26th – 29th The Staffordshire and Worcestershire Canal
There are 21 locks to go from Wolverhampton to join the Staffordshire and Worcestershire Canal, along they way it seems to provide some great variations from Industrial wastelands to delightful wooded areas
Sonia worked hard on all 21 locks all with in about 2 miles to the junction onto the Staffordshire and Worcestershire Canal, where we temporarily turned north to Oxley Marine for a much overdue pump out, we then continued north to Autherley Junction where we did a quick 180 degree turn to head south.
We finally came to rest just before Compton Lock (31) where we stayed for the night.
The Staffordshire and Worcestershire Canal is beautiful, pretty much what you would expect of a canal after the industrial parts of Birmingham and Wolverhampton.
As we started to near lock 25, Bratch Top Lock, we started to see some activity. It seems the CRT was having an open day and just after bridge 47, Branch Bridge, where probably 10 stalls selling canal gifts, we can recommend Wild Side Preserves on ‘The Jam Butty’ with whom we stock up on Jams and chutneys. We also saw Cruising Crafts on NB Lady Brian, who made some windlass holders, one of which I later ordered for Sonia for Christmas in her favourite colour, purple.
The locks here are very deep, and have been modified at some point so they have the smallest lock pounds we have ever seen, each lock is serviced by a side pond, I am sure I am not explaining it as well as the CRT guides did.
After a few hours chatting, off we went. The next two locks had surprising and interesting names starting with Bumblehole Lock and then Stewpony Lock.
Our next temporary stop was in Kidderminster for provisions, we found a Tesco Superstore, unfortunately our schedule did not allow us time to stop for longer in Kidderminster, but that is another future trip.
Just out of Kidderminster is Falling Sand Lock, named after Falling Sand common, it is a beautiful area to cruise along
It was getting later and later as we approached Stourport-on-Severn, the canal seems to be very busy around here, we kept looking for a mooring, but we ended up in the basin and some kind locals guided us to a possible mooring, near the entrance to the Lichfield basin that is closed to boats, while not a normal mooring was available and we did not block anyone else.
The basin is a little noisy at night but this is the hight of the summer holidays. There are a lot of larger river cruisers as well as narrow boats moored here
To one side of the basin there is a small amusement park, but by the time we arrived all we wanted was food then sleep, this area will have to be added to our visit again list, this last bit of the trip is a bit rushed as we lost most of a week doing repairs at the beginning.
