Sunny but cold on the way to Stourton locks

Tuesday 18^th April; Wolverley Court lock to Stourton top lock, Stourbridge canal

This is a lovely mooring, full of birdsong at this time of year.  A wide area of grass below the lock for the dog to play ball too.

Ready for the off

We set off in bright sunshine at around 9.30, though the wind was very cold in our faces.  We met our first boat as we came out of Wolverley lock, and there were a fair few others during the morning.  Luckily we met no-one on the bendy approach to Cookley tunnel.  I always feel obliged to take a photo of the houses, wondering whether the owners worry about them collapsing down the cliff.

Apart from the wind we had had lovely morning’s cruising.  We haven’t seen any young waterbirds yet, but there are plenty of Canadas sitting on eggs.  Their nests seem tiny, and very tidy, compared to a swan’s.

I love the stretch between Debdale and Whittington locks.  The countryside is very pretty with red sandstone cliffs in places on one side and the river Stour winding along in the trees below the towpath, and at this time of year, with the leaves just beginning to unfurl, it is lovely.

We saw the fuel boat Roach at Kinver, and he wandered up and helped us through Hyde lock, which was nice of him.  We pulled in for lunch and he passed us shortly afterwards, so I guess he had come up to set the lock ready.  We had an extended lunch stop in the sunshine, and saw the CRT litter picking volunteer returning to Kinver, where we had earlier seen her below Kinver lock.

We set off again, past birch trees with their catkins like golden rain, towards Stewponey lock.

photo doesn't do them justice

At Stewponey lock is a CRT base, and one of the chaps came over to ask how we were doing.  I reported the stuck gate paddle at Whittington lock, which saves a phone call later.  There are a couple of geese which seem to live there, one is a white farmyard kind and the other looked as though it had an Egyptian goose somewhere in its family tree.  It was busy preening itself in the car park.

Leave me alone, I'm busy

We turned into the Stourbridge canal, went up the locks and moored a little way above the top lock.  

Approaching Stourton bottom lock

Dave got busy washing and polishing the port side, which I sponged out the small amount of water from the cabin bilge.  The amount is slowly decreasing, but more is still working its way through.

6½ miles, 9 locks.  A heavier day to come.