Doris

All this is useful advice, thank you Zoe. I especially like the info about the Queens Head! We normally take a meal for the first night, like a huge cottage pie to put in the oven whilst we chug along, which we then have with crusty bread and a bottle of something nice! Thank you - we've not come across long throw windlasses before but I shall ask for one to be thrown in on the boat! Hi Cath, Funny you should say that ... we're in the process now of shedding a few pounds and trying to get our fitness up! We're between 53 and 65 and some are fitter than others! Everyone has said how hard the top paddles are and you confirm that we need at least one long throw windlass on board. Useful info about leaving one side and going to the other if it wont wind, thank you. I'll remember that advice and think of you when that problem occurs! I dont care how hard it is, I'm going to enjoy this trip!

Good morning Ade, Thanks for your comments. As we've not done a river before, we didnt know about better boat control against the flow. I guess it'll make the going a bit harder and longer, but I guess the flow isnt that fast anyway, is it? Anything else I should know about being on the River? Regards, Lin

Thanks Ken, all these differing suggestions are interesting and thought provoking. Have to confess that, not being city folk, I dont think Birmingham will interest us and I suspect we shall just shoot through as fast as we can without making waves! But we are a democracy and we'll take a vote on it, together with the direction we take but I'm leaning towards eating the frog for supper as you suggest. Doris

The nice man at the BP yard said we might be able to get away a tad earlier, if the boat is ready, which would be very helpful. If was he who said we should go straight through the Tardebigge Locks but I have to say, I think we are leaning towards going away from the locks, especially if other boats are going up - I cant stand processions! Will have to make sure we ask him to have the boat facing in the right direction, assuming we choose to go that way. We're going Hanbury, Worcester, Stourport, Audersley Junction, Wolverhampton, Old Line by Oldbury, Old Turn Junction past Kings Norton, Alvechurch and back to base. Thanks for your interest. Regards, Doris

This sounds like very useful advice, thank you. Would you like to come along too to make the coffee please! I think something a little stronger might be required on completion though!

Thanks all for your comments. JollyRoger - I assume there were only two of you which I think would be extremely hard. We are four and hope to get a system running. Useful information about the river flooding. We're going mid September so might encounter drought rather than excess but you never know. Maybe we should make a decision on our leaving day depending on what the recent weather has been. MagpiePatrick on Ripple - Very useful observation about the locks being busy on a Saturday afternoon but hopefully mid September will be quieter? The BP base is below the locks is it not, at Stoke Prior? Thanks for the "latest start time" for descending on the last day, concretes it into my mind. HMallett - Thank you too for your comments, especially about the gearing. We'll make the chaps do the locks then! Knowing your ascent time is useful too. T.A. on Louie May - Steering is fun, especially in the locks, and we shall all do our share. In fact, everything is fun on a canal boat! Good point about the river flooding either way and thanks for suggestion about Shrebourne Wharf. We'll enjoy the week, enjoy the locks and the tunnels, whatever the weather, whichever the direction. Thanks for your advice everyone. Happy canalling (is that a proper word?) Doris

Hello fellow boaters. We've booked a week on the Stourport Ring in September, leaving from Stoke Prior. We've been advised to go through the Tardebigge Locks first, ie towards Alvechurch. I assume this means going up the locks? We are four (over 50) boaters with previous experience and the discussion between us is whether to get this flight out of the way first or leave it to the end. The old saying "dont put off till tomorrow what you can do today" comes to mind. However, I wouldn't mind hearing some argument and thoughts as to direction please. Do we eat the frog for breakfast or leave it until supper? Thanks Doris