Worcester Festival 12-14 June 2015

The reason for our visit - the festival was organised mainly by the Worcester Birmingham and Droitwich Canal Society, of which we are members, and The Worcester Canal Society.  A lot of work over many months took place for this event to occur.  All they wanted was good weather, but sadly, that was not the case.  It poured from mid afternoon Friday for 24 hours.  The last of the set up was done in a deluge and the first night did not attract the crowds they had hoped for.  Still a few hardy souls came along and the bands played.  There are a lot of photos to follow, but not so many words!

The Cleddau Captain braved the rain and put up the bunting

 We did not!  An arthritic knee and a wet roof is not a good combination

So what was there to see and do?

Stalls to browse and spend some money

Unfortunately a lot fewer boats than they had hoped - the original plan was for 50, then 30, but in the end I think there was only about 20 including visiting boats like ours

This is the re-furbished Canal and River Trust welfare boat for the volunteers

A C&RT education boat

There was a boat from the Black Country Museum along with this mobile cut out of the Dudley Tunnel - they will measure your boat to see if you can get through.

People to chat to

People to look at

A real Boatwif!

The gentleman on the left is the landlord of a local Pub - a real character

The first of 29 new milestones

New benches to be dedicated

This one is in the memory of Elizabeth Parker a founder member of the Worcester Canal Group

She used to live in the house with the blue open door which is within view of the new bench

Many musical acts to listen to 

This entertainer got an unexpected assistant who wowed the crowds with his dancing prowess

A local school choir - for me the little girl on the front row with no cardigan stole the show - she was the first and most enthusiastic with all the actions

The music making went on into the night on Saturday

A very pretty garden opposite our boats to admire night and day

The essential entertainment for children - two of our grandsons came to visit on Saturday - the slide was a great hit

Sadly for the organisers the crowds there were not many takers and at one point G and J had the bouncy castle all to themselves, so G could show off his cartwheeling skills  

Sunday was drier, so these two entertainments were brought out

Plenty of food - hot dogs for tea

Ice creams all round

They were deemed too big for J, so Monty was allowed to have a little of his

Apart from enjoying the festival the family were visiting to celebrate Chris's birthday

And brought a cake with them!

We certainly all enjoyed ourselves - we had three lots of visitors, so were able to show off our pride and joy!  I hope the weather cheering up brought enough footfall for the organisers to make a profit. They certainly work very hard and they are all volunteers.  We were not there to help set up, but all four of us (The Captain and Boatwif from nb Cleddau, Chris and I) pitched in to help clear up.  It certainly made me realise just how much was done to get ready.

Collect up the tables and chairs - the latter to be stacked in piles of ten by colour

First job in the marquees was to remove many, many toggles holding things together, but watch the gutters or you will get wet!

Then to cries of  'everyone grab a post, lift, remove the post and hold on tight'

'Everyone ready - then lower away'

Finally the roof is on the ground

Then fold it up 'both sides to the middle, then again until it is small enough to fold up and add to the pile'

Next it was take all the posts apart

Add them add them to the correct pile according to size and type

This vehicle did a lot of the heavy lifting 

We did about 2.5 hours before we headed back to the boats.  Most of the work had been done, but I am sure some of them were still there for an hour or so more.  I am not sure I have ever really thought about the amount of work involved to organise such an event.  A great few days and I am glad we attended.

Summer Cruise 2015 has begun

Thursday 11^th – Friday 12^th June 2015

Droitwich Spa Marina to Lansdowne Park, Worcester

8 Miles 14 Locks

First job was to load up and this is what happened as we were loading the car at home

 He was not going to be left behind, but had enough intelligence to know he has not passed his driving test - yet!

We set off around 11:30 on Thursday 11^th June in glorious sunshine, but with a good wind blowing which always makes leaving the marina interesting.  We are a few weeks late, but I am glad to say that my leg is healing and I got the go ahead from the nurse to head off on our travels.  We have industrial quantities of dressings and Chris will be the nurse for the foreseeable future.

The only locks of the day were Hanbury where we were met by James the VLK (voluntary lock keeper) who, as always, was a great help.  I have been sorry to read of less than co-operative and downright obstructive  VLKs that some other bloggers have experienced recently.  The ones round here are always helpful, cheerful and polite and I hope we are found to be the same when we do our shifts at the Stoke Flight.  It was quite busy at Hanbury and the water was low, so James’ expertise at this flight was very helpful.  We made it through and headed off to Hanbury Turn.  A look out at the front is always wise here!

We discovered that Monty has not forgotten his favourite position when travelling particularly if one of us is at the front.  It might only be 59 feet away and on the same boat, but he still thinks the flock is too far apart!

Once round the turn, Monty and I enjoyed a peaceful walk

Until Bridge 31 where we waited

 For our transport!

We assume this is a wasp trap, but thankfully we have not seen many yet

It was a pleasant cruise to Tibberton where we found a mooring at the end of a line of boats – far enough from the Pub and the M5 to be very peaceful.  We got chatting to the couple on the hire boat next to us (as you do!) and they are at the nearly retired stage and thinking about getting a boat.   They popped over to visit, inspect and talk boats (including the inevitable toilets of course) and shared in our first Pimms of the trip on what was a wonderful sunny evening.  Good luck Gary and Jane and do let us know if and when you realise your dream.

Friday we set off at 09:00 as we had 11 locks to tackle before meeting up with The Captain and Boatwif on nb Cleddau in Worcester.   This is the approach to the top lock at Offerton with the very noisy M5 behind the boat. 

It was a pleasant trip in warm dry weather through some lovely Worcestershire countryside to enjoy

Is this a Des Res for chickens?

At Offerton Bottom Lock I spied a little gate at the bottom of the steps and I just had to go and see where it went

The Worcester Warriors training ground we think.  Whoever it belongs it was worth the trip as I found a bin for disposing of a Monty deposit.

We were lucky that most locks were either full or nearly full and only Tolladine Lock was busy with a boat above 

and a boat below the lock.

If you travel this way it is wise not to moor round here as there is a long standing gypsy encampment nearby.

We sailed on past the winding hole (where nb Cleddau will need to wind/turn) between Bilford Top and Bottom Locks. 

On to Gregory Mill Top Lock and there she was – Boatwif had come to lend a hand and what a welcome she got from Monty (and us of course). 

There is some interesting artwork on billboards (hiding a building site of new homes) before you get to the sports ground

Including one celebrating the reason we are here in Worcester for the weekend - the bicentennial of the opening of the Worcester and Birmingham Canal.

A bit further on and there she was – nb Cleddau and The Captain who got an enthusiastic Monty greeting.

Next job was to help them take Cleddau back up to the winding hole and shortly after we set off the rain started!

The wind was started – note the hand signals at the bow

Until Boatwif disappeared into the undergrowth

She did, however, emerge unscathed and the turn was completed.

On the way up to the winding hole, Boatwif and I had to shut the lock gates as these two swans were determined to take their two (apparently they started out with five) cygnets into the lock – not wise with 16 tons of boat! 

When we got back to the mooring the swans were still safe with one of the cygnets hitching a lift in the rain.

A meal together was enjoyed Friday night – we did not brave the weather down to the festival site due to very heavy rain, although I gather that the bands did continue and some people turned up.  Not what they had hoped for I am sure.  

Summer has arrived!

Droitwich Spa Marina to Dunhampstead and back

4 miles, 6 locks

We are lucky enough to have great neighbours who keep a weather eye on our house when we are away and put bins in and out as needed and we have been promising them a trip out on the boat for a long time.  Well today was the day!  We had narrowed it down to last Thursday or this one and we certainly made the right choice – wall to wall sunshine all day.

It was just a short trip down the cut to The Fir Tree Inn, Dunhampstead where we enjoyed a good lunch – they do a ‘light bites menu for the smaller appetite’ – we were all glad we opted for that as the portions were still very generous.

Tea on the run as we headed off 

As we rounded the corner at Hanbury we came across Cecelia – our local Canal Society's (Worcester Birmingham and Droitwich Canal Society) charity boat 

And Mon Amour – the society chairman’s boat – we reckon they are both making their way down to Worcester for the Worcester Boat Festival from 12^th – 14^th June. 

Just a short tunnel at Dunhamptsead on this route 

The only locks on this trip are the three very deep ones at Hanbury.  I know some of you have come across unhelpful VLK (volunteer lock keepers) on your travels – the ones here are brilliant.  There were two on duty today, so we had very little to do.  

Once back in the marina we had a cuppa which was a good enough excuse to christen our latest acquisition before our friends headed home.  Not only does it look good, but more importantly it pours well.

These are the newest residents in the marina – nearly two weeks old and having a nap in the sun. 

We are staying on board tonight and hope to get the outside washed and polished tomorrow before we head off on the summer cruise next Thursday.  A quick run out was timely – the bow thruster is not working.  Chris has had a go at repairing to no avail, so someone from JL Pinders will come and look tomorrow. 

Long may this weather last.  We really could not have picked a better day to start our summer cruising.