Voyages of Gabriel: Droitwich to Tardebigge

Mon 10th Sep Droitwich to Hanbury Junction

We were just about to go shopping when a lady from a passing boat asked if she could borrow a CRT key for the swing bridges. The one she had was OK for the water point but was obviously a copy, as there was no CRT or BW logo on it, and it would not turn in the padlocks for the bridge. We helped her through the first two swing bridges, and she borrowed a key from the trip boat for the final one.

We went to do our shopping: Waitrose, Wilko and Morrison’s before returning to the boat.

We reversed to the water point to fill the tank, and while we were there we took down the still unused chimney as we had low bridges to contend with. We also disposed of rubbish.

As we set off a CRT lady arrived in a van and gave us some help at the swing bridges and some of the locks.

Swing bridge in Vines Park

The third and final swing bridge, over the flood lock.

The canal shares a culvert with the River Salwarpe under the M5, and it is very low. The lock beyond has one paddle chained up so that only one paddle at a time can be used, for fear of raising the water level suddenly and damaging any boat in the culvert at the time. After the single lock there is a staircase of two locks.

Low tunnel under the M5

Staircase locks

Droitwich Spa Marina is soon after the staircase, and we needed to go in to empty our cassettes, as the previous elsan point was in Stourport. We asked if they had any white bilge paint, but they only had grey. Their fuel price was high, but we bought some toilet fluid to keep them happy. The elsan point was very poor for a modern marina. The hose was from a small hopper which had to be filled from the tap. The hose had holes and kinks in so it took a while to rinse the three cassettes we needed to empty.

Leaving the marina, we had to negotiate three more locks. These have side ponds, so if the lock is full, you use a paddle to empty the top half into the side pond, and then close the paddle before opening the usual paddles to drain the rest of the lock. Once the boat is in the lock, you use the water from the side pond first, and then top up with water from above the lock. So only half a lock full of water is used each time. There are also wooden battens supplied to jam the lock gates open or shut as otherwise they tend to move when you don’t want them to.

At the third of these locks, there were some CRT guys, and they just emptied the lock in the usual way without using the side pond. When James asked about it, they said the side pond was empty! Well it would be, if they hadn’t emptied the top half of the lock into it! They also didn’t use the wooden battens which are there to keep the lock gates shut, so they started to open and James had to shut them. A little bit of training required here.

Lock with side pond

The top three locks

Leaving the top lock, we arrived at Hanbury Junction, where the Droitwich Canals meet the Worcester-Birmingham Canal. We turned to face left, but then reversed under the bridge to moor opposite the chandlery. James went round to enquire if they had any white bilge paint but the only sort they had was blue.

We went to the Eagle and Sun for their carvery. This was excellent value, and very good, with fifteen varieties of vegetables.

8 locks, 2 miles

Tue 11th Sep Hanbury Junction to Astwood Locks

There was no sign of Hugo to begin with this morning. We wanted to get away and travel for half an hour before some rain was forecast. There was boat being craned in opposite, and there was a lot of noise. There were also people on bikes, and with dogs so we guess he was keeping low in the bushes. He turned up after half an hour of calling and banging his dish.

We set off past the Eagle and Sun and the junction with the Droitwich Canal. We came across a CRT barge full of masonry. It hadn’t been moored properly, and swung right across the canal, almost hitting our boat.

Leaving our mooring at Hanbury Junction

The Eagle and Sun

Lousy mooring skills

We made the short cruise to just below Astwood Bottom Lock, and just as we moored up, the rain came, with quite a heavy shower. Thankfully we had time to put up the hood and go inside first.

When the rain stopped we set off to walk along footpaths to Hanbury Hall, a National Trust property. There were several stiles, some of them quite difficult to negotiate. The second field was covered with slurry, and picking our way was a challenge. When we had crossed three fields there were converging footpaths, and no sign as to which was the best way in to the hall. We took a long way round.

Across the fields

When we arrived we had a hot drink in the cafe because we felt we needed it. Then we decided to see the gardens while it wasn’t raining.

We went first to the formal gardens, the parterre, where we met two of the gardeners. One of them was evidently a Christian and he shared with us a picture comparing the flowers in the garden with people in a church. They are all cared for, are individual and are free to develop within certain boundaries.

Gardeners at work

Marigolds

Hanbury Hall

We visited the Orangery, with a display of African Marigolds, the mushroom house which was empty, and the walled garden, where there were some beautiful dahlias

The Orangery

Dahlias

Trying to find our way around was a challenge as we seemed to find our way often blocked by walls, hedges or closed gates, and had to take a long way round.

There was also a watercolour exhibition, with some lovely paintings. We have too many paintings already, and nowhere to put them, so we just admired them.

We had a light lunch in the cafe before visiting the house, where we joined a scandal tour learning about various members of the family who led colourful lives.

We walked back across the fields to the boat, taking a more direct route via the ice house.

Later in the evening James heard a strange noise. “Hazel, was that your stomach?” “No”. The noise came again, from the back deck. It was Hugo trying to miaow with a mouse in his mouth! He took it onto the towpath where he dropped it. It seemed unharmed, so James picked it up and took it further away to release it into the bushes.

0 locks, 1 mile, 1 mouse

Wed 12th Sep Astwood bottom Lock to Lock 33 Copyholt Farm

It was wet early on so we waited for it to pass. Nothing came past in either direction, and we set off at 9am.

Leaving our mooring

The first lock of the day, Astwood Bottom Lock

At Lock 18 there is a lock cottage with a thriving garden across the lock. They have re-coated the garden fence since our last visit, and pruned back a lot of the shrubs.

Lock 18 and garden

We met another boat!

After the Astwood 6 locks, there comes a place marked as Stoke Works. This is where the old Stoke Prior Salt Works used to be. The site has been levelled for housing, although a bridge still remains on the towpath, marking the old entrance to the loading wharf.

The entrance to an old arm at Stoke Works

There are six Stoke locks leading to Stoke Pound. At the first of these there is a sanitary station with Elsan point and rubbish bins, not marked in the Nicholson Guide. The water point is half a mile below the lock. We pressed on as we had no need of these today.

We noticed a lovely old timber framed building close to one lock, and we found some Victorian bricks lining the locks.

Timber framed building

Brick makers’ marks

Stoke Top Lock

At Stoke Pound there is a pub, the Queens Head. Last time we moored opposite and regretted it as there was loud music and even louder conversations until very late. We decided then that we do five more locks next time.

So we came to the start of the thirty lock Tardebigge Flight.

Approaching Tardebigge Bottom Lock

Most of the locks today had been in our favour, but we found two in these last few that were full, so we had to empty them. We think it was because the top gates were leaking.

We moored above lock 33, where there is a length of piling, enough for three boats. There was no-one else there.

Final lock of the day

Our mooring above lock 33

We arrived at midday, and had done 17 locks and 3 miles in just 3 hours. 24 locks to do tomorrow.

Hazel hung some washing out and Hugo caught a mouse. Another boat came down the locks and paused for an hour for lunch

Some CRT volunteers went past and said they would leave a message for tomorrow’s volunteer team to let them know we are here.

A number of boats went past on their way down the locks, but nothing went up ahead of us.

We were treated to a lovely sunset.

Water art

Sunset on the Tardebigge flight

Dead tree silhouette

17 locks, 3 miles, 1 mouse

Thu 13th Sep Lock 33 Copyholt Farm to Tardebigge

There was a very heavy dew this morning, and condensation on the inside of the pram hood. A boat went past at 8.15am, going up the locks ahead of us. So the locks were likely to be against us.

Dawn reflections

We set off at 8.45am, and after two locks we met a boat coming down. Two locks later two CRT volunteers came and found us and helped us up the rest of the flight. Just one would have been great, as it meant we could set the next lock each time. Having two was a bit greedy, but it was good to chat to Bill and Joe.

The first lock

Meeting another boat

We found out from Joe that we were not meant to moor anywhere on the lock flight, although where had stopped was not in anyone’s way, and there was piling to tie to. Boats apparently stop there all the time.

We soon got into a rhythm with the locks, and we passed through some lovely Worcestershire countryside. The weather was gloriously sunny.

Beautiful countryside

Blue sky

We met very few boats until we drew level with the reservoir, and suddenly there were several boats coming down, and we caught up the one in front.

Low levels at Tardebigge Reservoir

At our final lock, 57 we paused in the lock for a cuppa with the volunteers, before moving round the corner to the visitor moorings below the top lock, 58.

Hazel, Bill and Joe

Tardebigge Visitor Moorings

We are having our Weybridge house painted externally, and the decorator wanted a cheque, and couldn’t give his bank details for an online transfer. Hazel went off to find a post box, and found one with some help from a local, not far from the wharf just before the tunnel. She also found some old lime kilns which are being tidied up.