On Thursday 27th May 2021 we turned around at the next winding hole and headed back towards Kidderminster, passing through Falling Sands Lock and under one of the impressive 7 arches of the Falling Sands viaduct.
We went through Caldwall Lock and moored near bridge 13 where the sun shone on us between the trees. We walked across to the Watermill pub.
Peter joined us for lunch and as all the canalside tables were occupied, we were sat at the front overlooking the car park. Frustrations with the online ordering system led Hilary to email the Chairman of Marston’s who forwarded her list of faults to the development team. Meals seemed to be priced at twice what they were worth so that they could offer Buy One Get One Free.
We moved on through Kidderminster Lock in the afternoon, passing the McDonalds drive-through queue on our right (starboard) side. We moored up at the Canal & River Trust 5 day moorings alongside Sainsbury’. We watched “Before We Die” on ITVhub.
Next morning (Friday 28/05/2021) we did a family walk to the nearby retail park where old carpet factories had been refurbished, although Frankie and Benny’s in this one had gone out of business. Hilary bought some Karrimor walking shoes.
We patched up the puncture on our diesel tank with a fridge magnet to prevent rain from dripping in.
At 16:30 Peter came to pick us up and whisk us, through heavy May Bank Holiday traffic, to High Bank House where he lives with Jo.
We had Prosecco by the lizard wall before having showers (luxury!) and walking down to the Tap House, which is a pub and brewery in the old Hartlebury railway station.
We had a splendid meal and sampled some Hartlebury and Wye Valley Brewery ales.
We spent the night in a full size double bed (unlike our 4 foot wide bed on the boat) and next morning Peter and Jo drove us back to the boat via Stourport on Severn to check out the marina.
It was overshadowed by a fun fair and Santa was putting in an early appearance!
There is a lot of canal history in this town which seemed a nice place, and apparently a holiday destination. The Tontine Hotel, originally known as the Areley Inn, was constructed for the Staffordshire and Worcestershire Canal Company in 1772 as a centrepiece to their enterprise at Stourport.
The development of the canal basins and settlement at Stourport began between 1768-1771 with the construction of the Staffordshire and Worcestershire canal, engineered by James Brindley. With a terminus at Stourport, the canal provided a direct navigable route via the River Severn between Bristol and Britain's industrial heartlands in the Midlands.
We readjusted to life on The Duke and on Sunday morning we were joined by Annie, Ian and this dragonfly for a chug through Wolverley Court Lock, Wolverley Lock, Debdale Lock, the narrows and Cookley Tunnel.
Ian was on the tiller and we cruised along in glorious sunshine for a change.
We checked out the Debdale Lock Cave cum Stable for canal horses, as we negotiated the lock.
We moored up between bridges 25 and 26 after passing through Cookley Tunnel and had a splendid barbecue by the side of the canal. We are currently on the Staffs & Worcs Canal. An ideal way to spend a May Bank Holiday Sunday.
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