There and Back

8 locks, 3 swing bridges, 4 miles

Just a quick catch up on the bow thruster - it would appear to be a manufacturing fault, so they are in negotiation – it is a ‘watch this space’ situation.

A note before I start – as I am sure all dogs are – Monty was really suffering in the heat on our first trip, so we have bought him a ‘Cool Coat’.  It is brilliant and really stops him panting.  He was not too keen to start with and tried to wriggle out of it

 but has accepted that he feels better with it than without.   

You soak it in water, wring it out and if it dries out (which it was doing in around 45 mins) we just pour a beaker of water over his back and he is cool again.  His fur does not get wet at all – we get clammy legs as he goes past, but it is worth it to have a happier dog.

Yesterday Chris, Monty and I returned to Droitwich Spa Marina to take Tentatrice back to Netherwich Basin, Droitwich.  The plan was to meet our daughter, son in law and two grandsons in Vine Park for the boys to have a picnic tea and a play.  Then our son in law took the little one (20 months and for the purposes of our blog to be known as J) home and our daughter and the very nearly five year old (he will attain that great age next Saturday! Aka G) came aboard for a sleep over and to help us take Tentatrice back to Droitwich Spa Marina today.

I must add a note about Vine Park which, for the most part, is a fabulous place.  Plenty of grass, a good play area

please note - this was a pirate ship!

plus it is informative about the town's history with a central point being a 'replica' of a Wych Barge (from the days when Droitwich was a salt town) being made into a picnic site 

with the sails being used as information boards

but I fear this is a sign of the times

It must have taken some shifting, but we did hear that boats moored in the park for the St Richard's Festival at the beginning of May had to call the police for help with yobs throwing things at them, so we are assuming this is down to blantant vandalism.  I would advise mooring in Netherwich Basin which is secure and free for 48 hours.

Our journey to the Basin was uneventful except for the fact that we really made the low bridge sign at the M5 bridge swing as we passed.  We had been warned that it was not as accurate as the one the other end and as he water level was the same as Tuesday we risked it and went.  It was very close to our cratch, but we survived unscathed.  

 
The swing bridges were all much easier today – practise makes perfect, or so my Nana used to say.

Our daughter and G shared the cross bed (amazingly G went off to sleep relatively quickly despite the heat) and Chris and I tried out the dinette.  We were amazed how wide it is (or appeared to be, but it is just 4 foot we were told) and we both slept as well as could be expected in the heat.  I found it a little firm, so I think we will get a mattress topper to help things along.  It was relatively easy to make up and then dismantle and stow away this morning.  

First thing this morning Chris took Monty out to do what every good dog has to do and there was an urgent whispered request (he did not want to wake the neighbours) 'to come and have a look'.  Our daughter, G and I did as requested and this is what we saw:

We left our mooring at 09:00 to move to the water point.  Nb Iron Duke was about to fill up, but when he saw me waiting for Tentatrice to position herself he very kindly told me we could go first as he was in no hurry.  I turned my back to look at our boat for a second and two guys from a hire boat nipped along with their hose and nicked our spot!  They were moored near enough to fill up without moving.  The really annoying thing was that they were not even ready to go!  Still this is narrow boating and we are supposed to do things slowly, so a deep breath was taken and we waited our turn.  We finally set sail around 09:30 with our two extra crew members.  G was kitted out in his life jacket (with whistle that you can only use in emergencies!!  He has been well schooled). 

The trip back was hot, but went without a hitch.  G has learnt how to open swing bridges, put keys into and out of the padlocks, open and close lock gates and wind paddles. 

 After a while he got too hot and went back on board to help Grandpa and Monty steer the boat.  The extra pair of hands made all the difference (plus meeting two boats coming down, so two locks were ready for us) and we did the journey in just 1 hour 35 minutes.  It took Chris and I 2 hours 15 minutes on Saturday.  We had taken the cratch down this time, so we went under that bridge with room to spare – well a few inches.  Chris said having the extra adult and child in the bow made a lot of difference - now just what is he trying to say to us?!

It was a great success – I think we will have a crew member quite often.   This picture is posted for the benefit of Boatwif and The Captain on Cleddau - someone has pinched Chris' beard!

I am afraid we had tears (his not mine!) when G’s Daddy and young J came along to collect him and his Mummy and take them home.  Another bonus for us – an evening of ‘adult conversation’ with our daughter.  

G's Uncle Mark (Ecologist and Ornothologist) would be proud of this picture, but I think G was looking at boats not birds!

Now we start the big job of clearing our bedroom and the kitchen before the fitters arrive on Monday 22^nd July.  Only we could chose a heat wave!

One other point of note - I keep looking at my arms and wondering if they belong to me!  I am a pale English rose who rarely changes colour even when overseas, but 6 days of boating has given my arms a better tan than they have had for years!

Our second trip has been completed and we are delighted and cannot wait to go out again, however we will have to wait as our next trip on the boat (weather permitting) will not be until 25th July when we have a day trip planned with some friends, their granddaughter and black lab.  Now two young dogs on the boat could be interesting.

The kindness of dog walkers

Tuesday 9th July

4 locks, 3 swing bridges, 2 miles

A lieusurely start today as it was just a short journey.  The trip through Vine Park (with Waitrose on the other side of the main road) is a pleasant one despite the vagaries of the three swing bridges.

 

A BWB key is required (what a good job we went back to the marina to get our working key).  The first one opened and swung easily enough, but just would not close.  A man with a dog came to my rescue as he knew that you have to push the gate really firmly to be able to get the padlock back on.  Onto number two - the only way I could get the padlock open and then shut was to jump down into the well and then clamber out - not very elegant I am sure!  The third one opened okay, but it was very difficult to get the key out once the padlock had shut - another dog walker stopped to help.  So, thanks to both of those kind men, we were on our way out of Droitwich.

There is a lot of building going on as you head out of town including the start of some McCarthy Stone Assisted Living Apartments.  They will back onto the canal and be a very pleasant stroll along the tow path into the town centre - I can think of worse places live, but not for many years I hope!

Next came a lock and then the dreaded M5 motorway bridge.  We just snuck under and it was not quite as bad as we had feared.  It is, however, very low!

 

We just snuck under

View from the other side

If the water is any higher than this we will not make it.

Up the staircase locks, passed the playground

 

 and back 'home' to Droitwich Spa Marina.

Once we were safely moored, cleaned up, engine etc sorted, the car was loaded and off we headed for home via Pinders - the bow thruster stop working on one side today.  They are sending someone down on Thursday at 9am to fix (we hope) it.  The journey that took 7.5 minutes by taxi took 2 hours by boat!

There will not be much boat moving for a while as we are having major things done at home, so we have a lot of 'stuff' to move around before they start on 22 July.  A few family and friends outings between now and the end of August and then we hope to be off to Llangollen.

Surprisingly pleasant journey until the key moment occurred!

13.5 miles, 12 locks, 6.5 hours

Yet another scorcher.  Monty and I went for a very early walk whilst it was cool, for him to do what a dog has to do first thing in the morning.  This was in anticipation of geting on to the River Severn where "dog stops" are few and far between!  "Duty" done we returned and set off around 07:30.   

I failed to notice this inmate in Commandery last night.  I hope he feels better soon.

Through the first lock to get water – there are quite a few water points in Diglis Basin and most were occupied with moored hire boats.   A Canal Time boat (Rammy Line No 4) was on the main water point getting water and he was about to set off.  When he found out that we were going to go onto the river he said he would get to the first lock, get it ready and wait, which is what he did.   

At that time they were planning on going up to Stourport to then go through Birmingham to return to Alvechurch.  Some replanning must have occurred on the Severn because at Bevere Lock they announced that they too would be going up the Barge and Droitwich canals. Thus we had the pleasure of their company and help all the way which was brilliant.  They were Debbie, Keith and daughter Emma.  Thanks to them all for making our day an easy and pleasant one. 

I am glad to say that Tentatrice behaved well on the River and that the anchor (which had been deployed for ready for action on the forward deck) was not needed!

and we enjoyed the trip along to Bevere Lock and realised that there are a lot of moorings by the racecourse and we could have gone through last night.  Note for the future.

A lamentation of swans (fanciful, but I like it)

Here is a name with which to conjure!

However in no time Bevere lock was reached and soon we were through and onto the Barge Canal. 

The cream house to look out for as you approach the Droitwich Canals

Good to be welcomed

 We were not sure about doing this canal as there is nowhere really to stop, but we did not want to bump our way back up the Worcester and Birmingham Canal again. So decided to bite the bullet and go for it.  I must add here that I owe C&RT an apology – they did get back to us yesterday and within less than 10 minutes to tell us that paddles had been left open lower down and that water was now being sent up again.  We learnt today that it was a hire boat moored in a lock with the paddles open at both ends!  The reason we did not get the call is down to my idiosyncratic phone that did not notify me of a voicemail until today!  Anyway I digress. 

The Barge Canal is a delight – yes reeds everywhere, bendy and narrow, but we enjoyed the trip which was certainly easier due to a good boat and crew to help us.   

Is this a party of intrepid explorers?

No just a school outing with

a couple of teachers bringing up the rear

 Does anyone know what these are?  Seen by a lock.

At one lock we met Gemini Dream again – first met on Saturday at Hanbury top lock.  Is this a feature of our life to come – bumping into ‘friends’ as we potter around the cut?  Rammy Line No 4 found somewhere to pull in for lunch after lock 8 and we continued on to the Netherwich Basin in Droitwich Spa and what a lovely little basin it is with no other boats here on the visitor moorings when we arrived early afternoon.   

Now to the 'key' moment.  The first thing to do was to take Monty to find some grass, however, we needed a BWB key to get out of the basin.  No problem – we had bought one at Midland Chandlers a couple of months ago, however, it would not work!  Thankfully someone else arrived and had one that did.  However, we needed to be self-sufficient and be able to get out when we chose (particularly for Monty’s needs). So what to do?  I phoned the Marina Manager – voicemail is all I got!  The decision was made to call a taxi to take us to Droitwich Spa Marina to get another BWB key from the car (given to us by the Captain of Cleddau - http://boatwif.blogspot.co.uk/) that we knew worked.  So 15 minutes later and £12.50 lighter we had a key that worked.  Someone will be getting a phone call when we get home!  

By that time we were all tired, hot and fraught, so we popped into the pub where the taxi  had dropped us off, for a swift drink.  There we met Daisy who carries her own toys!

 Then a gentle stroll to Waitrose for a paper and a quick look at a rather charming High Street.  When we got back to the basin we found a few more boats had arrived.

These included nb Two Crewed who Chris met whilst lock keeping last Sunday, they were in front of us on our acceptance cruise and we passed them on Saturday on our way to Worcester.  We were admiring their washing pole on Saturday and will be paying Argos a visit very soon, so it was good to meet them again for a proper chat.  They came aboard to have a look round our new ‘baby’.  It was good to meet you Nigel, Naomi and dog Nina and we hope we do so again one day.  So yes, making new friends and bumping into them every now and then seems to go with our new way of life.

Tomorrow it is just a quick trip back to Droitwich Spa Marina which will see the end of our maiden voyage, so now is a good time to reflect on how things went and to answer the question ‘have we done the right thing’?  Things went okay for the most part – this boating lark is never without a few challenges.  Have we done the right thing – well as we sat on the bow having dinner with the sun waning, but still warm, with the Church bells ringing out in the distance and the water gently lapping as the ducks paddled around – we both decided that, yes, this is the life for us.

Grounding and Scratching

Yet another gloriously hot (dare I say too hot?) day dawned and we set off early to try and beat the worst of the heat.

 

Today's trip was from Tibberton to The Commandery in Worcester.  Nothing much of note apart from an incredibly low pound (we reckon it was about 18" down) from Tolladine to Blackpole locks.  We grounded completely twice and had to deploy the pole both times as we bumped and scraped all the way along the pound.  We phoned C&RT, but sadly the promised return call never came.

 They breed clever youngsters round here - if this notice is not for the cygnets and ducklings to adhere to I cannot see it is of much use - anyone know how to stop young birds going over a weir?!

Or maybe it is the gygnets we have to stop?

A polite request was made to the young lass on the right to get up and shut the gate for me.  I am going to show my age now - the other one was on the phone and oh dear, the language was awful - so sad from one so young and pretty.

The bridge just before Lowesmoor Marina - note the extra hole - anyone know why?  We did go into the marina (for water) and I am glad to say made a more elegant entrance than the last time we entered here many years ago on a hire boat - a fisherman was right in the way and we could not wind, so ended up reversing in.  It is not the easiest of places to get in or out of and we did not seem very welcome at all.  To cap it all the tap was very slow, so I think we will give it a miss next time we pass this way.  Apparently the taps in Diglis Basin have good pressure - we will find out in the mornng.

It was hot enough for the 'twonk hat' to come out - note the little face (at the right hand side a little above the gunwhale) checking what is going on.

We moored at The Commandery at Worcester and headed off to wander round the basin and see if there was any chance of moorings on the river by the Racecourse.  We were told they were pretty full, so we have stayed put.

When we disembarked we found that the tree won the arguement we had with it when Chris was trying to get into the side for me to get off.  A trip to the garage and some polish has been purchased and I am glad to say it is looking much better now.  The first of many I am sure, but a bit of a shame on day 2!

On our walk to the Severn we saw this little hat - I am sure someone is really missing it on a day as hot as today.

So now I sit here quietly melting (we will bring a fan next time and a 'cool coat' for Monty has been ordered tonight) we can hear the Cathedral clock every quarter and every now and then Worcester's finest race along the high street testing out their blues and twos.  I wonder how much sleep we will get tonight before another early start in the morning?

5.5 miles, 13 locks, 5 hours

Maiden Voyage

Only us could chose the hottest day of the year so far to set off on our maiden voyage, but the plans we made, so duly set off for a very gentle first day of 'solo' cruising. 

We are off!

Approaching our first solo lock aboard nb Tentatrice - Hanbury bottom lock and luck was on our side - a boat was just coming out, so the lock was ready for us

In Hanbury bottom lock - sadly no VLK's on duty today.

Very busy at Hanbury Turn

A very hot dog

 This part of the Worcester and Birmingham canal is narrow and very reedy.

Dunhamptead Tunnel - first tunnel aboard Tentatrice

We moored at Tibberton near The Bridge Inn  - just too sunny for a good picture!

and decided to treat ourselves to a pub lunch which was very good - the baguettes are excellent and can be recommended if you happen to pass this way.  Also they welcome dogs in the bar and Monty was very grateful for a lovely cold floor.

Will I ever get used to life afloat? Of course he will, but he is a typical Border Collie and takes his time getting used to new experiences.  He did enjoy a lieusurely walk along to the locks at Offerton as the sun started to go down.