The boat BALDRIK was hired from Viking Afloat
This boat was of a very high standard, as was the service we received. Without reservation we would recommend this firm to you. See 1996 for my comments about this boatyard. A good handling and powerful boat is needed for river work and Baldrik was just the ticket. I made a note that this boat had been re-fitted for this year.
The crew were John Parmenter (Captain), Steve Platt, Dr. Martin Cranage, Mike Rhenious (first time), David King, Adrian King and Ted Chapman.
Saturday - Fish and Chip Lunch. Rain heavy. Moored up just above entrance to Droitwich Canal, between bridges 34 and 36, 35 missing from map.
SUNDAY - Early start, made Tardebigge Flight 9.00 am, rain started. Sunny Afternoon. Arrived Gas Street basin 6.15 pm. Great place , regeneration everywhere, rain started again. Hillary's curry, very nice as always.
MONDAY - Moored at black Country Museum. Trip round limestone workings inside Dudley Tunnel. Very interesting to see differences between Brindley and Telford canals (100 years) Rain, sun, rain but not heavy. Ted's Spaghetti Bolognese for tea.
TUESDAY - Short day, OK weatherwise but a cold wind. Went past Brierley Hill, a new massive Retail Park in a valley with a mono-rail. Also a business park centered around the canal. All quite fantastic regeneration. Sadly either side of the canal in poor condition, a lot of rubbish in the canal, so repeated "whim-wams" (Ed note: these are the name that Ted gave for propeller foulings, I seem to remember the name described the noise that can be made by the propeller of a police river boat when fouled). Delph Lock Flight beautifully kept ( a note here that I ran out of film just before). Provisions from an Aldi store and tea of Gammon Steaks with Cheese sauce with baked potatoes and Broccoli. Moored below bridge 8 at Delph below the flight. Visited the Vine (or locally known as the Bull and Bladder), Bathams pub.
Quote from their website: "Each of the Bathams pubs is steeped in character and history but none are more so than the famous "Bull and Bladder" - the brewery tap and really The Vine Inn, Delph Road, Brierley Hill which provides a colour frontage to the brewery behind."
So - we got that right then.
WEDNESDAY Short day, detour to Stourbridge Town pub hunting (no pub in the end). Un-inspiring section of canal with evidence of improvement with local schemes.. Sunny all day Moored on Staffs and Worcs near Stourton Junction between bridges 32 and 33. Steve's curry night, always a great meal and big hit with crew.
THURSDAY - The Staffordshire and Worcestershire Canal is as good as any I have seen, very picturesque. Sunny all day and Hot. Pizza night, if I say so myself best ever yet.
No mention of FRIDAY, so I suppose that we moored up at the yard like last year.
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