Another glorious sunny day, and we were ready to move by 8.30. So having prepared the boat (or not — we realised later we hadn’t actually got the anchor out!) we pushed away from the pontoon and swung the bow round to head downstream.
I did the first section on diesel propulsion, because I wanted to get an idea of how fast we were going. Being with the flow helps, so the GPS was saying we were somewhere between 4.7 and 5.3 mph. We very soon reached Lincomb Lock, KV’s first big river lock. As we approached the gates opened and the light turned to green.
Leaving the lock is lovely as it’s in a rocky cutting. I switched to electric propulsion, and you can hear so much more — such as the weir running off to our left.
The other advantage of electric is that you can hear people talking to you. So we had a whole conversation with a couple repairing their fishing platform, who also commented on the quietness of electric. Electric is a little slower, but not much. With the motor using 50 amps we were doing between 4.3 and 4.7 mph. But at the same time, the solar panels are adding to the batteries. We passed one boat on this stretch, and also admired some of the houses.
Below Holt Fleet Lock is one of the very few bridges which span this end of the river. It’s rather elegant.
For much of the next section having a map isn’t much use because there are few landmarks and it’s a job to work out where you are. However, Hanford Junction, where the Droitwich Barge Canal goes off is pretty obvious, and had special significance: this trip had always been to meet up with Helen and Andy in Worcester, and they were approaching from Droitwich. They’d come down the last couple of locks this morning and waited on the pontoon for us to arrive. Some of Helen’s photos are mixed in here now; if it’s a picture of us, it’s one of hers!
We pulled onto the pontoon hoping there’d be somewhere for Macc to go for a wee, but there’s no access from there, so we set off for Bevere Lock. Macc, incidentally, had started off asleep, then woke up and seemed to enjoy watching the countryside go by either from the stern or the locker in the well deck. Bevere Lock made three out of three where the gates opened as we approached and we could go straight in, this time with both boats.
There’s a pontoon below the lock, so we thought we’d stop there for Macc toilet reasons. A broken down boat was there, so we tacked on the end. Adrian got off at the bow and took a centre line, but the stern was off the end so I went through the boat, got Macc, and took him up to the grass. On the opposite side of the river is a very modern house. As well as the square block you can see, there’s a long low part as well.
After our brief pause, we set off again on diesel propulsion and caught up with the Tidy’s who’d been going slowly. On the approach to Worcester there’s a fantastic bridge which I don’t remember seeing before. There’s a reason for that: it was opened in 2024, and we were last here in 2021! It’s the Kepax foot and cycle bridge, and has apparently been a big success.
The racecourse moorings were almost empty, but we were carrying on. Briar Rose hung back to let us pass, and we led the way into Worcester proper.
As we approached Worcester Bridge, I wasn’t sure which arch I was supposed to take — not least because the central ones were full of debris washed down in the floods. The clearest one was one to the left hand side, so I used that one. The views from here on in are great.
In total contrast to the Cathedral is the King’s boat house.
There was some filming going on a bit further down on the riverside, but none of us recognised anyone involved. We were now looking at all the moored boats on the visitor mooring pontoon, which looked very busy. Then as we got closer, one appeared to be pulling out. Their timing was immaculate. We went past, turned so we were going into the flow, and took their space. As it was the only one, Helen and Andy tied alongside us. It was a bit after 12 when we were all secure, so we’d made pretty good progress.
We went on board BR to see all the improvements Helen and Andy have made since buying her from us. We thought it might feel a bit odd but it didn’t really; it’s their boat now, and we have our new one too. This afternoon, I picked up a couple of deliveries from a locker, including some air filter foam for the loo vent, so try to stop water coming in. We have been invited for dinner this evening by Helen and Andy, but because if Macc we’ll be having it on board KV; in fact I think to avoid passing hot things between boats, we’re cooking it on KV! It’s been a lovely day’s boating, with more great company to come.
13 miles, 3 locks. (129 miles, 120 locks)