Two Rare Birds: a Kingfisher and a Working Barge.

Thursday 14th August to Saturday 16th August, 2014 in Worcester.
A cooler, showery morning. We went through the Town Lock early and out on to the Severn, where we turned north towards Worcester. For some miles, the views were restricted just as they had been between Gloucester and Tewkesbury but after a couple of hours there were fewer trees and lower banks so we were able to see the views. And we saw two kingfishers!

We also saw another very rare sight these days - proper working barges loading gravel and carrying it up-river.

The loaded barge started off behind us up-river and soon afterwards an empty barge came past us going down-river. The difference in their height above the water was amazing. The loaded one looked as if it was going to sink at any moment! The difference is apparent in the photo below:

Before we got to Worcester, we passed the unloading dock, where another barge was being unloaded with a digger and grab bucket.

We passed the junction with the Worcester & Birmingham Canal; we shall be going up there next week and doing the new "Droitwich Ring". For the next two nights we will moor on the river and we found a nice spot next to the race course.

The river, as it enters Worcester, is amazing. One of those views that you never forget with the Cathedral almost right on the river bank.

R walked to the railway station with M, who is going home to Reigate for a couple of nights. The station had two tracks but the trains appeared to be driving on the right! The mystery was solved when we realised that it was actually two "single" tracks side by side. Unique on the English rail system, according to the staff.

On Friday, R walked into the town and visited the Cathedral, which seems to have survived the Reformation because not only is (Bad) King John burried there but also Prince Arthur, Henry VIII's elder brother. R climbed the 225 steps to the top of the Cathedral tower. MM is moored on the river just beyond the second bridge.

Back on the ground, there were large crowds gathering. It was "Artillery Day" and the local Artillery Regiments paraded through the town down to the race course.

At the race course, there was a huge gathering of artillery equipment and they were demonstrating much of it, including firing a First World War 18 pounder and two Second World War 25 pounders capable of firing a shell 8 miles. They said that it takes 36 seconds to reach its target and had the whole crowd counting out the seconds after it fired.
Then it was back to MM for supper.

On Saturday, R took MM through the two broad locks up to Diglis Basin on the Worcester & Birmingham Canal and went to see the people at Worcester Marina to book a mooring for Sunday night ready for our visit from Debbie and Adrian on Monday.
In the evening, M returned and we went to Pizza Express for a meal as it was getting late.
Three Days: 1 mile, 2 locks and 6.8 hours.
Trip: 209 miles, 111 locks and 149.9 hours.