m (Day 4: from the Droitwich canal back to the Severn)
m (Day 4: from the Droitwich canal back to the Severn)
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File:back-to-Severn-Aug17-20.jpg|There we could go faster, but upstream, only about 7km/h.
 
File:back-to-Severn-Aug17-20.jpg|There we could go faster, but upstream, only about 7km/h.
 
File:back-to-Severn-Aug17-21.jpg|And making nasty waves.
 
File:back-to-Severn-Aug17-21.jpg|And making nasty waves.
File:back-to-Severn-Aug17-22.jpg|Julia .
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File:back-to-Severn-Aug17-22.jpg|Maybe the most convenient part of boating is that children can enjoy a comfortable nap anytime.
 
File:back-to-Severn-Aug17-23.jpg|Enjoying a pint of cider (while driving!)
 
File:back-to-Severn-Aug17-23.jpg|Enjoying a pint of cider (while driving!)
 
File:back-to-Severn-Aug17-24.jpg|Introduced to billiard at the Lenchford pub.
 
File:back-to-Severn-Aug17-24.jpg|Introduced to billiard at the Lenchford pub.

Revision as of 22:50, 25 November 2017

Contents

Our narrow-boat maiden trip (August 2017)

Caminante, son tus huellas
el camino y nada más;
Caminante, no hay camino,
se hace camino al andar.
Al andar se hace el camino,
y al volver la vista atrás
se ve la senda que nunca
se ha de volver a pisar.
Caminante no hay camino
sino estelas en la mar.


Antonio Machado
in Campos de Castilla, 1912.
Julia-narrow-boat-Aug17.jpg


Narrow-boating

First day: From Stourport on Severn to Worcester

We took our boat (the Western Star) with some basic instructions and even more basic explications from someone of the company, called Julia, who helped us exit the canal from Stourport, and we thus found ourselves on the Severn even before we knew it. It was great excitement, and everything went smoothly, including the passing of three locks (Lincomb, Holt and Bevere), which were man-operated. Although we initially got scared we wouldn't arrive to Worcester in time, it was actually very fast. It took us roughly 2h30 to get there, with an average speed of almost 12km/h. We quickly got sight of Guille who was waiting for us from the bridge and had spotted us as well even earlier. Our first attempt to fetch him was unsuccessful, as we couldn't get the boat close enough from the quay while still managing to get it stuck to something. After a good fright, and quickly understanding we were surely doing something wrong as our little operation was attracting much attention from people from the bridge, we managed to to free ourselves, and went down the river looking for a more steady mooring spot. We found one at Diglis junction, where we could recover Guille. It was unsuitable to moor for the night, however, and we didn't feel ready to enter the canal. We thus went back upstream and moored between the stone and the railway bridges.

MaidenTrip-FirstDay-distancetime.png

Second day: In the Worcester canal

On our second day, we did little sailing (about two hours), as we spent most of the time to visit the historically important city of Worcester. We then too the boat back to the Diglis junction, with which we were already experienced from the previous day, but now had to leave the river to get into the canal, known at this point as the Worcester and Birmingham canal. We then had much delight and emotion passing through the Commandery (remembering fondly the little dog). We stopped earlier than we could have, at the so-called Landsdown Park, precisely because it was a park with a children's playground where Julia could take a break. We walked around after dinner (on the boat), thinking were were very far from the city, when we were actually very close, in fact about a kilometre in straight line from our previous mooring point. This is an interesting feature that this otherwise featureless spot became one of much significance to us. I still remember the two tall trees that I visited a couple of times both before going to sleep and before departing again in the morning.

Day 3: From the Worcester to the Droitwich canal

Day 4: from the Droitwich canal back to the Severn

Back-to-Severn-Aug17-18.jpg

Our last day of canal-boating was probably the most scenic one, with beautiful views.

Day 5: Kidderminster