West Mids Meander: Day 8

By yesterday, as Pip from Oleanna noted in a comment, we had done an equal number of miles and locks on this trip.  But as we were at the top of the Tardebigge flight, that was never going to last.  We had a later start than usual because Adrian had a work call to do at 9.  While he did that, I took advantage of the fact that it had been raining to wash the roof, which was filthy.  We got under way about 9.45, knowing we were the third boat heading down the locks.

When we got down to the locks by the reservoir, we started meeting boats coming up, led by a single hander accompanied by a lock keeper.  There were three boats in succession; we later passed more, probably eight in all.  This meant a bit of a pause at times, which was put to use picking blackberries. One of the boats was Fulborne, which had been at the IWA Festival in Worcester at the weekend.

Towards the bottom of the flight we caught up with the boat ahead.  We had a system where Adrian would bring the boat in and close the offside top paddle while I closed the gate; I would then lift one bottom paddle and walk down to fill the lock below; then I’d come back to the lock, open the other paddle if necessary and open the gates.  By the time the boat was at the next lock it would be full.  We completed the 29 locks in just under three and a half hours, which we didn’t think was too bad.

After a brief lunch stop, we continued to the Stoke Locks, which Adrian worked.  We met a few boats coming up, all aiming for the moorings at Tardebigge bottom lock (and where they won’t all have fitted in).  At the Black Prince base, holiday makers were being shown their boats.

At the Astwood Locks we met a whole procession of Black Prince boats heading back in time for tomorrow morning.  We had a bit of a pause as locks had been left open for an uphill boat which was still a couple of locks away.  Then a Black Prince arrived at the top lock and opened paddles at both ends — suggesting the training leaves a little to be desired.  By now the sun had come out, and the lady from the cottage at the penultimate lock was sitting outside enjoying it.  The cottage has a lovely garden on the other side of the lock.

We moored up in a nice open spot below the locks.  The Black Prince boat came by, so they’ve worked out locks, but not that the engine doesn’t need to be at full revs.  And a steam powered boat has gone the other way.

5 miles, 41 locks.  (91 miles, 127 locks)