Tuesday 26th August, 2014 in Kinver.
We said farewell to Stourport-on-Severn early today. M said that she was not sorry to see the back of the noisy, quarrelsome gulls in Stourport Basin!
Very soon, the built-up area of the town was behind us and there was a welcome return to rural countryside and a narrow canal. The locks felt very felt a teeny bit deep after the huge locks on the mighty Severn!
Much of the canal follows the contour and the high side has been cut out of the local sandstone rock, which runs for 15 miles through this area and makes for some fairly dramatic cliffs rising from the canal.
The local steam heritage line is the Severn Valley Railway, which is held in high regard by enthusiasts. As we approached the railway bridge over the canal, M said wistfully, "There'll never be a steam train today." No sooner were the words out of her mouth than a steam train puffed over the bridge! She grabbed the camera, but by the time she took the picture, the engine was out of sight - there was a steam engine - honest!
The excitment didn't end there. Shortly afterwards, at Round House Bridge, an "Eddie" drove over the bridge. She was "Isabel Sophia" - yet another one for our list of "spots". M said that her cup of happiness runneth over!
Soon after, the rural scene gave way to the conurbation of Kidderminster, which, like so many of our former industrial towns, has lost much of its canal history to the interlopers of heavy traffic, ringroads and retail parks. Its once famous carpet mill is now home to Debenhams.
Although the original chimney has thankfully been preserved next door - as a "Frankie and Benny's" steak house!
Leaving the traffic noise behind us, we passed an area of parkland where old tree-stumps had been beautifully carved into little gems depicting wildlife next to the canal. Delightful!
Wolverley Court Lock was back out in the countryside and presented some problems. We passed through it easily enough, but when we came to close the top gate it jammed half open. Something was obviously stuck under the gate. R got out the long pole and tried to dislodge whatever it was that was stopping the gate from closing.
After half an hour of struggling, we decided to call the C&RT to report the problem. Soon after, another boat arrived and the skipper came over to help. Between the two of them, they eventually managed to get the gate closed so that we could go on.
The other boat was called "Matilda Rose" - exactly the name of M's new grand-daughter (known as "Tilly"). The skipper was Australian and explained that Matilda was for Australia and Rose was for England. Quite right, too!
At the next lock, we met up with the C&RT man on his way to answer our call and explained the problem. He went off to see what he could do. Considering that he turned up within half an hour, we were very impressed with the service.
The red sandstone rock followed us all the way to Kinver, a village well known in narrowboating circles for its attractive setting. We moored up and had a short walk around the town and vowed to return when we have more time. We were amused by a "diversion" notice that appeared to direct the traffic into one of the sandstone caves!
In the evening, we were entranced by the sound of two tawny owls calling to each other across the canal, and then saw one fly silently across to join the other. Magic!
Today: 11 miles, 8 locks and 6.1 hours.
Trip: 256 miles, 159 locks and 186.6 hours.
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