“Home” for the winter

 Monday 10^th October; Astwood bottom lock to Droitwich Spa marina

We were up early today.  Dave has a train to catch.

It was another chilly morning and the moon, which rose behind the towpath hedge on our port side last night, was setting now far beyond the offside.  The sun was barely up and still well down behind the hedge.  I can’t remember now which of these photos has the truer colour of the sky - I have discarded another three and these two are what is left.

We set off for Hanbury Junction at 8.  It was cold and damp and no-one else was about.  Although we know this area well, it seemed unfamiliar, because in the eighteen months since we were last here the reeds have been cut!  We quickly tied up on the empty visitor moorings at the junction and swung into car collection day routine.  Dave left for the station straight away, and I got on with cleaning and packing.  He made it back in time for lunch, and then we rounded the junction towards Hanbury locks.   With volunteers on duty, the boat ahead was quickly on its way and we followed it down.

Hanbury Top Lock

The wind was extremely strong as we turned into the marina and moored at the wharf.  Even with the bow thruster we were grateful that Nick was around to take a rope and help us get tied up.  After a pump-out we moored close to where we used to be with Chuffed – this time next to Old Nick, the Ortomarine electric boat reviewed in Canal Boat.  Bow in – in this wind, stern first would have been a lot of effort.

We have a mooring here until the end of March, and we hope to have a local cruise before we sort Bonjour out for the winter.

1½ miles, 3 locks.

Trip stats: Calcutt to Droitwich Spa

Distance approx 62½ miles: 27m 5¼ furlongs narrow canals, 34 m 6f broad canals.

118 locks: 70 narrow, 48 broad

7 tunnels - Shrewley (433 yards long), Curzon Street (161 yards long), Ashted (103 yards long), Edgbaston (105 yards long), Wast Hill (2726 yards long), Shortwood (614 yards long) and Tardebigge (580 yards long) – a total of 2 miles, 5¼ furlongs underground.  (Thanks CanalplanAC).

Waterways cruised: Grand Union Canal, Birmingham and Fazeley Canal, B&F Digbeth Branch, BCN Main Line, Icknield Port Loop, Worcester and Birmingham canal, Droitwich Junction canal.