Greensforge
Lock to Above Wolverley Lock – Staffs & Worcs Canal
9 miles, 8
locks and one new cratch cover!
With our
appointment at 10am we were off our mooring just after 9 heading for the lock
to find a boat coming up – what luck.
Well it appeared that way
All was well
until they tried to leave the lock only to find they were stuck! Would we have to phone Cliff at J&H
Trimmings to say we were going to be late for our very important date – we were close, but not close
enough? Having seen very few boats
yesterday there was even another one waiting below to ascend once we had got
this one out and us down. It was the bow
that was stuck, so people pushed and pulled.
The boat owner even got his boat hook out - all to no avail until the
owner suggested trying to close the gate and lo and behold she floated
free! I have no idea what they were for,
but either side of the ‘shoulder’ of the bow are small rectangular ‘D’ rings
and the one on the port side had got hooked on to the gate.
To be honest I am surprised it has not happened before, but at least
they could proceed and so could we.‘
Opposite this
lock is a garden with a wonderful display of dahlias – Chris’ Mum always had a grand assortment of these in her garden.
We were
moored up at J&H Trimmings by 09:45
Cliff came and spent a couple of hours working hard and we were good to go, but where to? As we had no idea how long we would be with J & H Trimmings, we had only planned to move on a short way - maybe an hour along the cut, however the forecast for Wednesday was dire, so we put our heads down to see how far we could get.
We cast off with the new cratch cover folded up well out of the way
and I set to putting the washing lines back up and the Kampa matting back down in the bow
As we approached the first lock (Rocky Lock) a boat came up behind us as I was filling the lock ready for Chris to enter, so one good piece of timing for us.
The lady from the other boat came to lend a hand - in we went, down went the boat and then we tried to open the bottom gates. The one on her side stuck and refused to open - the cause was a large lump of wood in the way.
We shut the gates, Chris edged the boat forward gently, got the boat hook and came to the bow to nudge it out of the way - my gate was opened and the lump of wood sent on its way and we could go! We hoped the rest of the locks today would prove less problematical than the first two.
On we went past the junction with the Stourbridge Canal. This was the first boat we had seen moving since the boat behind us at Rocky Lock
Stewponey Lock is just after the above junction and is a very pretty wharf area with the toll house (far right hidden behind a C&RT van) that dates back to 1772.
There is a magnificent collection of fungi on the bottom gates
Dunsley Tunnel at 25 yards was the first tunnel of the day
At each end of every tunnel there is always a sign with important information that is relevant to just that tunnel - most of it is important information, particularly if they are one way tunnels, but with a tunnel so short, surely the advice to wear a life jacket is just a little bit unnecessary?
As we approached Hyde lock a boat was just leaving - always good to see
however the locks along here are so leaky that the water level was a good foot down by the time I got to it.
It is in a very pleasant setting
With a footpath at the bottom end leading off into some woods - a possible walk if we every moor near here.
What a sad sight this boat is. It appears to be occupied, but living at such an angle must take some getting used to.
As we approached Kinver we came across this boat - I am posting these pictures for my friend Lynn - the last time we past Dolcie Blue (on our way north in April this year) Lynn admired the rather stunning paintwork, so I thought she might like to see a bit more of her.
She is, indeed, a very fine looking boat.
When we came north in April The Vine at Kinver was shut - it is now open again
Under new management
No back gardens today - just one floating one
As we passed this hire boat it moved just a little too far to its right - we did advise reverse thrust to try and free themselves, but the barge pole was employed instead. They had it very close to hand, so I suspect it has been used a few times on their holiday.
Just after 3pm and we are still going - the sky is still blue with fluffy white clouds - long may it continue.
Then we arrived at Whittington Lock - we had been warned that it was very leaky and that it had taken three people to open the top gate. Well there are only two of us, so we would have to manage. We moored up (something we rarely do) as I was pretty certain I would need assistance with the gate.
A boat had left only five minutes before we arrived and the lock was empty - definitely very leaky.
We opened the paddles at the top and nipped to the bottom to see just what was pouring through the gates - yep leaky indeed! The two of us did manage to open the top gate, but not without difficulty and a lot of effort. We had been warned by the boat that had left this lock and by some walkers that there was a red boat adrift across the canal about a mile further along. We moved on prepared to try and board her and secure her to the towpath if we could, however,
by the time we got there someone else had beaten us to it
We passed through the second tunnel of the day (Cookley) without incident - a little longer than Dunsley at 65 yards and then arrived at Debdale lock. Slightly troublesome locks seem to have been a feature of today. This one's issue is the top gate - they all have planks to walk across and some of them on this canal have very large gaps between the canal bank and the plank. I don't have particularly short legs and I find it a real stretch. Their must be some who find it nigh on impossible. This one is not only a large gap, but the plank is at quite an alarming angle.
The angle is more noticeable once the gate is open. You just wonder how much longer it will stay in place! Thankfully no early bath for me today.
There is a sign at this lock for a cafe that just opens on Saturday and Sunday - surely the owners must have Monday to Friday jobs as well to keep the wolf from their door?
This stretch of canal is undeniably pretty, particularly when the sun is shining.
The aim was to get past the landslip between Depdale and Wolverley locks just in case tomorrow's rain did more damage. We succeeded.
This was the state of the slip in April
and this was it today - it looks as though quite a bit more has come down. It was, however, easier to pass. We bumped along the bottom in April, but glided past today.
So we had made our target and we moored above the lock at Wolverley - our original mooring for Wednesday night.
The cratch cover was put down to protect us from whatever the weather throws at us tomorrow! We have been assured that the creases will wear out - it has been carefully folded up since they made it waiting for us to pass by again for them to fit it.
After such a long day we decided to go to the pub for dinner. The burger was excellent, but the chips were under done and the salad was a very limp affair. The treacle tart and clotted cream ice cream were, however, to die for!
Wednesday 14th April 2019
Above Wolverley Lock
Were we right to push on yesterday, so we could hunker down today?
Yes!
For the first time in seven years Monty did not request a walk - just nipping out to do what he had to do was enough! He just curled up and slept until around 5pm when the rain eased and he got a walk.
So what did we do? Well I got out my card making stuff
and put together 17 Christmas cards!
They had been designed and printed when we were home in June, so just needed to be cut and glued. Last year I did not make one Christmas card for the first time in around 13 years, so I might manage not to buy any this year!
We listened to the afternoon play (Rumpole - a favourite of both of us) and we watched a film - day time viewing is almost unheard of for us, but needs must. Chris did not really intend to watch it (Saving Mr Banks), but got drawn in and enjoyed it as much as I did!
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