Sunshine and shadows

Thursday

was a very wet day, but we nevertheless journeyed on doing the remaining 3 locks on the Droitwich Canal onto the River Severn where we turned round and started the return trip.

J wasn't keen on being out in the wet, so busied herself inside making biscuits and baking some bread. Yummy! We moored up for the night in the Droitwich basin, lighting the fire nice and early and playing scrabble for the evening.

7 miles, 11 locks

Friday

This was how Droitwich basin looked as we untied on Friday morning

We were sure the sun would make it through the mist eventually.  

It did, and when we got to the top locks we were rewarded with this...

Here we used the side ponds, saving half a lock full of water from disappearing down the flight.

From here too you get a view of the new Marina, work in progress, due to open in the Spring.

At Hanbury junction we turned towards Birmingham and worked the 5 locks at Astwood where we met my brother who had driven up from Sussex to collect J. After lunch together we waved them off and set off again to get to the bottom of the Tardebigge flight for the night.

6 miles, 19 locks, 3 bridges

Saturday

So today we tackled the 30 locks of the Tardebigge flight plus the top lock of the Stoke flight.  We got the the bottom of the Tardebigge locks at 8.30am, not so misty today, sun was shining already.

We only passed 3 boats all the way, some locks were for us and some against and we did the whole flight in exactly 3 hours. Phew. The 8th lock of the flight was our 1000th lock of our trip! Should have celebrated somehow, but the next lock was waiting...

I took these photos last evening when we walked the flight to get a proper look around.

The old pumping station on the way up the flight

Tardebigge Wharf

At the top of the locks is this memorial to the decision to form the IWA (Inland Waterways Association) made by Tom Rolt and Robert Aikman in 1948.

The susnset viewed last night from the Reservoir over the canal and flight.

Tonight we are moored at Alvechurch where we shall go to church tomorrow.

5 1/2 miles, 31 locks, 2 tunnels

Today's autumn pic.