Most of the day was pleasant, sunny and - at times - warm. However, the occasional shower was rather heavy and, indeed, one produced a hail storm! Our cruise today was entirely on the Staffs and Worcester, famously one of the prettiest and with well-designed structures, especially the lock bridges.
Locks came at frequent intervals, sometimes two or three together but never more than a mile or so without one. However, just below our overnight mooring was Compton Lock, followed by a chandler where we picked up both a tank full of diesel and a new gas cylinder - plus three postcards: Ellie, Alice and Mum should receive one sometime!
Bratch locks are well-known. They are three separate locks but with only half a metre between them. Not quite a staircase but still need care. In busy times there can easily be a problem over boats taking turns (only one boat can be in the flight at a time) so there is a lock keeper on duty. However, with the Stourbridge being closed following the breach a few weeks ago and the flood levels on the Severn, the amount of traffic this year has been well-down on expected levels. (We are banking on the Severn remaining open for the next few days!)
Botterham Locks are a proper staircase of two locks but they present little difficulty so no lock keeper. We continued down the locks, passing Stourton Junction where very clear signs indicated the canal closure.
We want to visit Wilsons of Kinver to look at their range of canal boat chairs so found a mooring for the night just below the lock. Andrew investigated further the water leak in the front cabin - earlier attempts had failed to find a cause. However, this time a leaking water pump was identified as the reason. For now, all that we can do is put a container underneath to catch the drips until we next arrive at a suitable boatyard - Stourport probably. Oh, and then the TV aerial started to play up!
Bratch locks are well-known. They are three separate locks but with only half a metre between them. Not quite a staircase but still need care. In busy times there can easily be a problem over boats taking turns (only one boat can be in the flight at a time) so there is a lock keeper on duty. However, with the Stourbridge being closed following the breach a few weeks ago and the flood levels on the Severn, the amount of traffic this year has been well-down on expected levels. (We are banking on the Severn remaining open for the next few days!)
Botterham Locks are a proper staircase of two locks but they present little difficulty so no lock keeper. We continued down the locks, passing Stourton Junction where very clear signs indicated the canal closure.
We want to visit Wilsons of Kinver to look at their range of canal boat chairs so found a mooring for the night just below the lock. Andrew investigated further the water leak in the front cabin - earlier attempts had failed to find a cause. However, this time a leaking water pump was identified as the reason. For now, all that we can do is put a container underneath to catch the drips until we next arrive at a suitable boatyard - Stourport probably. Oh, and then the TV aerial started to play up!
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