Last night we walked into Kinver and had a meal in the White Hart. Pete had an all day breakfast costing £3.45. Exceptional value, and a really good helping

This morning we walked back into Kinver to do some shopping in bright sunshine.

We set sail at 11.10am, travelled 4.25 miles, including 2 locks and a tunnel. This is when we stopped at Woverley because of heavy rain.

The trip was very pleasant especially through the short sandstone clad area near Caunsall see below

 

 

At Debdale lock, the lock is built within the sandstone, with a cave, which used to be used as a storehouse.

 

Leaving the lock you can see the pickup point which is a great feature of this canal.

We have been included in Sue & Vics blog so we will give you the link if you wish to follow theirs
http://noproblem.org.uk/blog/feed/

Tomorrow we will be in Stourport.  With this continuous rain we may once again have problems with the Severn in flood. Still, we will only need 2 days to reach Gloucester. We will get there sometime (hopefully)

 

 

 



Last night we visited the Navigation Inn at Greenforge. Only to meet Scraggy from Saul Jnction. Was good to meet somebody we knew and catch up on canal gossip.

This morning we left around 10.00am. We travelled for 3 hours 45 mins to Kinver, including 5 locks, one tunnel, and an aqueduct, stopping for a while to top up with water and pump out the toilet.

We met Sue & Vic at the water point, they are continuous cruisers, and have been on the canal network cruising for 10 years.

The Staffs & Worcs canal is a delight to travel. Great scenery and some challenging bends. The locks are well maintained and mooring is freely available.

At one lock we noticed the gates to the house were miniature lock gates (see below)

 

 

Autumn is now upon us, but the changing colours of the trees, especially in the sun is very dramatic.

We should arrive in Stourport on Wednesday. The River Severn has gone down to Amber Alert, which means passage is safe with care. Although we have heard of lots of debris being washed down.

Last night after seeing a friendly face from the canal has made us homesick for the first time.

We have met some great people on our travels, especially Pete & Lynn on Blue on Blue, Jean & Mark on Ardanza.

We should be back in Gloucester this weekend if all goes well.

 

Today we have moved 1-1/2 miles to Greenforge. Which took us 1hr 20mins, including 2 locks.

We have a pleasant mooring, although it is overlooked by trees either side

The Staffs & Worcs canal is very unusual with the lock layouts (see below)

The lock is closed, but the little tunnel on the left is where you pick up the person who has operated the lock. So after you move the boat out of the lock, you stop to allow the peson to shut the gates and then rejoin you. Very clever. If you look at the third picture from yesterday's blog you will see a small tunnel on the left. That is where you pick the person up.

The bonus of staying so near to the lock is shown below

 

 

The Navigation Public House, complete with resident ghost, although we have been in there twice before and not seen it. Third time lucky.

 

 

The Severn is still in flood, but we are hoping to make it to Stourport by Wednesday. We will then hopefully not have to wait to long before we can make the 2 day journey back to Gloucester.

We are now at Swindon in Staffs.

We left Brewood on Friday morning and shortly joined the Staffs & Worcs canal. Mooring shortly after at Compton. (No internet or telephone signal again)

Wallace (our dog) has been scratching a lot lately, and bald patches have appeared in his skin. So we needed to find a vet. We found a vet and made an appointment, then booked a taxi, (which did not turn up on time) when it did turn up, we turned it away, as we had booked another, which did turn up on time. (after we rearranged the vet appointment ).

It appears Wallace may have Scabbies (Mange) which he is now being treated.

Today we travelled 6.5 miles and negotiated 13 locks, which took us 5 hours. However we are no hurry as the Severn is still in flood, and the lockeeper at Bratch locks informed us that it will be at least another 3 days before the levels have dropped to enable navigation.

The Staffs & Worcs canal is very picturesque (see below)

6" Stoplock, joining Shropshire Union Canal to Staffs & Worcs canal

 

Bratch 3 rise locks (we are descending)

 



Leaving Bratch locks

 

 



We had an enjoyable evening at the Hartley Arms in Wheaton Aston.

This morning we moved forward to the service point at Wheaton Aston to top up with water and pump out our waste tank.

We then travelled 3 miles + 1 lock to Brewood (pronounced Brood to locals).

The rain has stayed away, and we have had a pleasant walk around the village. We have no mifi connection or telephone signal, so we have had to resort to going to a local pub with free wifi.  How unlucky is that

 

Crossing the A5 Watling Street Aqueduct

 

We have heard that the River Severn will be closed for over a week due to flooding, so we will be taking our time to reach Stourport, as we have already heard of queues.

 

Queing at Tyrley Locks

 

High Bridge, Grub Street Cutting

 

Very narrow section

 

We left Norbury Junction early this morning as we had heard of rain coming our way.

 

 

We completed the 7 miles to Wheaton Aston just as the rain started around 11.30.

 

We have also heard that the River Severn is in flood and closed to all boats.

 

Yesterday it rained all day, so we stayed put. We did venture out to buy some provisions.

 

It was in Norbury Chandlery that we saw an item we have been looking for all summer. We had been asking many boaters, where they had purchased theirs from, but most said they had bought one, and had it painted.

 

This one was the right colours for our boat, so we took the plunge and bought it.

 

 

What do you think??

 





We left Market Drayton this morning at 10.00am. The weather was overcast and cool.

After about a mile we came to the Tyrley Locks. A flight of 5. As we approached there were 2 boats waiting to ascend. As we helped them through, another 4 boats converged. The going was slow.

We have pictures but the internet connection here is so slow, we will post them tomorrow.

We continued for a further 5 miles, and then it started to rain. Not heavy but persistant.

The scenery, despite the rain, has been a total contrast to what we have seen in the last few months. Long sweeping valleys, deep embankements and shaded areas where trees intermingled across the canal.

We have arrived at Norbury Junction.

Tomorrow we are having a rest day