Thursday 8th October; Droitwich Spa marina to Oddingley
We had an easy journey up the M5 till the approach to Gloucester, where traffic slowed to about 25 mph. We guessed we had caught up with the abnormal load we knew would be travelling today from Avonmouth. Dave had prepared a list of escape routes should we need them. The giant silo would be taking up 2 lanes, and lucky for us they had stopped on an extra-wide section of hard shoulder to let the traffic build-up clear. The photo shows that the bed of the trailer has been lowered; this has to be done for some of the bridges too, and all traffic is halted for that process, apparently for safety reasons.
 |
| This is only half its length! |
We arrived at the marina by lunchtime and were off cruising at 2.30, the stiff breeze assisting for once as we reversed out of the berth and turned left onto the canal. We rose up Hanbury locks to join the Worcester and Birmingham canal where we turned right towards Worcester. The side ponds on the Hanbury flight are fully operational, unlike most of the others on the network.
 |
| These side pond paddles don’t push the boat about |
A walker told us the volunteers had just left, but we weren’t expecting to see them in October anyway. The locks were all in our favour and are close enough for locking ahead so we were soon up.
 |
| Coming round the tight turn at Hanbury Junction |
After a mile or so Dave noticed there was something round the prop and a long streamer of reed trailing behind. A blast of reverse helped but didn’t shift the reed – Dave used the grabber to reach it then he could pull it free.
There was a large bank collapse at Dunhampstead tunnel the year before last I think. The towpath diversion looks to be a permanent feature now, but the area of collapse is still protected with waterproof sheeting to save further erosion. I wonder if anything more will be done?
Once through the tunnel it wasn’t far to Oddingley where we hoped to moor. Once we had passed the winding hole at Lake bridge it was clear we had more stuff round the prop. Would we make it as far as Oddingley? No we wouldn’t, and with reeds all along the towpath edge we had to limp on to the first of the three bridges where there was just enough reed-free edge for me to hold the centre-line while Dave went down the weed-hatch.
 |
| What are you doing down there Dad? |
It was only three hundred yards further to the mooring but we couldn’t even get that far without collecting another load of cut reeds – this time mostly as a moustache on the bow. Dave decided to leave the second weed hatch visit till tomorrow as the sun had gone and it had become very cold and windy.
 |
| I warmed up by hauling this lot off the bow. If I hadn't we'd probably just collect it all again tomorrow! |
By 6 pm it was raining.
3 locks, 3 miles
