Cheshire, eventually: Day 6

We really like the Stourport mooring out on the River Severn.  Yesterday evening there were rowers out, and this morning it was as still as anything, so the water was flat calm, in contrast to yesterday’s windy conditions.  By coming out onto the river, we had completed the Staffs and Worcs from end to end; we’ve done al, of it multiple times before, but never in one go.  This morning we set off at 8am; I walked up to set the locks while Adrian brought the boat.

It all seemed much simpler when there was only us around, with no-one else to interfere or get in the way!  The transit between the two staircases is always awkward though.

Once we were up the four locks into the basin, I walked round and opened the gates of York Street Lock, which was already empty, while Adrian brought the boat.  Then we set off through the duckweed, which occasionally seemed to form clumps round the prop.  Fortunately it’s largely absent above Fallimg Sands Lock.  By now the sun had come up, making the Severn Valley Railway viaduct look even more impressive.  Still no trains today though.

Caldwell Lock is set right into the rock.  Even the name board has its feet in the stone.

At Kidderminster Lock, as yesterday’s photo was looking towards the church, today I took one looking across the ring road.  It’s not as pretty!

At various locks including Wolverley Court, Wolverley, and Debdale, we met boats coming out, but we were just too far away for them to have left the gates open for us.  Coming north, you can’t see whether someone is already coming through Cookley Tunnel until you’re almost in it.

We had lunch on the move between Debdale and Whittington Locks.  At Whittington, the owners of the lock cottage were outside, and I grabbed a quick interview with them for a future podcast.  We carried out to Kinver, mooring up about 1.30, and went for a walk into the village.  It’s got a busy little High Street with a good selection of shops, including some down an alleyway.  We got an ice cream from the Co-op.

It’s been much sunnier than forecast today, but the wind has really got up during the day which has been a bit of a pain at times.

11 miles, 12 locks.  (46 miles, 50 locks)