Droitwich Spa Marina to Stourport

The Easter family visits are over and it's finally time to set sail on our own. We have decided to brave the river and head for Stourport. 

Yesterday we travelled back from Hutton Rudby on a new Virgin East Ciast train, can you spot the quick addition to the livery?

Today we got up early and set off at 10:30 for Stourport. 

Luckily we found some nice hirers to share locks with down the Barge Canal having met some obnoxious ones on the junction canal who didn't understand etiquette and how locks work and thought it ok to keep a boat waiting whilst emptying a full lock without a boat in it but keeping one waiting. We put them right!

These are pictures of the nice hirers and the Droitwich Barge Canal. 

Finally we reached the last lock before the Severn. 

 

And then it was time for the river. 

Alison was confident to have a steer on a wide waterway 

And the views were lovely. 

Stourport is unusual, a tourist seaside trap without the sea. But with a permanent fun fair. We negotiated the offset staircase locks with interest and finally found a mooring above lock 5. 

Now it's time for food and beer and a little bit of after sun. 

Hopefully on to Kinver tomorrow.