Good morning. I've got a bit of a mammoth journey ahead of me today approximately
nine hours cruising, non-stop. I've got lots of food on board, lots of water
for both me and Molly. Lots of essentials, lots of battery
packs to charge all my equipment. It's supposed to be a nice day. Suns already
coming out. Obviously, I've got suntan cream as well.
One of my friend's Parm who's an orthodontist
regularly reminds me that I should be wearing lots and lots of suntan cream. so
Yes, I've got it on board ready Parm. I moored up at the Wharf Inn last night.
Just below Holt Lock on the River Severn.
Molly wasn't quite sure about the jetty mind you.
[Music]
It wasn't long until I passed the Droitwich Barge Canal that links down onto
the River Severn. Passing Worcester Racecourse that is located slightly
north of the main city of Worcester, there are lots of mooring spots along
the bank here. Then once under the large road bridge the Anglican Worcester
Cathedral overlooks the river. Diglis Locks are to the south of the city where
there are two large locks next to each other. The river quickly spreads out into
open and remote countryside for quite a few miles.
It turns sharply at Tewkesbury where an 85 mile stretch of water flows all the
way from Northamptonshire and here the ancient River Avon joins the mighty
Severn. Just north of the city of Gloucester I take the east channel that
dramatically narrows and winds its way down to Gloucester Lock.
[Music]
[Sounds of water]
I'm now north of the City of Worcester and just there behind me is the first
lock and the entrance to the Droitwich Barge Canal.
Now that canal goes right the way into the centre of Birmingham and it's quite
a busy canal. This sort of circuit is quite busy for hire boaters.
[Music]
I've just gone through my first lock of the day and I had a chat with the
lock-keeper there and he gave me some very good news. Because of the flow of
the water today, because there has been a bit of rain over the last week or so, it's
not in flood and it's not even in the amber area but because of the flow of
water, because I'm travelling downstream. Instead of my journey taking nine hours,
it's gonna take exactly half, four-and-a-half, brilliant news.
[Water sounds]
Just heading down through the city of Worcester. There's lots and lots of mooring
spots along the river here but some of them do charge so be aware of that.
Just up ahead on the left or port side is the Worcester and Birmingham Canal.
Now again, that head straight into the City of Birmingham.
[Bells ringing in distance]
Right, just up ahead of me is Diglis Lock. Two very large locks south of the city of
Worcester and I'm going up to the locks very slowly and I will be advised which
lock to go through by a series of traffic lights operated by Canal & River
Trust staff or volunteers, so we shall see.
Right, so the left-hand lock light is flashing which that's the indication
that he wants me to go through that one. He's just preparing the lock at the
moment. They're very large so if it's got any water in, it'll take a bit of time so
I just need to sort of hover out in the channel here.
[Music]
A boat just went past with three fishermen in. Just a small boat but boy
did it have a lot of high-tech on-board. There were multiple screens, there were
rods with big black dome-like things on the end. Now I'd say there fishing. Let me
know in the comments below if you know what the dome-like things were.
Could they be sonar to track where fish are? I'm not really sure. They were
definitely out for a really good days fishing, that's for sure.
Just came around the corner and there's a very large barge that's dealing with the
sand from the quarry here. I am not going to mess with him!
[Water sounds]
So as we go down in the lock here, that was a bit embarrassing. Now I was the last
boat in and because I'm on my own, I simply cannot get the boat up against
the wall. I've put my rope around, there's like a wire that's down the side of the
lock but it's quite difficult on your own with the pressure of the boat and
all the other boats moving around in the lock. It's a big lock this as well. Anyway,
we're going down.
[Water noises]
Just here is Upper Parting. Now as you travel south down towards Gloucester
Lock you're to contact the lock-keeper there when you're at this point. Either
on VHF channel 74 or by a phone number. Now I am still with a flotilla of
three other boats and I know one of those will be contacting the lock ahead
so I don't need to and we're all going to travel down the narrower part of
the River Severn down towards the lock.
[Fast paced music}
I'm just held back a little bit here and holding onto this chain because just
right in front of the lock, which isn't ready yet for us, that's why we've all
gotta wait. But just in front of the lock, there is all the water goes down to the
right to a weir and I don't want to go down that far because you could be
pulled down there so I'm staying well back. Just in front of the lock all of
the water goes towards the right and goes down a quite strong weir now the
grey boat up ahead went down and possibly got into a little bit of
difficulty because someone from another boat had two moor up and run down the
bank and help them bring their boat up against the side. Now weirdly I am just
over tick over here and it sort of seems to keep the boat stationary and although
my stern is up against the wall the bow just keeps swinging out every so
often. But the light is flashing red which indicates that it's probably
draining and the gates will open and we'll all be able to go in soon but
there's no one behind me and it's just us four.
I can see why we're waiting. A rather large craft has come down the
lock and is coming back out onto the River Severn.
So the three narrowboats ahead of me have all gone next to each other
and I'm over onto one side because a wide beam is now coming in as well. So
we'll have a wide beam and four narrowboats in this one lock.
We've got for narrowboats and a wide beam in this lock and the big thing for
me is to not let the stern hit this bridge because it's a road bridge. Well
we'll see.
Alright, so all of the boats are turning left into the Quay here and I'm
the only one that's going straight on underneath this lift bridge, that's got
to lift for me.
Right, he's lifted the bridge all ready for me so I'll put a bit of
power on, so I don't disrupt too many people and I'm straight through the Quay
and out onto the Gloucester and Sharpness Canal, Hurrah.
[Music]
I'll stay on this canal for a number of weeks as my dad is coming aboard to help
me with the inside of Alice and yes, I will be showing the progress. Until next
time, see you later.