From our lovely mooring overlooking Rowington we set out on a very cold and breezy morning with the Lapworth flight in our sights, another 19 locks!
After dealing with the basics of water, rubbish and Elsan we started our uphill journey. Then it was with a great big smile that Jenny greeted the lovely, Neil the CRT volunteer who appeared at the 3rd lock and helped us throughout the flight with his friendly chat and easy way. It was such a boost after other volunteers we have encountered so far on this trip. A great big thank you to Neil who made this leg of our journey most enjoyable.
Thanks for your help Neil
Hitching a lift
After a short stop to clear the prop of some plastic rope of some sort, that was causing a nasty vibration and the disappointment of finding Swallow Cruisers closed on a Saturday , where we hoped to take on fuel, we arrived at our overnight mooring at Warings Green.
Sunday 5th May
Another cold morning greets us as we slip our ropes and head off on a lock free section of canal for today. We are both wrapped up well as we make our way through this beautiful countryside. We are hopeful that it will warm up a little later in the morning. As we turn onto the Birmingham and Worcester Canal at Norton Junction it is still cold and overcast. This section, although lock free, is a rather uninteresting stretch being the suburbs of Birmingham. The highlight must be the Wast Hill Tunnel, which at 2726 yds is the 6th longest tunnel on the system. It was even colder in the darkness of the tunnel, which takes 30 minutes to travel through. However, once through we leave the outskirts of Birmingham and find ourselves, once again in beautiful open countryside.
The old guillotine lock at the top of the Stratford Lock
Our plan to moor at Alvechurch was thwarted by all the authorised moorings being full so we ventured on hoping to moor just outside the town. However, the sides of the canal were too shallow and after many attempts at various locations we just had to continue on our way. We were both getting colder and colder and a bit fed up and although we knew we would moor somewhere we had not intended to have such a long day, and definitely not to go as far as Tardebigge, which is where we ended up after 2 more short tunnels.
The view from above the Top Lock, where we spent the night, was amazing so not such a bad end to the day!
Tardebigge mooring
Our Sunday night view towards the Malvern Hills
Tardebigge 18th century church
with 15 ft spire
The Tardebigge Flight tomorrow!
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