Friday 19th October; Vines Park to Worcester Riverside
We needed an early start this morning – not because we were planning a long day, but we thought we might end up with one. You see, our preferred mooring by the racecourse in Worcester might be too wet and muddy following the recent high water levels. As there isn’t a massive amount of mooring in Diglis basin we may have had to go further up the canal than we wanted to if the basin was full of returning hire craft!
We were off by 8.30, in light mist and still, chilly, air. There were five boats on the visitor pontoons in Netherwich Basin, and a little further on we passed the work and trip boats run by the Droitwich Waterways Trust.
As we moved away from the centre and along past the acres of sports pitches the ragged patches of blue sky disappeared and the fog came down. We both went below to add an extra layer of clothing. I bet this chap’s knees were cold.
The fog got thicker as we left Droitwich. Apart from people going to work or school, and a few dog walkers, there was no-one about.
As we approached the bridge at Salwarpe, which has a sharp right bend after it, we thought we saw a cyclist in high-vis gear coming along the towpath. But then another, and another - as they turned towards the bridge-hole it was obviously a work boat, with a load of cut branches….
and three rather glum workmen aboard.
The first Ladywood lock was in our favour, but not the others. I walked between them to try and warm up a bit, expecting to get quite warm as the gates are heavy and some are difficult to get moving. It didn’t work though. I’ve got a good pair of Sealskinz gloves for winter lock work, so it wasn’t too bad.
We could see the watery sun struggling to get through up above, but it didn’t raise the temperature. It did manage to highlight the cobwebs decorating some of the locks.
The startling pink fruit of the native spindle tree shone out in the gloom near the bottom of the Ladywood flight. Some of them were beginning to split to show the poisonous orange berries inside.
Gradually the fog lifted and we moored above Hawford locks in strengthening sunshine not long after 11.30. Without any extra heating since last night the boat had been very cold, but with the sun streaming in the windows we could soon discard our extra layers.
By the time we started down Hawford locks, at nearly 2pm, it was lovely with no need for hats, gloves or coats. There is a heavy chain and padlock ready for use on the top gates to prevent boats reaching the Severn in flood conditions, but the electronic board was flashing green today.
On with the lifejackets, a quick call to the lockie at Bevere, and we were off down the Severn. The lock gates were open ready for us, and a boat was ready to come in below as we left. The weather by now was glorious and there was no time to get bored with the scenery on the short hop down towards Worcester. Just one other narrowboat and a cruiser on the move this afternoon. The riverside moorings by the racecourse were empty and pretty clear of mud so we pulled in just short of Sabrina footbridge.
We thought the river looked to have risen by about a metre – the mud on the steps, still damp, bore this out.
At least the towpath was clear of mud or we would have had to have gone up onto the canal.
Dave and Meg set off for the racecourse – Meg remembered the way and was out of the picture before I could take it. Moments later Dave was back – a hot-air balloon was being inflated on the racecourse!
The crew kept the paying passengers out of the way while they made sure it was fully inflated ….
Then it was all aboard and up, up and away!
It drifted off across Worcester. The husband of one of the passengers wanted to know where they were going so he could follow in his car – ‘that way’ apparently, though he was given a road number to take!
Near the grandstand was a fancy blue and white structure, a cross between a marquee and a circus Big Top. A little Googling later on told us that we have hit the Worcester Oktoberfest weekend. Hmmm. If it hadn’t been nearly £20 each to get in – and that’s standing, it was more if you wanted a seat - we might have gone along as there would be live music as well as beer. Well, we can hear the music (bass only unfortunately) as we sit by our cosy fire for free. It goes on till 11.
8½ miles, 8 broad locks, 1 river lock.
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