I was glad I decided to take a chance on the weather and head off to Droitwich early. The next day was forecast as showery (didn’t happen) and the day after as sunny and dry. As I write this the forecast for the day after is now cloudy! So that’s why I’m happy – I chose the right day.

I hadn’t been able to walk the Barge Canal since restoration was completed and its official opening on 1 July. So I was really looking forward to seeing how things had developed since my last visit almost exactly 2 years ago. At that time you could hardly see any water for reeds, weeds and bright yellow/green spirogyra. And the locks were largely devoid of gates and lacking water.

What a delight was in store! The locks have all been repaired, gates added and the water systems returned to operation. Now the water could be seen along the canal with lovely reeds lining the banks, encouraging wildlife.

I intend to do a comparison on the site in the near future of July 2009 and July 2011 using photos taken on my walks.

Firstly, I went into Vines Park to see the Barge Lock 1 and how the River Salwarpe had been use to connect the Barge Canal to the remaining original stretch of the Junction Canal. A weir just East of the lock regulates the level of the Salwarpe so as to closely match the Barge Canal level. It was all very smart and I briefly met Gary Tracey navigating the lock with their nb Westward Ho. Gary had pre-scouted the tunnel under the M5 further West and found that their boat should pass through with just over 1 inch to spare in height! I wished him good luck.

Then I cherry picked places on the canal travelling by car then walking towards the River Severn. For a while I thought I wouldn’t see a boat, thinking that the Rental Companies had not yet included it as an option in their recommended routes, and perhaps boat owners were waiting for reports in the Magazines to see if navigation was OK.

I did not encounter any rental boats but did come across 5 privately owned ones. I understand from people on these that a number of boats had passed them earlier in the day heading towards the Severn.

The people I talked to on my walks are featured in the slideshow. They were:

Garry and Teresa Stacey with nb Westward Ho

Mike and Paula Taylor with boat Perelandra II from near Cheltenham

These two couples were sharing the locks as they ascended to Droitwich Spa town level, but had not met before:

Jeff and Cynthia Puttick with their boat Midland Star from Gnosall, Staffs

Dave and Lynn Rogers with their boat Llanarrow from Kington, Herefrodshire.

There were others, as pictured, but I did not get their names.

Many thanks to them for putting up with me photographing their very expert navigation and my pestering chat!

I would be very pleased if those pictured could contact me giving their names (and the boat’s if not shown), where they come from and any other interesting facts or anecdotes about their cruise. I will add these details to this post and send them a high def photo (or two or more if I have them).

Best Wishes

Geoff