Stourport ring

[markgregoryuk2000]

Just done the stourport ring clockwise from just below the Dunhamstead tunnel on the Worcester & Birmingham canal.

Day 1 (Pickup 2pm)

Dunhamstead to Droitwich.

The hire boat "Dancing Brook" picks up speed fast, 1200 RPM max before wake starts to break here. The turn into the Droitwich canal is quite tight but it is a nice run down to Droitwich. We clipped the height guage under the M5 but still made it through the bridge carefully. The 3 swing bridges are a pain (all locked but the pontoon mooring is nice although there was a hire boat on the water point. I recommend you walk around Droitwich if only to see the crooked buildings.

Day 2

Droitwich to Wolverley

The run down to the Severn was good, 2-3 hours, as not as narrow as we had expected. I suspect they have done some clearing. Note the are mooring rings above lock 2 now for overnight mooring just off the Severn.

The run up the severn was good, upto 1600 RPM, no where near max but approaching 1800 she is sucking air under the swim. Checked the prop, seems rather large, probably explains the kick pick up of speed at low (to me) RPM.

The double locks going up to the stourport basin are interesting especially the kink between the first and second set. Had a spoteer on the bow for the right turn out of the first basin and glad we did as a small fibre glass was coming through that could not be seen from the stern. Did not stop here but carried on through kidderminster, nice Church and Sainsburys is indeed right by the canal, and on to Wolversley for the night. Ate upstairs at The Lock, nice pub, had the upstairs to our selves.

Day 3

Wolverley to Stourbridge

It was raining heavily this morning which was a shame as had hoped to take a walk around Wolverley, instead desided to push on. At Kinver had thought to stop for lunch but all the moorings above the lock are Permit holder only! so carried on. Around the Stourton junction the rain finaly stopped or at least became intermittent so had a dry run up the Stourton 4 to Stourbridge, did not want to start the stourbridge 16 as time was getting on and was expecting safe moorigs at Stourbridge. Note the safe moorings behind the gate at Stourbridge are all Permit holder now so we spent the night with a group of private boats on rings just outside the gated area. Seemed fine although they are building a new housing estate along this stretch so who knows what the future will bring.

Day 4

Stourbridge to Bumble hole.

Spotted the Ruskin center on the way down to Stourbridge so stopped here on the way back, mooring for 2 boats on the off side and rings on the towpath side for more. The Ruskin center is a college for glass work with set of studios where you can see a lock of their work and some glass work taking place, there is also and area showing the history of glass making in Stourbridge.

Stopped again at the Red Cone museum, there is space for 1 boat in front of the museum but we had to use pins on the towpath side. Was an interesting and free museum and I can recommend the fish and chip shop oposite the entrance (try their battered chips). Just up from the cone we picked up a helper who stayed with us all the way to the top of the 16, aparently this is quite common (well known to the CRT workers) and he is known to spend his day helping boats up and down the 16.

On to the Delph 8 and quite a picturesque flight although we could have done without the cloud burst 1 lock from the top. Desided not to stop at Merry hill as it was a little early and instead pushed on to Bumble hole (just before the Netherton tunnel) A nice area to walk around and over the tunnel if you are feeling energetic.

Day 5

Bumble Hole to Gas Streat basin.

The Netherton Tunnel made an interesting start to the day but it is rather wet through there, I would not recommend walking the tow path in anything other than wellies (lots of puddles). Wanted to see the Black Contry Museum so left turn at the Birmingham Main Line and up the Factory locks to Tipton Green and then onto the old Main Line round to the museum. Due to some poor mooring and the construction work we could not moor at the museum but instead one bridge before. Note it is a long way around to the front of the museum so better to use the BW key to enter via the gate on the canal.

After around 4 hours at the Museum we carried on along the old Main line to gas street basin, the have been doing a lot of building along here, lots of new buildings. We had been lucky with a clear prop right up intil we moored at gas street basin, as we reversed to stop our selves we picked up a mass of polythene bags and an old innertube.

Day 6

Gas Street basin to Alverchurch

Peaceful night in Birmingham, actually moored on the tow path just past where the Oozle loop goes off. On the sharp bend just past gas street basing there is a new square building that does rather channel the wind down the canal, we spotted it and took the corner tight but the Black Prince behind us was not so lucky and took several attempts to get around the corner.

Passing out of Birmingham our first stop was Cadburies world great for the kids but not so much for adults, for adults much better to visit the Village.

On to the Wast hill tunnel which was rather cold and misty in places. We could have made the top of the Tardebigge but wanted to eat out, yes I know this was leaving us a big last day. at first we went to the Alverchurch boet yard but the moorings there were full so turned and returned to The Crown (nice if small pub).

Day 7

Alverchurch to Hanbury Junction

About an hours run to the top of the Tardebigge then here comes the locks 30 of them in around 3 and a half hours not bad, I think letting the people moored at the top of the Tardebigge get a head start helped. Stopped at the Queens head, stoke pond, for lunch, very nice food but expensive. 12 more locks to go (6 Stoke and 6 Astwood), 42 locks today!!! not as bad as you think as they are all in flights as long as you have enough crew to start preping the next lock in the flight. Dinner at the Eagle & Sun (nice carvery), there are moorings in front of the pub but due to the boat yard there it is very narrow, better to moor before the bridge.

Day 8 (return 9am)

Hanbury Junction to Dunhamstead

2 miles to go, aimed to get going around 8am but actually started moving around 7:30 so took a slow sunny cruise back to the yard. I think there may be more reeds along this stretch than along the Droitwich barge canal.

Below is a ling to the photos I took if you are interested

http://s856.photobucket.com/user/markgregoryuk2000/library/