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.

Droitwich to Hawford - Day 2

 The locked lock gates at Hawford. We shopped in Droitwich this morning and set out for Hawford before lunch. We had expected it so it was no surprise to receive an email notifying that the River Severn from Gloucester to Stourport is closed because of strong flows. We had already decided to stop at Hawford and expected we may be there for a day or two ... hopefully not much more.
Met first two hire oats reversing from Hawford to Droitwich and then a private boat. I had though that it was wide enough for shorter boats to turn before Hawford locks but apparently it was thought not possible. However, helped a 48' boat to turn and then discovered we knew them ... result a very pleasant pre diner drinks. They had expected to be able to turn in the pound between the 2 Hawford locks ... they had spoken to CRT and had this confirmed ... however, finding lock number 2 locked meant they could not do this. Poor CRT customer relations.

Worcester to Doitwich - Day 1

Away on our Easter cruise. Unusually not planned but including Strourbridge and Netherton Tunnel. arrived at the boat yesterday after a day out with N at the Avoncroft museum of buildings. Pizza Express for dinner and away early this morning and breakfast on the river. No lights at Diglis and I forgot to check the boards as we entered the Severn. Stong stream and managed 3mph though Worcester but this decreased to 2mph when the river narrowed North of the city.
Arrived at the lock to find a hire boat detained on the moorings. Lock keeper let us though but warned us that the river was rising and to keep well left to avoid the pull of the weir. Speed down to 1mph approaching the Doitwich Canal river lock but some power in reserve.
Found hire boat White's Thrush in the lock. Transpired their hire company had refused permission to go on the river to Worcester but the only way to turn the boat was on the river. The most dangerous manouvred completed they were back in the lock. It would have been safer for then to cruise to Worcester despite the turn there into the WB Canal!
Uneventful cruise to Droitwich sharing locks with White's Thrush. Early in the year so the reeds have not grown across the canal. However, it appears that much work has been done to dredge or clear the reeds with the spoil on the bank. Made an outstanding mess at Salwarpe Corner only just backing off the bank before hitting it before the bridge. Arrived safely at the mooring to find one unoccupied boat and White's Thrush taking on water, but otherwise empty visitors' moorings.
N departs this evening after meal out with us and parents.