Our narrow-boat maiden trip

Of all the means of travels, the boat is probably the most romantic, the most adventurous and the most agreeable one. But it takes a Captain to drive a boat. Unless you are happy with a little boat. The narrow-boat is probably the larger type of boat you can manoeuvre without prohibitive qualifications. In England, the extent of navigable rivers and canals is considerable. We have always contemplated to cruise the country in this way. In August 2017, we jumped aboard and lifted the anchor, and on no less than one of our favourite river: the Severn.

Our maiden trip of Narrow-boating in August (2017), took us down the Severn from Stourport-on-Severn to Worcester, then on its canal up to that of Droitwich, which brought us back upstream to the Severn and back to our base (with a tiny incursion on the Kidderminster canal).

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.

Our first minutes of sailing! Julia was confined inside the time it took us to get confident with manoeuvring.
The Severn, easy to sail and very pretty. Exactly the feeling of freedom we were looking for. This part featured beautiful rock formation.
Elena at the command.
Just after passing a lock, and getting close to another fork: decision time...
Meanwhile, inside.
Worcester in sight! We got there faster than we thought. Guille is on the bridge down there.
We would later come back and moor at this spot in front.
Trying to fetch Guille. This attempt would fail and give us a good fright.
Passing by the cathedral and keeping an eye on Guille, whom we had to leave on the berge.
After finally getting our fourth passenber on board, back to Worcester bridge to find a mooring point.
We moored nearby the railway bridge.
Worcester.
On the quays.
Julia, our little sailor.
In the cathedral's gardens, with the Severn in background.
The old walls.
The Cathedral.
Back to our boat, with the falling night, for our first night on board.

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.

Good morning... waking up on a boat! Another new experience.
That's the kind of company you get in the morning when you live in a narrow-boat.
Of course we went out to greet them.
Another little friend, very busy.
And a fine specimen too!
Visiting Worcester, here at the Guildhall.
On the tracks of Charles II.
Worcester cathedral.
Little Julia, showing it scale!
Worcester streets. Elena and Guille are having fun with a cat which was always there!
Another beautiful view.
Resting.
After the cultural visit of the Worcester battle, time for some fun.
Back to visits... inside the cathedral.
The chapter house was one of Julia's favourite for its predisposition to go around it over and over.
In the cathedral's rooftop.
The Severn from the cathedral's tower.
Julia in an Hugolian pause.
The beautiful ceilings of the Cathedral.
The medieval cloisters.
With istorical walls.
Lunchtime, Julia had mussels. Probably not a local speciality but a Julia's favourite.
The typical character from Julia's drawings.
In the Guildhall.
Where some official ceremonies are still being held.
Our second mooring point, not too far in the Worcester canal, at the Landsdown Park.
We walked in Worcester suburbs, thinking we were very far (it was darker than the camera did capture).

Day 3: From the Worcester to the Droitwich canal

Back on the canal. A lot of sailing to do on this day!
A lot of locks as well. By then, we were experts.
Entering one of the numerous locks.
With Guille at the command.
Raising the waters.
And towards the next one...
This time Elena opens the lock.
At one of our stops. Julia is playing at calling her mémé on her phone.
Sailing.
The life on the canals...
Little village in sight!
Beautiful houses in the background.
And beautiful countryside.
Although the best is the canal itself.
We stopped there to go at a local pub, the Fir Tree Inn.
After the pub, we had a walk in the nearby forest.
This brought us to lovely, quiet, desolated spots.
These are the fields around the so-called Trench woods.
Julia took a stick to walk.
Back to the woods.
And more locks until our destination for today: Droitwich.
Julia would now help for all of them.
Which were, of course, many.
A quick night-visit of Droitwich.

Day 4: from the Droitwich canal back to the Severn

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

On Guille's side of the boat.
On Julia's side of the boat.
One of Julia's favourite story.
Beautiful scenery.
Guille at the bar.
Julia.
With the same story, but now in French.
Worcestershire fields.
Very narrow indeed. And surrounded by canes.
The only access there seems to be with the boat.
Floating along.
More beautiful views.
Fewer locks.
Elena now driving.
With Guille in front.
Dense woods.
With some parts more difficult to manoeuvre than other.
Back to the Severn, much wider and busier.
There we could go faster, but upstream, only about 7km/h.
And making nasty waves.
Maybe the most convenient part of boating is that children can enjoy a comfortable nap anytime.
Enjoying a pint of cider (while driving!)
Introduced to billiard at the Lenchford pub.
Elena challenging Guille.