Holiday 1982 page 3

3. - Worcester, River Severn to Stourport, Staffs and Worcs Canal, Shropshire Union Canal to Barbridge, Middlewich Arm to Middlewich.

Friday 24th September - We left Worcester at 8.30 and had a slog up to Stourport. No problems with lock keepers. The one at Diglis was obviously one of the "old school" working river BWB bods! After getting through the basin narrow locks and York Street Lock we moored up for lunch and shopping between 13.00 and 14.00. As soon as we set off the heavens opened again, it rained all afternoon. We stopped at Kinver, below the lock at 18.00. Dinner on boat again, then pub. We believe that this was the Vine.

Saturday 25th September - Finally a sunny day. Julian was first up, as usual and we started off at 6.45. Bratch Lock were now looking tatty as the 1970's Snowcem era had come to an end! We turned off the Staffs and Worcs Canal at Autherley Junction and started going up the Shropshire Union Canal, around 14.00. After uneventful day we moored up at Norbury Junction at 19.30. Dinner on boat again. Did not go to pub.

Sunday 26th September - Left Norbury at 7.45. Sun, wind and rain in rotation all day! Solid day travelling through Tyrley, Adderley and Audlem flights of locks. Arrived on Nantwich Embankment at 17.00. Dinner on boat and couple of pubs in evening ( can't remember which ones!)

Monday 27th September - Shoved off at 8.30. Very strong wind and a bit of rain. Only one way to deal with this - go fast! Turned right at Barbridge and went down Middlewich Branch. We stopped in Middlewich, after having turned right onto Trent and Mersey Canal. We stopped for a half hour at 14.00, whilst Julian and Jackie went shopping. Carried on Trent and Mersey Canal, stopping at 19.15 at Rode Heath, just above the still standing Thurlwood Steel Lock. Hardly any traffic coming up the Wheelock Flight. That night we went to a very frequented pub, over the years, the Broughton Arms.

Confusion reigns at the non traffic lighted Diglis Locks. River Severn.	POO! The floating bog station at Diglis. River Severn.

* The entrance to the Worcester and Birmingham Canal at Worcester. We were to moor up on the river in front of the cathedral. River Severn.	Arriving at Bevere Lock. River Severn.

Holt Fleet Bridge. Holt Lock in the distance. River Severn.	Holt Lock. River Severn.

* The narrow staircase locks up through Stourport Basin. Staffs and Worcs Canal.	The narrow staircase locks up through Stourport Basin. Staffs and Worcs Canal.

The narrow staircase locks up through Stourport Basin. Staffs and Worcs Canal.	* The narrow staircase locks up through Stourport Basin. Staffs and Worcs Canal.

* BCN paddle gear pops up everywhere! Staircase locks, Stourport Basin. Staffs and Worcs Canal.	The narrow staircase locks up through Stourport Basin, the second flight between the two basin levels. Staffs and Worcs Canal.

* Just as well Jackie bought her leg warmers! Note Neil's tiller extension! Staffs and Worcs Canal.	Caldwell Lock. Staffs and Worcs Canal.

Debdale Lock. Staffs and Worcs Canal.	Kinver Lock. Staffs and Worcs Canal.

* Botherham Staircase Locks. These are true staircase locks, not like Bratch, which has a "pound" out to the side of the locks. Staffs and Worcs Canal.	Bumblehole Lock. Evelyn is stuck in the bumble hole on auto pilot! Staffs and Worcs Canal.

The faded Snowcem grandeur of Bratch Locks. Staffs and Worcs Canal.	Bratch Locks. Staffs and Worcs Canal.

Bratch Locks. Staffs and Worcs Canal.	Staffs and Worcs Canal.

Wightwick Lock. Staffs and Worcs Canal.	* Leaving Wheaton Aston Lock. Shropshire Union Canal.

* Water stop at Norbury Junction. Shropshire Union Canal.	High Bridge No 57, in Woodseaves Cutting. Shropshire Union Canal.

Tyrley Top Lock. Tyrley Locks. Shropshire Union Canal.	Tyrley Locks. Shropshire Union Canal.

Tyrley Locks. Shropshire Union Canal.	Tyrley Locks. Shropshire Union Canal.

Tyrley Locks. Shropshire Union Canal.	Audlem Flight. Shropshire Union Canal.

* We pass the entrance to the Llangollen Canal at Hurleston Junction. Shropshire Union Canal.	* BOING! This wayward Black Prince has just come out of Middlewich Branch, to the right. Barbridge junction. Shropshire Union Canal.

* Nicely caught pose of Neil.	Looking down at Winsford flashes from the Middlewich Branch.

* Denotes a scanned Edgington print. Other's are scanned from Neil's faded Agfa slides. (probably a more accurate representation of grot weather on this Holiday!)