Out in the sun

Thursday 13^th April; Droitwich Spa marina to Vines Park, Droitwich

We’d been planning to drive up yesterday, (Wednesday), but the weather forecast for the Midlands was appalling, and by all accounts it had been absolutely dreadful.  Such a shame for people out on their Easter holidays.

So we came up on a much drier day and arrived just before 2, and before we left the marina Dave walked Meg up to Hanbury Junction to check what the strong stream indicator board said for the Severn.  It’s only a week or so since it was on red boards, which had held up our neighbours NB Old Nick for a week. With another lot of recent rain we were a bit concerned we’d have to change our plans, but as the levels were amber, decreasing, we decided to make our way down to the Severn rather than go up to Tardebigge.

We had a pump-out and topped up the fuel tank before settling up our extended winter mooring bill, and set off in bright sunshine and a brisk wind.

The locks were all against us as a boat had recently gone down, and they were hard work - as they usually are, but they felt much harder after a winter without locking!  We had some help at the staircase as a boat appeared behind us with three crew.  The next lock normally has the offside paddle locked off, to control the water level in the M5 tunnel, which has very little headroom. But at the moment, with the other paddle broken, it has to be kept unlocked. 

Working today

The tunnel headroom is very limited indeed and the top of the cratch board clouted the height indicator, so we crept through very carefully with about an inch to spare.  The three swing bridges in Droitwich have a bit of a reputation.  They are in frequent use by pedestrians and can be a bit difficult to operate.  The first crosses Barge Lock so has to be swung before a boat can come in.  But that’s an easy one.  The other two, while heavy to operate, are fine until you come to lock them, when it is tricky to get the padlock to close again as the bridge itself keeps trying to stay open.  But the boat behind had caught up and were well aware of the issues, so I let them through and the crew helped to lock the bridges shut.  We moored on the park in the sunshine.

As it was already 6 o’clock, and we were thirsty, we went straight to the Gardener’s Arms, where dogs are welcome.  The local beer was excellent, although the lady who served us couldn’t remember the name of the brewery.

We had pie and mash, warming and sustaining.  I had the vegetarian version, called Worcester Hocci Veg pot pie.  Hocci is an Old English word for an allotment.  When Droitwich was awarded its charter for salt production by King John, land was also given for the people to grow their own vegetables.  But they wouldn’t have had mash with their pie in those days.

The weather forecast for tomorrow isn't brilliant.

1½ miles, 5 locks, 3 swing bridges