The Waterways Wanderings of Narrowboat “Just Heaven”
We havent actually cruised anywhere since the end of October, so we would just chug up to Wolverleyfor the weekend. We cant go very far as the locks on either side of Kidderminster are closed for repair.
The weather was bright but cold but very pleasant.
Not staying overnight, just a quick visit to make sure that all is OK in the current cold weather.
It was back November when we were last here and I set the background heater on quite low. So I have turned it up a bit to deal with the winter temperatures.
The canal is frozen, though not completely and probably would be navigable if you dont mind losing your blacking! We had lunch onboard then went to B&Q to do a bit of shopping. We left at about 4 o’clock.
In the new year the BW stoppages limit us to about a three mile stretch from here to Wolverly until March so we probably wont be back that often.
Friday 27th
We thought that we would have a weekend onboard to make sure everything was OK, do a bit of winter preparation, and also fit in some Christmas shopping. About 6 o’clock on Friday we arrived to a very cold, and slightly damp, boat. I lit the fire, turned on the central heating and then we wlaked along the towpath to the Watermill for a meal while the boat warmed up. The Windmill is a marstons “Two for one” pub. Two main courses and two drinks came to £11.85, at that price I didnt expect much, but was pleasantly surprised. The Windmill is only about 100yds from the mooring but we had never been there before. I’m sure we will again.
Saturday 28th
It had rained heavily during the night and the morning stated off very cold. We went off in search of the Motaquip shop in Dixon St. I had previously rung them about fuel filter VFF 113, which was proving difficult to find. The shop was difficult to find too, but they had the filter in stock so I bought two. Then we walked along the towpath to the Range in search of Christmas presents. Back to the boat for lunch of hot soup to warm us up, then more shopping in the afternoon. Normally I hate this sort of shopping, but knowing that the boat is only about ten mnutes walk away makes it bearable 
Supper of a beef stew that had been cooking all day in the slow cooker and then early to bed.
Sunday 29th.
The weather was clear and bright, so after a warming breakfast of porridge, we set off along the towpath to Wolverly Court lock. As we have passed the lock previously we had seen walkers using a footpath across the field on the non towpath side. This isnt marked on an OS map, but is well used. So we thought that we’d investigate and try to find a way back to Kidderminster. Just as we set off we spoke to someone in a hivis jacket who warned us of a “Santa fun run” along the towpath that morning. Soon we were surrounded by about a hundred runners all in Santa gear!
On the way back, after crossing the lock, there were still some Santa stragglers, mostly walking, along the towpath. The sfternoon was mstly spent on board doing a few jobs and reading magazines.
Monday 30th.
Breakfasted at about 8:00, tidied and cleaned the boat then off home via Bewdley. We had intended to call at the Deli to buy some stuff as a present for Mike, but they close on Mondays !
Had breakfast, turned the boat and used the DIY pumpout machine, then turned again and headed back up the S & W all before 8:30!
Got back to Roundhill Wharf packed up and left about midday.
As we wanted to be away fairly early on Friday morning we moved up into the basin during the morning. Then after lunch we went for a walk over Hartlebury Common. We set off down the riverside path then croosed over the A4025 onto the common. Each time we venture onto the common we seem to get lost. It’s a complete maze of paths cris-crossing hither and thither. But this time we found our way across fairly well and emerged by the north car park on the B4193. Then along a lane to drop down the side of a bridge into an old railway cutting. Following the disused railway track brought us out onto the Staffs & Worcs towpath at Mitton Railway bridge
In the evening we had supper with Andrew & Sheila from Uncle Mort who have an apartment overlooking the basin at Stourport
We left Worcester after breakfast and arrived at Stourport about midday.
After a bit of shopping and a light lunch we walked to Bewdley along the riverside path. It’s a lovely walk of about four miles. The weather was perfect, so warm in fact that we needed an ice cream when we arrived in Bewdley. We felt too lazy to walk back so we caught a bus. I havent been on a bus for years and was surprised by how pleasant an experience it was.
Shopping again today to buy the things that we saw on the exploratory trip yesterday.
Walked to Cafe Rouge for a meal in the evening, paid for with Tesco vouchers. There were only about half a dozen tables occupied, and all the ones that we saw pay also used Tesco vouchers. Good old Tesco!
Just after eight o’clock we left Pratts wharf and headed for Stourport. As we approached York St lock two boats pulled out in front of us. One of them then proceded to wind just above the lock. We had to wait while he winded, then wait to go down the lock behind him. It would have been more polite to let us pass before trying to wind, or at least to say ‘thank you’ to us for waiting. It later turned out that they were only going down into the basin to enter the dry dock anyway.
When we got to the top of the first staircase there were two boats waiting and one coming up. There is very limited space there so we breasted up with one on the pontoon. A young family on a Viking Afloat boat were next down and we helped work them through. By this time another hire boat (Countrywide Cruisers) had arrived to go down. A Canaltime boat started coming up the lower staircase without checking the situation further up. So by the time we came out of the bottom chamber of the top staircase there were two boats waiting in the short basin to come up. With quite a lot of manouvering it was all sorted out and we headed off down river.
During all the above Heddi chatted to the crew of another boat in the dry dock. We need to have our bottom blacked next autumn and havent quite decided whether to do it ourselves or have it done professionally.
We had planned to top up with water at Holt lock, but the watr point seems to have been removed. By the time we discovered this the bacon & sausages were already cooked, so we moored up on the pontoon anyway and had breakfast. I knew that there was a water point just before Diglis locks so we decided to go there, get the water then come back up river to moor by the racecource. However as we were passing the trip boat moorings I spotted a water point tuck away round a corner so we topped up there instead.
In the afternoon we we went for a wander round the shops looking for inspirations for Christmas presents !
Another lateish rise and breakfast, then pottering about doing some odd jobs. About 10:30 we wandered up to the caravan site for a cup of tea with T & L. They were getting ready to pack up as they were heading to Cheltenham for a craft fair. After tea and goodbyes we went back to the boat, untied and chugged slowly to Sainbury’s to stock up for the week ahead. The shopping over we went another 2 miles or so to Pratts Wharf. This is probably the best mooring between Kidderminster & Stourport, the only problem is that it’s next to a sewage works. You cant see it as it’s behind trees, but sometimes you can smell it! This time though the was no smell. When we arrived two other boats were already occupying the best spot so we moored about 50yds before the wharf. Only 20 mins or so after we had moored up the other two boats left. We did consider moving up a bit but decided against it. Instead we went for a walk along the towpath to Bullock Lane bridge, up a track to a road then allong the road a short way to turn down a footpath between some houses to re-emerge on the towpath at Upper Mitton bridge and then back to the boat. By now it was just beginning to get dark so I stoked up the fire and opened a bottle of red.
A late rise, then Tres & Lins joined us for a leisurely breakfast at around ten. We needed to turn the boat around as we were going to Worcester later in the week. The weather looked OK so we thought that we would go for a short cruise up to Whittington Horse bridge and back. It did start to drizzle a bit at one point but otherwise a pleasant autumn day. Just over 3 hours later we were back where we started. Someone once told me that you only really start to enjoy narrowboating when you realise that it’s a complete waste of time. How right they were!
The Queen’s Head in the village beckoned, so we strolled over for a drink and strolled back again, then T & L went back to their caravan for a “lie down” and I prepared the evening meal. They joined us again later for supper on board.