Needless to say, Monday started at lunch time for us! Then I went for a walkabout but there was nothing of interest to photograph. However Misty’s Bar is the hub of the community with a welcoming, friendly manager, many real ales and good cooking. On Tuesday we said our goodbyes to the remaining boaters, Dave+Jan, Ray+Tracy and Mick before cruising off. We paused at Aldersley Junction to walk up for a spot of food shopping at Morrison's. Onwards then to the bridge by Aldersley Junction with it’s former old stables behind it. I like the little doorway where the horses would have entered.
We then went on to moor at Dimmingsdale which was a quietish spot.
Ibex passed us pulling the butty Ilford on it’s way back ooop north from the Droitwich Canal gathering over Easter.
At Awbridge Lock Owl was coming up and waiting to tow Cannis Major, who had a problem. So we helped Tigger pull her boat through to hitch it up before we went down.
Then it was onto moor above Bratch Locks. Thursday we had an easy day as Bottle is suffering with a cold! I went walkabout as I like to discover what is roundabout us. Richard and Ruth caught us up and moored overnight.
Friday we helped Ruth down the staircase on Comfortably Numb and Bottle helped Paddy pull their butty down next. Ruth reversed the boat back to the bottom gates to await the butty to hitch it back up again.
Here you can see Richard emerging from the little archway in the brickwork under the bridge to board the butty. Originally Bratch was a three tier staircase. Later alterations saw the top and bottom locks extended and two gates inserted in the middle of the structure. A side- pond was also installed in order to save water. Altogether a magnificent engineering wonder in shapely red and blue brick.
Impressed in a rounded wall topper you can see the manufacturers name, Joseph Pratt of Oldbury.
Once moored below the locks Ruth opened up her canal - ware shop on her butty ‘Echoes’. She has only just started painting her wares with the traditional Roses and Castles and very nice they are too.
We strolled up the road to the old GWR Wombourn Station which is now a thriving little cafe. Bottle had a bacon butty and I had jacket potato, luvly jubbly. You can eat in, or out on the large grassy area among the trees. The old track - bed is now a cycleway which is also busy with walkers and joggers. We chatted to two older chaps who had cycled up from Stourbridge for a snack, because they are worth it! So, we can recommend this tranquil little place for passing boaters too. They also have a useful bookswap facility there.
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