Not The Nicest End to our Mini Cruise - 7th September 2020

 Monday 7th September 2020

Tibberton to Droitwich Spa Marina

4 miles, 3 locks, 1 tunnel

It was a dull and overcast day, but dry and not cold.  The journey along the Worcester Birmingham Canal was peaceful and uneventful.  I spent most of it inside packing and tidying up.  By the time we got to Hanbury Junction I was out and ready to lend a hand.

It is a very sharp left turn to get through the junction on to the Droitwich Canal.  Chris carefully lined us up and moved forward very slowly.  Monty and I always get off at the junction so we can walk on the to locks.  As we emerged there was a boat coming towards us.  As you can see there was plenty of room and all should have worked out just fine for us to pass safely port to port in the usual way.

Things went awry, which happens to the best of us at times and they ended up with the bow pointing at the off side.  All could still have worked - Chris shouted out (loud enough to be heard over the engines, but not in any way aggressively) that they should pass starboard to starboard, ie on the wrong side.  It would have worked perfectly and they would have then been lined up for the junction.  Unfortunately the man on the towpath was having none of that and the language that emanated from his mouth is unprintable.  It was not just foul language and it was aimed directly at Chris.  He said we should never have come through, but should have waited!  I am sure the picture above shows that was not the case.  

At this point, Chris stopped and Monty and I held back.  I am afraid there was absolutely no point in trying to approach and talk to him as he was incandescent with rage and would not listen to anyone.  If it had not been so unpleasant what then occurred would make a good comedy sketch.  He managed to pull the stern in to the side which of course sent the bow right across the cut. He ordered the lady on the helm to go to the bow and throw him the rope, which she did.  It was a really good throw, however it did not help as the rope was not attached to the boat!  He threw one end back and she attached it to the dolly and he eventually managed to pull the boat over to the tow path.  He then put the bow rope back on the boat carefully removing it from the dolly again - I wonder where he got the idea that that is what one should do?  As I said before there was no point it trying to talk to him.  Once the boat was safely against the towpath, Chris went past very slowly saying a very polite 'thank you' as he passed.

I was left on the towpath with Monty and started to walk towards the lock.  He had two dogs with him that he was vainly trying to control.  One of them had got onto the grey boat in the picture below and was wandering all over the bow and then the stern.  His other dog was equally deaf and our Monty was mightily confused when he stopped to do his business (with me beside him with a bag at the ready) as the man was shouting for his dog - also called Monty!! 

We proceeded on, but on looking back we saw they had got into another pickle.  There was a lot more shouting and

they eventually decided to pull over and moor up for a while

We arrived at the lock to find the VLK (Steve) is someone we know quite well - I mentioned to him about our altercation and he confirmed that he had had trouble with them all the way up the three locks.  It is always good to know it is not just you, but it did leave a very nasty taste in the mouth.  I know we were all new once and that things can go wrong even when you have been doing this boating lark for a long time, but the aggression and foul language was totally unnecessary - I think if I had been his crew I might well have mutinied! 

I prepared the top lock which was half full.  We entered and by the time I was ready to open the bottom gates to let Chris out, Steve had arrived to help and there was a boat waiting to leave the next lock.

We also swapped with another boat at the third and final lock, so a very easy run for us.

By the time we were in the bottom lock, Steve was back to help us and suggested I get back on board and he would lock us through.

Not that we have ever had any doubts about security at the marina (we are behind locked gates), but it is always comforting when you look across and see the car is still there!

We went across to the service point where we filled up with diesel, emptied the yellow water containers and got rid of the rubbish.  As we sailed back to our mooring we passed a boat that will be familiar to some of our blog readers.

Then it was back to our mooring to find that we do, indeed, have a new neighbour.  I have to say it does feel much safer when unloading the boat (we use the side hatch) to take everything to the car when there is not open water on the other side of the pontoon.

Before we could actually move the boat in we had to evict a local inhabitant.

Once safely moored we sat down for lunch at which the heavens opened!  Thankfully not for long and we were able to load up the car and get home in the dry. 

It was a funny old cruise - despite being so short we changed plans on numerous occasions, but it was good to get a little bit of normality back into our lives before we all hunker down for the winter.  We do have one more trip to do this year from the marina to the top of Tardebigge for blacking in mid October - just short of 7 miles, but 45 locks!  

Total Stats:

We were away for exactly one calendar month

127 miles, 127 locks, 3 swing bridges, 6 tunnels

Waterways travelled - Droitwich & Droitwich Barge Canal, The River Severn, The Staffs & Worcs Canal, Trent & Mersey Canal (admittedly only just!) and Birmingham Worcester Canal.

Postscript:

I took this picture on 1 August as we were loading up prior to leaving on the 7th - Mother duck and 10 tiny ducklings

She brought them back to see us once we were moored up and she still has 8.