After a leisurely breakfast we winded and set off back along the W&B to just before Astwood locks. From here there is a path across the fields to Hanbury Hall, where we had lunch. Then up two locks, turn around, back down two locks and back to the marina. Back home tomorrow as Tom has an appointment ..read more

We picked up Sue and Tom and arrived at the marina by 11:45. After lunch we topped up the water and diesel then set off up the three locks to Hanbury junction. We had booked a table for our evening meal at The Bridge. As we approached the mooring it poured, thundered and lightninged ! We got soaked, five minutes later it had stopped. G&T, wine, nuts and natter then off to the pub. The meals were good ..read more

Only just under two hours cruising today. Starting off at 7:10 we were quickly through the swing bridges. The level in the river was low enough that we cleared the M5 tunnel with about an inch to spare. Into the marina, pack up and off home ..read more

After an excellent evening with Simon & Karen yesterday we said our goodbyes this morning at seven o’clock and set off. We reached Stourport about 9:30 and were down onto the river by ten. It’s been another really hot day, but travelling down stream was pleasantly cool with a lovely breeze Hawford junction was reached at 11:50 and we started back up the Droitwich Barge canal. All but two of the locks were set in our favour. By 14:50 we were moored up in Netherwitch basin ..read more

We were in constant WhatsApp communication with Karen & Simon regarding tonight’s rendezvous. We settled on Wolverley Court lock as it was within reach of both of us. We made good progress, even though we had to ‘turn’ every lock. We arrived here at about 1:30 in time for a late lunch, they arrived about 4 o’clock. The evening was spent nattering, eating and drinking. Just Heaven and Bath Tub ..read more

Again an early start, 7:10am, to try to beat the hot weather. Down the rest of the Wolverhampton flight was reasonably OK, though we did have to turn a few of them. Two locks before the end an upcoming boater had emptied the lock before us without me noticing. He didn’t bother to look ahead. It was a single hander, he was pushing open all the bottom gates with his boat, not bothering to get off! Back on very familiar territory of the Staffs & Worcs, we stopped briefly at Compton to do a bit of shopping then on to moor up at our old friend the offside mooring below Bratch. We love ithere ..read more

We hadn’t decided which way to go back, but as we were already past the W&B lock entrance, and we hadn’t gone up the Droitwich canals since 2011 we chose to carry on up the Severn to Hawford. Also this meant that we avoided to two large locks up into Diglis basin that I struggle to do on my own. We ascended the first two locks up off the river. Then, as we approached the next lock we saw a boat leaving. Heddi had a word and they agreed to wait at the next lock and share the rest with us. So we made a good team with Vital Spark all the way to Droitwich ..read more

There weather forecast was right, it was really cold for most of the way. We set off at 6:50 and locked out from the docks down on to the Severn at just after 9 o’clock. This journey starts off going up the “parting” which is a narrow bywater off of the main river. It’s narrower and shallower than the rest of the river, which means pushing against quite a strong flow. So for the first hour or so we were only making about 3mph. From Gloucester up to Tewkesbury its fairly boring as the high flood banks mean there is little to see. As we chugged on North the weather improved, and when we reached ..read more

We moved up from Splatt bridge to just north of Parkend bridge. From here up to Gloucester we can get under the next three bridges. So this means that we can start off early in the morning before the bridge keepers come on duty. The weather forecast for tomorrow is dry but not warm for out trip up river ..read more

We have spent the last 6 weeks or so just tootling up and down the G&S. Mostly staying at Saul, but also Splatt Bridge, Patch Bridge and Sharpness. Our friend Rob has his widebeam in Saul marina and we have spent a couple of evenings there. Friends Paul and Julia have their boat at Sharpness and another evening was spent in their delightful company. Other friends have visited – Jim and Mo, Steve and Lori, David and Veronica, Theresa and Brian, we also popped over to Madeira for a week ..read more