Day one in Diglis

Travelled up after lunch with a plan for an afternoon's work before walking into Worcester for dinner.  Work did not progress as hoped, an error on length of the under bed cover meant it's a template for a future 'proper job', but the idea of slides worked. Gap now covered .. still cannot work out how to add photos!

Work was delayed helping Stileto and Steel move berth. Apparently they had arrived from Droitwich, helped by a knowledgeable friend but moored in the wrong berth and now needed to move their boat. Clearly lacking confidence I offered to help and as usual took over, must stop doing it. At 9' feet longer than Ada I think I did a reasonable job.
Dinner this evening at Siam Smile. A while since we dined there but stil as good as before, everything freshly cooked.

New in line bed

The new sliding bed, just a touch of the finger to pull it out. It's shown pulled across the passage to allow access to the underside of the bed next to the boat side. At night it pulls out about 240mm to get the onboard sleeper away from the side.
The work has progressed further and this weekend we plan a 'shake down' cruise, a few days to check the boat after the winter break. Before we set out I intend to fit a cover over the boat side gap. It'll be in place when pulled out for the night but push back for access to the under floor storage. Other jobs before we set out include fitting the old heater control, fitting a new holding tank gauge and pulling in a clothes short hanging rail.

Summer cruise 1

Arrived, packed the boat and departed for Stourport on Wednesday. A cold uneventful cruise up the Severn and an easy passage through the locks to the basin. Pump out and fuel at Limekiln Chandlery and a new rear button fender. Also wanted a new bow fender but apparently an urgent order from a Liverpool boat builder had cleared their stock. Moored above York Street lock for the night.
Away to Sainsbury Kidderminster to top up supplies and on to moor just short of the 24 hour moorings at Kinver. The morning gave a clear view of the Astra satellites back down the canal.
Friday, cruised to above Bratch. Straight in and through. The lock keeper confirmed our impression that the canal was very quiet. We were the 7th boat through all day. Mooring provided neither digital nor satellite TV, as I miss read the app. Apart from this Dish Align is a useful aid to finding the Astra satellite. Rain early evening and heavy rain overnight.
Woke to rain but set off after a late breakfast when it eased. Uneventful cruise to Compton Lock for a lunch stop and milk. Noticed the new closer Sainsburys Local only on the way back from the Spar. Rain increased over lunch and decided to stay. Limited TV reception on the stick ariel.
Sunday, a fine sunny day and a quiet cruise until the engine cut out after lunch. Obvious symptoms of a blocked fuel filter. Checking my records I changed the filter 100 hour and 9 months previously! I thought I had changed it since then otherwise would have done it earlier. After a 30 minute emergency stop set off with a replacement filter. With J wanting to see the last episode of Home Fires, moored about 1.5 miles past Gnosall at a location that promised a clear view of the Astra satellite. On the bank with my iPad, for the first time that day, I had a 3G signal enabling the app to indicate the direction of the satellite. It was a poor mooring with the boat away from the bank. However, the stick ariel detected 202 TV stations, so no need for the satellite, but no 3G signal. Eventually discovered that if I stood by the canal mile post there was a 3G signal. 10m either way no signal.
Monday, a quiet cruise in cool sunshine to the top of Adderley Locks. Stopped for lunch and passed by 2 boats. A very slow passage through the 5 locks behind a single handler and a bad decision by the boat immediately ahead to open the gates of the last lock to allow a distant approaching boat to enter before the single handed. Delayed by being caught on the side before the last lock. One foot in the canal a a scrapped shin getting off it. Moored at the closest Market Drayton moorings. No reception on the stick ariel but a clear view of the satellite down the canal.

A very normal start to our cruise to Liverpool.

Hanbury to Worcester - Days 6 & 7

A walk around Hanbury Junction and a lazy afternoon. We decided to cruise straight back to Worcester the next day.
Lunch at Saffron's and home on day 8.

Droitwich to Hanbury - Day 5

Time has moved on and not being able to cruise the river we have recast our plans. There's not time to do the Stourport -Wolverhampton-Stourbridge ring that we intended and J is not well. We have decide to take our time getting back to Worcester, so 2 nights at Hanbury and maybe a stop at Tibberton.
Uneventful cruise on the Droitwich Junction Canal, calling in at Droitwich Marina for a pompous and fuel. Apparently they are full and the office/lounge/chandlery building has just been completed. Service very slick.
At the top lock there's a board with lights indicating the states of the Rivers Salwarpe and Severn but, so a volunteer said, it does not work. CRT is certainly sending out confusing information regarding the state of the River Severn
... a traffic light system that does not work,
... a stoppage notice closing the river, a clear message that it is not safe,
... water level indicator boards, Red, Amber, Green.
Talking to boats, both private and hire, heading for the Severn, the response was always the same, "We heard the river was closed but it is now open," whilst the water level was still at Red!

Hawford to Droitwich - Day 4

Returned to Droitwich. Although the river was opened yesterday, the indicator was still in the red and the water level had not changed since yesterday afternoon. Looked at the river and decided to return to Droitwich. Turned the boat on the river pontoon and the speed at which the boat came round suggested we had made the right decision. Maybe would have considered a swift passage down river but our plan was to go up river and that would have been a long slog against the stream. Now considering a really idle cruise, all within about 10 miles!
At least this gave me another opportunity of getting round the sharp bend at Salwarpe with some dignity, having on the way down cut the corner and run aground. I did it but only just and I have now concluded that the only way travelling towards Droitwich is to stop on the corner and then turn.

Hawford Lock - Day 3

Expected to be here all day. The river has gone down about 250mm but still flowing strongly.
 Yesterday  Today  Surprised by CRT unlocking the lock at about 1430. Two boats when through but both going to Worcester expecting to moor at the race course. Told them the moorings were underwater when we passed Wednesday and told then about the pontoon below the WBC lock moorings. We decided to stay as we would not make the last lock before Stourport before the river locks closed at 1800. We'll leave tomorrow morning and hope the river will be lower still.