A fond farewell and pastures new(ish)

Our penultimate day on the Shroppy.  We did not travel far, but needs must. So up one lock and a pootle to Brewood.

Our flowing locks needed a little tlc.  Ali had made an appointment, whilst I was trusting to the luck of the draw. After mooring up, we walked into the village and had a lovely lunch in The Mess Bistro.

Although small, this village has some serious traffic issues. With the roads not designed for cars, let alone hgv's and massive tractors. All part of the fun for the locals I suppose.

Anyway, I found a superb barbers who tended my needs wonderfully. By mid afternoon, we were back on the boat. We had arranged to meet up with Paul & Elaine off N.B. Kismet. We had met them initially on the Llangollen and our paths  crossed frequently on the way up. As they were returning North as we headed south, the Shroppy moorings between bridges 7 & 8 was our destination.

We arrived and moored next to them and spent a great afternoon chatting on the bank side. Before we knew it, it was 1945 hrs. So we retired to our respected boats for food, then all met up on Trisky for drinks.

Several bottles of red wine later, we said our good nights!  Great to meet you both and look forward to repeating the session sometime.

Surprisingly the next morning, we were not too bad. We said our final farewells to Paul & Elaine and then to the Shroppy. Well almost! Who should we spot moored just after our first bridge of the day, but our erstwhile neighbours from Crick marina,  John and Marion. We hovered and chatted for half an hour or so. They are heading up to the Llangollen .

At a very quiet Autherley junction. Plenty of hire boats moored up opposite the base and no boats moving. We were straight into the stop lock, then disposal of the empty bottles from the previous night! A right turn and we are off towards Stourport.

It seems a very long time since we last covered this section. In fact, the last time we did it we only went as far as Aldersley junction where we started the ascent into Birmingham. So this section of the Staffs and Worcester had a sort of new territory feel. We reckon it was 2012 when we last travelled it, then in the opposite direction. Only a few places were familiar to us, so quite refreshing not to know  every bend.

Start of the Wolverhampton 21 (not today!) 

We stopped at Wightwick in order to visit the National trust property, Wightwick Manor. This Victorian representation of olde England is quite impressive , filled with the works of Morris & co, DeMorgan ceramics and preraphalite art. Well worth the short walk from the canal. The grounds and gardens are also very impressive, if looking a little desiccated due to the lack of precipitation.

After our visit, we decided to move on a little and a few more scenic locks found us moored for the day above The Bratch locks.

Next morning we made the most of it and around nine hopped to the locks. Although these appear to be a staircase, on closer inspection they are not. Anyway, we had the assistance of a very helpful volocky down. No waiting, straight in and down.

This canal continues to surprise us. It's far more beautiful than we remember, possibly the weather helps. Although this area was once a hive of industry, what is left is hidden by the many mature trees lining the valley which the canal follows.

We are basically following the course of the river Stour.  The locks are very pretty and somewhat deep, but well maintained .  We made short work of Botterham staircase locks. After this, locks appear fairly frequently, but are not difficult. There was just enough traffic coming in the opposite direction to enable us often to slot into the lock as the oncoming boat exited. The weather certainly made this a pleasurable journey, enhancing the scenery. The section after Gothersley bridge being particularly nice.

Ali did remember these beautiful gardens

 

 Equally as good nature at its best!

After passing the junction with the Stourbridge canal, climbing its way into Brum , we descended Stewponey lock and after a slight urban interruption, we need our way along another beautiful section. After descending Hyde and Kinver locks, it was late afternoon.

We found a slot on the visitor moorings.  A mother and daughter were enjoying the scene and executing some rather good oil on canvas paintings of the scene before them. Both had broad West Yorkshire accents and I assumed they were off one of the nearby boats. After chatting, it was evident that they lived in Kinver and had done for fifteen years! You can take the lass out of Yorkshire,  but not Yorkshire out of the lass. They also stated they had been watching a family of mink frolicking in the field opposite.  Didn't see this, but did see an adult mink swimming in the reeds.

We sat a while chatting and reading. Every so often there was a plop at the side of the boat. Investigation revealed moles were active along the bank edge and the plopping was excavated soil falling into the water. Hope they stay safe from the mink. Strangely , no water fowl here though, wonder why!

A  quick walk into town early evening and a satisfactory bite to eat .

The next morning dawned clear. A good day to explore this area. We were aware that Kinver Edge and the "Rock Houses" were but a shortish walk out of the village and so late morning we set off. We were lucky to be just in time for a guided tour of the renovated houses cut into the sandstone bluff. Very informative and interesting it was too.

 

Then we walked up to  the  viewpoint atop the Edge, for spectacular views .

click to open

All downhill then and back into Kinver, where we had lunch in the pretty gardens of the Olde Tea rooms. Great food to boot.

The clouds were building somewhat and as we were in sight of the boat, the occasional raindrop fell. Now the forecast was for evening showers. Got that wrong then. After a cuppa, the rain stopped and we set off.  Really beautiful here, the only reason for not revisiting sooner is the location.

But the rain was not finished. Our intended destination for the day was Wolverley. However, just past Cookley tunnel (65yds), it started raining again. By the time we dropped down Wolverley lock, it was a tad heavy, so moored up and put the almost redundant up to now, pram hood up! It's sort of nice to see a little rain. For the first time in gawd knows how long, the Houdini's were also closed...

Had to find raincoats

Just in time, typically, for the kids breaking up!

The evening  rain petered out, barely dampening the parched ground.  By the following morning you would hardly know it had rained, barring a little moisture on the boat roof. The day started bright, but it clouded up as the morning developed, whilst remaining very warm and humid.

Boat wise,it remains very quiet. Nothing had passed us when we set off and it was only upon reaching Kidderminster that we saw a boat moving. Luckily for us, this was pulling out from the moorings outside Sainsburys as we rounded the bend, allowing us to slot in. Great to be able to shop and use the trolley right to the boat doors. No carrying loaded bags is a big bonus.

We both commented on how clean and tidy the environs hereabouts have  been and this is true of this canal generally. We dropped down the scenic Kidderminster lock, virtually in the town centre towered over by a splendid church. Again, the canal soon seems to pass into scenic countryside, even though Urbania is but a stone's throw away. Very pleasant.

Approaching Caldwell lock, first impressions were of a largish group of males congregating. We think that they were doing some form of community service,  with supervision, tidying and painting.

Then through the tree lined valley to the equally scnenic Falling sands lock. Last time we were here, we queued, picking ripe plumber from trees growing beside the lock mooring. The tree survives, but the fruit not ripe yet.

We moored in Stourport above the lock giving access to the basins. We reasoned that if we descended and there was no room, we would be committed to going down onto the river, which itself has limited mooring.

We were right to moor where we did as the basin was full. A tad noisy from road traffic, but that will ease over the evening.

We had a walk around the basin. Stourport is a strange place. A bit like Cleethorpes in many respects. It has its own pleasure island, amusement arcades and chip shops, catering for the tourists day tripping from the nearby conurbations.  On the other hand, it is a historic Georgian inland port. It's odd, but pleasant, again like Cleethorpes!

Total 33 miles 30 locks and 2 tunnels Dunsley & Cookley