Astley Burf to Wightwick
After taking a few photos of our mooring in the mist outside the pub we set off at 0730 and arrived at Lincomb Lock a few minutes before it opened. Barely enough time to get the hose connected to the water point.
Now we were on a mission to get as far as we could, despite the enforced "late" start. So, unfortunately, there was no time for stopping en route, that would have to wait for another time. It was rather a relief to get off the fast-flowing Severn and into the first of the staircase locks of the Staffs and Worcs Canal at Stourport. Now we could keep the revs and the temperature down.
It felt slightly strange going through places which, until now, had just been names of other OwnerShips boats: Wolverley, Debdale, Cookley and Kinver. It was fascinating going through the sandstone cuttings. The countryside and the regular locks make this a lovely canal to cruise.
I keep seeing Elk on the system
Kidderminster
cutting through sandstone
David at Debdale Lock
Botterham Staircase pair was good: the intermediate gates towering above you as you enter the lower lock.
And then the Bratch. We just made it before the "closing time" of 1940 (is it possible to go through when the lockie has gone off duty, or are the locks padlocked?)
We finally tied up as it was getting dark in Wightwick: we wouldn't have to start too early the next morning to make it to Aldersley Junction, where we intended to moor for the IWA National Festival.
1 comment:
We'd been hoping to take Debdale through Debdale Lock, until circumstances intervened. Actually, it's not the Debdale that Debdale is named after: all the 2005 additions to the OwnerShips fleet are named after places on the Leicester Line, the others being Aylestone, Yelvertoft, and Wigston.
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