Family fun up a very long hill!

Sunday 15th April 2018
Stoke Pound to Tardebigge
2.25 miles, 29 locks

The only downside to mooring in Droitwich is the long haul uphill before we can go anywhere.  Thankfully we are usually able to enlist help and today was no exception.  Our daughter, son in law and two grandsons  rolled up for a good work out!

Going from the first to the second lock Jamie (6.5) was running all the way - that did not last for long! For the most part the pictures speak for themselves.  Both boys (and Mum and Dad) worked really hard and were very proficient.  I do wonder when the novelty will wear off and they will expect remuneration for a day's labour?

George at nearly 10 is more than able to work without close supervision.

 Jamie still needs a helping hand

It takes a lot of concentration when you are 6 to wind a paddle down even when Mummy has her hand ready to stop the paddle dropping if his windlass comes off the end of the spindle.  In fact, he managed really well with no slippages.

What with all the winding up and down, pushing and pulling

a rest is called for every now and then.

 Mum and Dad did their bit as well

Most of the locks were sporting ' wool art'?  Our daughter thinks they are something to do with mental health awareness?

 The boys worked really hard, but about three quarters of the way up the locks they retreated to keep Grandpa company.

This lady jogger used to live next door to us and she and her collie, Will, are a common sight running the length of Tardebigge.  Will stopped for a quick hello to Monty before

catching up with 'Mum' for the rest of their run.

Three locks near the reservoir underwent extensive work over the winter which included new lock moorings as below - it is all looking very smart.

We made really good time and were moored up just below the top lock in around 3 hours.  They were suitably rewarded for all their sterling efforts with some lunch before I took them back to their car at the bottom of the locks.  It was not farewell though as we all met up for supper at Pizza Express.

And the weather - well I am sorry to say not as good as yesterday - it was back to four layers this morning, which did become three after a couple of locks, but then became four again when the rain started.  Thankfully only light rain.  The afternoon, however, was a different story - real 'boating weather' with rivers running down the windows.  We were glad we were safely moored unlike a hire boat crew who must have been tackling locks for over an hour in torrential rain.  We had met them yesterday (Saturday) - Mum, Dad and two children, probably about 11 and 8.  They had hired a boat from Alvechurch for the weekend and went from Alvechurch to Hanbury yesterday and back up again today - a total of 84 locks just because you can!!