Day 20 - Thursday July 20th - Wolverley to Stourbridge
9 miles 4 furlongs, 10 locks, 6 hours 15 minutes
Very late start today, as I felt like having a decent lie in for a
change. Set off at 12.20pm, straight into Wolverley Lock. Had a good
run up to Stourton Junction, with all the locks except Stewponey Lock
being in my favour. Turned right at the junction and started the
Stourton flight. First lock was in my favour, and as I was entering,
someone who was coming down the flight saw me and opened the gates for
the second lock for me as well. As I passed him, it became apparent
that his deep drafted replica working boat was now firmly aground. A
lockful of water out of these short pounds can make a significant
difference. He waited until I was through the third lock before dumping
that lockful back into his pound so that he could get going again. Once
out of the top lock it became apparent that it would be a slow journey
to Stourbridge. The pound appeared to be some 8 - 10 inches down, with
plenty of blanket weed waiting to go round the prop. Indeed, I had to
go down the weed hatch twice in the space of ten minutes because forward
progress was reduced to nil and I couldn't shake the stuff off. The
reason for the low level in the pound became apparent when I passed a
hefty pump running in the corner of a farmer's field. Must confess, I
was tempted to drop the blanket weed and a few plastic bags into the
water around the pump inlet pipe. :-> Eventually got to Wordsley
Junction at 6.20pm, turned right for the Stourbridge Town Arm and,
having winded, moored for the night in a vacant mooring in the basin at
7.10pm. I had spoken to a chap on the trip boat moored there, and he
seemed to think that there would be no problem with me mooring there.
After showering, I wandered into Stourbridge to seek out The Royal
Exchange" in Enville Street, Stourbridge's Batham's pub. Spent a
pleasant evening there before wandering back to the boat via a Chinese
takeaway.
Weather - Sunny
Tomorrow's Forecast - Sunny
Terry Streeter
NB Arun - Stourbridge
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