Kidderminster.

On Wednesday our 48hrs were up and as a boat was coming out of the lock we went on down. It was a misty, moisty morning and we only had one lock to negotiate before mooring right outside Sainsbury’s in Kidderminster. We were surprised to see that it was a 5 Day mooring which is just what we wanted. Because of the heavy rain in Wales recently we wanted to delay to allow for it to pass down the Severn before we ventured onto it at Stourport. When we emerged from our coffee+toasted tea-cakes in Sainsbury’s we were joined by Paddy and Ruth (Comfortably Numb) who had caught up with us again. We stayed on board in the afternoon as the skies turned grey then down came the rain.

Thursday we went off across the lock to peruse the shops in the town centre and what may have been a fine old Carpet Factory was now Debenhams and a Premier Inn. First we had coffee in Wetherspoons which is now only 99p, amazing. On the outskirts of the town are all the usual big outlet stores with free parking.

     

This unusual slim- line building is called The Illusion Cocktail Bar. The main streets were extremely busy as it was a Market Day. The Swan Centre shopping arcade was quite popular during the April showers and there was a wide variety of small shops and charity shops to look round. Just as we got back on board Oakfield it began raining cats and dogs so the afternoon was spent keeping warm and dry reading books and blogs.

     

Friday morning began with a big shop in Sainsbury’s with our trolleys, then we made our way down past the Church to Kidderminster Lock. The lovely little old cast iron bridge over the tail of the lock has been completely spoilt with scaffolding and tape all over it. We waited for a boat to come up as the lock was in their favour. All the lock and gate paddles hereabouts needed a handcuff key to release the bolt in order to operate them.

Passing out of the lock under the road bridge another boat was waiting to ascend. There are some splendid paintings under this bridge which I couldn’t capture on camera unfortunately.

We cruised past The Watermill which is now a Marston's Pub.

 

Into Caldwell Lock.

   

The original iron bridge and the little carved sandstone steps made lovely features here.

At Pratt's Wharf  Bridge there used to be a lock which went down onto the River Stour. We pulled over to moor a little further on in a nice countryside spot and guess what, it poured with rain again.