Rain - what rain? 13th August 2020

 Thursday 13th August 2020

Bridge 26 to Stourton Moorings, Stourbridge Junction

3.75 miles, 4 locks

It was a real relief to wake up to cooler weather with less humidity.  I was surprised when I went out with Monty to find just how wet the boat was.  Apparently we had had torrential rain around 02:30 of which Chris was all too well aware, but I slept blissfully through it all!

It was mostly overcast, but very pleasant boating weather.  

Today we would go through Kinver - an historic town that we usually try to visit, but not this year.  They have a really good butcher, but we are trying to keep away from shops, so we arrived

took a photo of The Vine from the lock.  It was too early in the day for any customers, but there is a lot of outdoor seating, so I hope they are doing good business at present.  

We were following a hire boat with a very efficient crew.  One of the ladies certainly knew what she was doing and was issuing instructions to the rest of the crew.  They were filling with water at the Kinver services, so we just stopped to dispose of our rubbish and yellow water and decided to push on and stop for water at Stewponey.

At Hyde Lock there is a lovely cottage with such appropriate front gates - I am afraid I just have to take a photo every time I go past.

There is a large and quite attractive Canal and River Trust depot

with an Historic Toll House.  It dates back to the early 19th Century and is now a grade II listed building.

Thankfully we don't have to pay these days.

The water point at Stewponey was vacant, so we pulled in and filled up.  It seemed to be a slow filler, but we were mooring up round the corner, so it did not matter how many boats went past us.

Under one more bridge and we were at Stourbridge Junction where the Stourbridge Canal joins the Staffs and Worcs Canal.  We have been along this canal to both

Stourbridge and Birmingham, but many years ago and on a hire boat

If you are planning joining this canal here, it might be a good plan to drop the locking crew off at the bridge hole!

Definitely in need of some tlc.

We moved along a short way and moored up for what turned out to be a very pleasant evening with no thunderstorms.