Canal Tour '98 The "Grey Wagtail Experience"

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Destination Severn

Stoke Wharf to Worcester

Sun 23rd

Off at 7.30am. One of the advantages of having a crew of nine is that those who like early starts can be accommodated without upsetting the normal people who want a more relaxing cruise and enjoy being able to lie-in whilst they're on holiday. Unfortunately the previous evening's beautiful weather had gone away and after an overcast but dry start the rain settled in for much of the rest of the day although it did dry up as we were approaching Worcester. At Hanbury Wharf we picked up a couple of friends, Caroline and her daughter Naomi who live in Worcester. A short run in the rain to Tibberton and we decided to stop there for lunch. We moored up just before midday and the canalside Bridge Inn hadn't opened so we wandered the few yards to the Speed the Plough which proved to be very welcoming and provided us with a substantial and enjoyable lunch.

Most of the locks from Tibberton to Worcester are carefully spaced to ensure that you get plenty of exercise if you decide not to rejoin the boat between them , especially if you misread the guides and get off at the wrong bridge hole! It was a very pleasant walk though (fortunately, by this time the rain had mostly decided to go and annoy someone else) with many impenetrable walls of rushes, irises, weeds and reeds between the towpath and the canal giving the path an air of secrecy in parts.

Although pleasant enough I found the approach into Worcester itself fairly nondescript but that could well have been largely due to the dull weather. The canal through the City Centre was much more interesting and full of character. At Sidbury Lock (by The Commandery) half the crew left to go home for tea with Caroline and Naomi while the rest of us cruised on to Diglis Basin where we watered before locking down onto the Severn with Viking Afloat's nb "Gefion".

Along with Gefion we emerged cautiously onto the Severn, turned upstream and headed upriver to find somewhere to moor for the night. I always get an bit of a thrill (sad, I know) on leaving the cosy, homely confines of a canal for the wide flowing reaches of a river such as the Severn where 70ft of boat suddenly seems a lot smaller and the 7ft width - well!

A little way upstream we found space to moor by the racecourse so tied up, secured the boat and headed off to join the rest of the crew at the Little Sauce Factory where we intended to eat. Just a few hundred yards from the boat (but enough to mitigate against going back) the heavens opened and we spent twenty minutes or so sort of sheltering under the railway bridge before decided to cut our losses and carry on into town anyway. Another couple of hundred yards and we were completely soaked. We were now outside The Severn View (?) so the choice between a quick pint in the dry or carrying on in the rain was an easy one. We eventually got to the Little Sauce Factory about an hour late but, again, the food and beer were good and another pleasant evening was had by all - particularly as it was quiz night. We came fourth but nevertheless won a bottle of wine - well, Liebfraumilch anyway!

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