doratheexplorer Posted October 17, 2019 Report Share Posted October 17, 2019 Quick question. Is there a water point for visiting boats in Kiddy? CRTs online map says there’s a tap, but unclear if it’s only available to permanent moorers? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
frangar Posted October 17, 2019 Report Share Posted October 17, 2019 24 minutes ago, doratheexplorer said: Quick question. Is there a water point for visiting boats in Kiddy? CRTs online map says there’s a tap, but unclear if it’s only available to permanent moorers? I’m not sure I’d stop even to fill with water in Kiddy!! ?? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Captain Pegg Posted October 17, 2019 Report Share Posted October 17, 2019 There’s a tap at Caldwell Mill bridge that’s accessible on the offside. There’s a substantial brick wash wall and mooring bollards in between the bridge and the offline CRT moorings in the basin. I suspect the access to the basin is from the bridge and along the bank at this point rather than via the housing that surrounds the basin. It’s an odd mooring. JP Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
doratheexplorer Posted October 17, 2019 Author Report Share Posted October 17, 2019 21 minutes ago, Captain Pegg said: There’s a tap at Caldwell Mill bridge that’s accessible on the offside. There’s a substantial brick wash wall and mooring bollards in between the bridge and the offline CRT moorings in the basin. I suspect the access to the basin is from the bridge and along the bank at this point rather than via the housing that surrounds the basin. It’s an odd mooring. JP Thanks. Is the tap in front of the houses? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Captain Pegg Posted October 17, 2019 Report Share Posted October 17, 2019 (edited) 16 minutes ago, doratheexplorer said: Thanks. Is the tap in front of the houses? No. Not the new build ones. It’s against a wall just north of the bridge. Looks like a normal water point but a bit unusual for being on the offside. I suspect it was put there for the moorings but is accessible to all. I think there’s also an online mooring that’s for CRT workboats only so hopefully they won’t be blocking the water point. But at least you won’t find frangar there so that’s a bonus. JP Edited October 17, 2019 by Captain Pegg Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dreamer Posted October 17, 2019 Report Share Posted October 17, 2019 38 minutes ago, frangar said: I’m not sure I’d stop even to fill with water in Kiddy!! ?? The three Kiddy locks are the only ones on the Staffs & Worcester that require a handcuff key. Says it all! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ditchcrawler Posted October 17, 2019 Report Share Posted October 17, 2019 List time we moored by I think its Morrison before you get to the first lock, it was after that I discovered you could wind a 57 foot boat by the Church Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Captain Pegg Posted October 17, 2019 Report Share Posted October 17, 2019 2 minutes ago, The Dreamer said: The three Kiddy locks are the only ones on the Staffs & Worcester that require a handcuff key. Says it all! I’ve never had any trouble passing through Kidderminster but I can’t say that about Worcester. JP Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
frangar Posted October 17, 2019 Report Share Posted October 17, 2019 4 minutes ago, Captain Pegg said: But at least you won’t find frangar there so that’s a bonus. JP We stopped once at Sainsbury’s.....sent the OH in while I defended the boat with a sharpened boat hook..... In all seriousness it’s where one of the boats I helped build was torched by kids one night when it was moored at the bottom of the owners garden..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob-M Posted October 17, 2019 Report Share Posted October 17, 2019 Last year we stopped in Kidderminster to go shopping, when I came back a guy was sat by the stern of the boat. Started chatting to him, didn't sound very happy. He then disappeared off to Tesco and came back with bottles of beer and wanted to join us to get to stourport. I thought we were going to have trouble when I refused but he gave me a beer and walked off. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom Morgan Posted October 17, 2019 Report Share Posted October 17, 2019 (edited) This water-point appeared in a you tube video the other day. The vloggers were a bit worried because said that it's listed on the C&RT website, but isn't included on the Open Canal app, but I've just had a look and it is, named as "C&RT Services". So it seems to be available to all. Edited October 17, 2019 by Tom Morgan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dreamer Posted October 17, 2019 Report Share Posted October 17, 2019 10 minutes ago, Captain Pegg said: can’t say that about Worcester If you mean the bit between Oferton flight and Blackpole lock, I agree. But the rest is all fine IMHO and the homeless guys at Blockhouse lock are harmless... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
doratheexplorer Posted October 18, 2019 Author Report Share Posted October 18, 2019 12 hours ago, Tom Morgan said: This water-point appeared in a you tube video the other day. The vloggers were a bit worried because said that it's listed on the C&RT website, but isn't included on the Open Canal app, but I've just had a look and it is, named as "C&RT Services". So it seems to be available to all. Do you have the link? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Captain Pegg Posted October 18, 2019 Report Share Posted October 18, 2019 (edited) 13 hours ago, frangar said: We stopped once at Sainsbury’s.....sent the OH in while I defended the boat with a sharpened boat hook..... In all seriousness it’s where one of the boats I helped build was torched by kids one night when it was moored at the bottom of the owners garden..... 13 hours ago, The Dreamer said: If you mean the bit between Oferton flight and Blackpole lock, I agree. But the rest is all fine IMHO and the homeless guys at Blockhouse lock are harmless... I’ve heard of issues with pounds being drained on the northern side of Worcester but never experienced any issues personally. I have no real reason to be mooring in that area anyway. Of course there’s a travellers site on Offerton Lane so you will get a certain nervousness from some folk about that area. It was actually at Commandery lock where I was spat at from the bridge. I wouldn’t advise anyone to avoid Worcester though, quite the opposite in fact. Same goes for the Black Country. I don’t think it’s wise to create doubt in boaters’ minds about whether they should go somewhere or stop somewhere. Most of these stories are poorly supported by strong recent evidence of problems. That said though it pays to think about where you stop overnight and Kidderminster still has some issues but I think it’s been improved by canal side development. There are a number of boats on permanent moorings in Kidderminster. Ultimately Stourport or Wolverley are better places to stop overnight. In case anyone who doesn’t know the place has formed an impression of Kidderminster here’s a picture of the middle one of the three locks fitted with anti-vandal equipment. JP Edited October 18, 2019 by Captain Pegg Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ditchcrawler Posted October 18, 2019 Report Share Posted October 18, 2019 I have also moored near Tesco in Kidderminster overnight, the mooring above the lock next to morrison or Sainsbury's I don't know which it is was much quieter Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Neil2 Posted October 18, 2019 Report Share Posted October 18, 2019 27 minutes ago, Captain Pegg said: I’ve heard of issues with pounds being drained on the northern side of Worcester but never experienced any issues personally. I have no real reason to be mooring in that area anyway. Of course there’s a travellers site on Offerton Lane so you will get a certain nervousness from some folk about that area. It was actually at Commandery lock where I was spat at from the bridge. I wouldn’t advise anyone to avoid Worcester though, quite the opposite in fact. Same goes for the Black Country. I don’t think it’s wise to create doubt in boater’s minds about whether they should go somewhere or stop somewhere. Most of these stories are poorly supported by strong recent evidence of problems. Amen to that. It's definitely one of the negative aspects of these forums, and the social media generally, that a few isolated incidents can whip up a sense of danger out of all proportion to the reality. I notice hire boaters seem immune to this. You see hire boats moored in the most unlikely places, probably because they couldn't be bothered to research whether the area was "safe" or not. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sea Dog Posted October 18, 2019 Report Share Posted October 18, 2019 Whilst Kidderminster isn't on my list of overnight stopping places, and probably isn't on any list of loveliest British towns, the whole area being discussed here - Worcester itself and the canal up from Stourport - is one of my favourite cruises. The journey through Kidderminster doesn't detract from that and a brief visit to the town itself isn't actually one to be avoided. The view of the church and it's gardens as you lock up from the town is a memorable highlight. Please don't be put off - quite the contrary! 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom Morgan Posted October 18, 2019 Report Share Posted October 18, 2019 2 hours ago, doratheexplorer said: Do you have the link? Here it is: You'll only need to watch the first seven minutes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ditchcrawler Posted October 18, 2019 Report Share Posted October 18, 2019 I thought 11.25 was better or even 8.25 with the steam train Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Captain Pegg Posted October 18, 2019 Report Share Posted October 18, 2019 (edited) 15 hours ago, Rob-M said: Last year we stopped in Kidderminster to go shopping, when I came back a guy was sat by the stern of the boat. Started chatting to him, didn't sound very happy. He then disappeared off to Tesco and came back with bottles of beer and wanted to join us to get to stourport. I thought we were going to have trouble when I refused but he gave me a beer and walked off. I think the key is that you treated them as a person and not as a threat. If they were in a bad place in themselves they were probably glad that someone took the trouble. And they’ll have known they were chancing their arm asking for a lift. Urban canals are a refuge for all sorts of people - including boaters - and generally folk are happy in whatever they are doing and happy to let everyone else get on with whatever everyone else is doing. Sometimes that may actually be dubious activity but I find that whatever and whoever you encounter it helps to get on naturally with your own business, don’t assume the worst in everyone you see and if an opportunity arises acknowledge people as you would if passing one of your neighbours in the street. And as we know Rob, you even find that when conventional wisdom says you’re at your most vulnerable - such as being stuck in the Walsall flight at dusk - the response from locals who have their own reasons to be on the towpath is the most friendly and supportive you’ll ever encounter on the canals. JP Edited October 18, 2019 by Captain Pegg 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dreamer Posted October 18, 2019 Report Share Posted October 18, 2019 11 hours ago, Captain Pegg said: In case anyone who doesn’t know the place has formed an impression of Kidderminster here’s a picture of the middle one of the three locks fitted with anti-vandal equipment. In fairness to the town, it is largely a picturesque canal run, even the more urban parts (thinking of the church towering over the first lock) are quite spectacular. Also, there ain’t many towns where you can moor in the supermarket car park, and in Kiddy you can moor in two supermarket car parks, which is useful for stocking up. Unfortunately, my tainted view of the town comes from working there, professionally, with disadvantaged families, and it is a neighbourhood that for a large part is down on its luck. It suffers from the demise of the carpet industry, it has a disproportionate level of mental heath difficulties due to the closure of an institution, in the 80s, and all the residents being “cared” for in the community. The last of the trio of adversity, ironically is the fault of the canals! It is said that Kiddy had a county lines problem, before the term had even been coined, back in the early 20th century, and the chosen mode of transport for the supply line...yep you guessed it! All of the above said, the majority of the people are lovely, with real Black Country charm, but it only takes a few... 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Philip Posted October 19, 2019 Report Share Posted October 19, 2019 (edited) On 18/10/2019 at 08:15, Captain Pegg said: I’ve heard of issues with pounds being drained on the northern side of Worcester but never experienced any issues personally. I have no real reason to be mooring in that area anyway. Of course there’s a travellers site on Offerton Lane so you will get a certain nervousness from some folk about that area. It was actually at Commandery lock where I was spat at from the bridge. I wouldn’t advise anyone to avoid Worcester though, quite the opposite in fact. Same goes for the Black Country. I don’t think it’s wise to create doubt in boaters’ minds about whether they should go somewhere or stop somewhere. Most of these stories are poorly supported by strong recent evidence of problems. That said though it pays to think about where you stop overnight and Kidderminster still has some issues but I think it’s been improved by canal side development. There are a number of boats on permanent moorings in Kidderminster. Ultimately Stourport or Wolverley are better places to stop overnight. In case anyone who doesn’t know the place has formed an impression of Kidderminster here’s a picture of the middle one of the three locks fitted with anti-vandal equipment. JP This puts the run out of Manchester even more to shame; I read very few positive stories about going through or stopping in Manchester on here, even Castlefield nowadays seems to have lost its previously good boater reputation. Edited October 19, 2019 by Philip Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ditchcrawler Posted October 19, 2019 Report Share Posted October 19, 2019 Best never to leave the marina, there have probably been incidents in every town that have a canal passing thought it at some time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob-M Posted October 19, 2019 Report Share Posted October 19, 2019 1 minute ago, ditchcrawler said: Best never to leave the marina, there have probably been incidents in every town that have a canal passing thought it at some time. Be careful which marina is selected though, you never know ? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
matty40s Posted October 19, 2019 Report Share Posted October 19, 2019 34 minutes ago, Rob-M said: Be careful which marina is selected though, you never know ? I'm just glad I never bought a boat. 1 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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