If you look at the bottom of the blog you will see that today we worked 50 locks! We think that this is probably a record for us. What helped was that it was a splendid sunny day from start to finish.
Before leaving Tardebigge we reversed across to the wharf where we filled up with water and did the usual disposals. The tap was again not fast and took most of half an hour to replenish the amount used yesterday.
At 9:26 we started the top lock. This one is a short distance from the others and is a little different, also much deeper. This is because it was a replacement for a boat lift which failed to function properly and kept breaking down. Also, there was once a side pond by the lock house. This has long since been decommissioned and the pond itself is now used as a garden for the house.
The main flight is very easy to operate and we made good speed, even at first with just two of us working. Once there were three it was even faster.
Although we met just a handful of boats - the first one was over half way down the flight - there were plenty of walkers. Those who belittle the claims for the number of towpath users of the canals which CRT claim should note that today we probably saw 10 or 20 times as many towpath users as canal users!
Just below the summit stands the former engine house which was built in early 1800's to pump water up from Tardebigge Reservoir to maintain the level in the whole summit pound. This was eventually replaced by the Upper Bittell lakes much closer to Birmingham.
Tardebigge Reservoir today was very low - not clear why as reports suggest that most reservoirs on the system are quite well stocked. The side sluice was open and slowly filling from the summit pound.
About half way we passed a single hander coming up the flight. He was rather methodical and slow so we misjudged which lock to pass resulting in an extra ten minutes on our time!
The view across the fields from one of the accommodation bridges was especially attractive with the hills in the far distance.
The former lock cottage above Lock 39 looks as if it is trying to compete with the nearby Droitwich Radio Station.
Working locks at this speed leaves only a few opportunities for a break! Best to take them when you can.
Lock 29 is the end of Tardebigge Flight and we came out of it at 12:34, just six minutes over the magic target of three hours! If we had not had the delay with the boat coming up we might have broken the target. Nevertheless, 10 locks and hour is quite good going.
Just below the flight we pulled in for lunch - we needed it! Christine's soup from yesterday was modified with some additional vegetables from last night - alas she will now have to make some more for the next helping as we polished it all off today.
Off again and there is little time to the start of the next couple of flights - at times were it not for the signs on the locks it would be hard to distinguish one flight from another. Just before Stoke Top we saw this windmill in the distance.
Stoke flight is six locks and the bottom lock is alongside a hire base close to the site of the former Stoke Salt Works.
This had been our target for today but as it was still only three o'clock we decided to carry on and drop down the Astwood Flight, another six locks.
At this point we discovered that there were differing expectations of our route from here. Mike had been assuming that we would continue down the same canal to Worcester whilst Christine and Andrew preferred the Droitwich. A quick check on the timing showed that there was not a lot of difference and, as we were well ahead of our plan, at Hanbury Junction we turned right onto the Droitwich.
The first three locks were restored complete with working side ponds and the two previous occasions we have been this way they were in action. As we arrived we could see that the mechanisms were all wrapped up in plastic. Two CRT lock keepers arrived at the end of their shift and explained that the middle lock side pond has a hole in it and unless all three are used they quickly get out of sync. The side ponds were constructed to reduce the demand on the water supplies in the Worcester and Birmingham that Droitwich traffic generated. However, there are perhaps not too many boats on the move just now so there will not be great consequences.
A little beyond the top three comes the new set of three locks, all built in concrete, one of the last parts of the restoration. The first two are formed as a staircase and as we arrived a group of four ladies on a Canal Boat Club timeshare were just going into the lower chamber. They were all very new to handling a boat and operating locks.
Passing under the motorway - the height limit for this canal - only at the last minute did Andrew, steering at the time, realise that our trough of lettuce plants on the roof was not going to make it under the warning board and he quickly rescued them!
Although it was by now fast approaching the limit of daylight, we pressed on, sharing the Barge lock with the boat ahead. Just in time we arrived at the mooring basin in the centre of Droitwich and found that there was plenty of spare room - indeed another timeshare boat arrived a few minutes later.
50 Locks - 8.3 Miles
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