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In 1977 we hired our first narrowboat from Anglo Welsh at Market Harborough.From that moment our destiny was set. In 2006 we finally purchased our own brand new 57' narrowboat which we named 'Free Spirit'. Our aim is to travel the length and breadth of all the navigable rivers and canals of the UK. This will be our story as it unfolds.

Monday 4 July 2011

Back on the Staffs & Worcs.

For some reason I keep waking up before 6 am. I cant understand why because all I could here was the gentle bubble of the by wash and a few birds singing in the distance. As I was up so early out came the bucket and sponge and the boat got a jolly good wash.

Early morning on the river.
The narrow locks were with us because there is always someone earlier then you! After stopping at the facilities we joined the Staffs & Worcs and started the reverse journey. At the first lock a Canal Time was just locking up. By the time we reached Falling Sands lock, 3 boats were waiting and apparently another 2 had already locked up. Where did they come from??? and why were we last??????? Didn't we get up early enough? I blamed Ian for staying to long in the showers at Stourport Facilities. Anyway we managed to get rid of 2 at Kidderminster and the queue diminished as the locks progressed.

St Marys, Kidderminster, from a different angle.
  We had seen the wooden historic butty when we travelled this section a week ago. At that time we had given a cheery greeting to the lady there. This time Ian saw her through the windows of the narrow boat moored with the butty. She had her arm in a plaster cast. Both of us can't recall if we had noticed this on the way to Stourport, so we can only assume that she must have broken it this week.


That's some project!

I hope no one creates a wash as they go past. It will probably end up on the bottom if they do!!!
Late this afternoon we moored before Whittington Lock. There were hundreds of tiny flies landing on the steel and gunwales of the boat, and more annoyingly on ourselves. In fact keeping the doors open was not an option. Then Ian discovered that a sewage farm was just beyond the hedge. Lets hope the wind doesn't change direction!

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