middle of May, where we met not a single boat or even saw one moored.

That's was the entire length of the Tame Valley Canal and down to Minsworth Greaves on the Birmingham & Fazeley.

A good view of Spaghetti Junction

One thing for sure, there are great views of Spaghetti Junction heading down the Tame Valley, if you are into that sort of thing.

And then a gentle cruise along the Birmingham & Fazeley and the Coventry to Fradley Junction, which of course we attacked very early—it being a Sunday...