From Mike.Casswell@troy.blacksheep.org Tue Apr 13 14:29:01 1999
Date: Tue, 13 Apr 1999 19:24:37 +0000
From: Mike.Casswell@troy.blacksheep.org
Reply-To: canals@blacksheep.org
To: canals@blacksheep.org
Subject: Trip Report, Day 3

A full day. We left Lowesmoor Wharf at 9.45, with a tricky turn in a 
strong wind  amongst Viking Afloat's hire fleet. It had been raining 
heavily during the night, so when we arrived at Diglis Basin I went 
straight away to check on the state of the Severn. Quiet as a lamb.

An uneventful trip upstream in the sun and occasional showers. Saw a 
grebe, spotted the entrance to Dick Brook but was prevented from 
attempting to explore by the rest of the party.

Most of us agreed that the Severn was very attractive and we were 
pleased to be travelling on it, but would very quickly become bored. 
There isn't that 'something different round every corner' you get on 
the canals.

I was just congratulating myself on my turn off the river into the 
locks at Stourport when the wind caught the boat and banged us into 
the wall. Oh well, next time perhaps. There was absolutely no chance 
of steering from the first staircase into the next lock in the full 
blown squall which hit us, so we tied bow and stern ropes together to 
give us a line long enough to pull the boat in.

We didn't want to overnight at Stourport or Kidderminster, so set out 
for Wolverley which we made for 7.30. A long day and a lot of 
distance covered.

Went for beer and food to the Lock, which had been recommended to me. 
Unfortunately the food was very poor and overpriced. In addition, 
they were happy to take around 100 quid off us for food and drink 
*then* ask us to leave because we had young people with us. These 
have grown up on boating holidays and pubs and we have never had this 
happen before. Some of us decamped to the other pub up in the 
village, forgotten the name, another Banks pub, which was OK.

And so to bed. Well, after a few more bevvies, anyway.
-- 
Mike  Casswell

On the move - posted using Nokia 9000i