We chose to cruise in May simply because it was the cheapest time of the year. Although only costing around £40 a week for a 40' hire boat we still thought it expensive. We booked the boat in the winter of 1969. Our holiday began straight after we booked the boat in October of that year when we started planning our cruise. Our plans soon involved plans about our plans so that by the time May 1970 came we had calculated every possible route several times.

May the 9th came and we motored down to Penkridge Wharf, three young children and two adults with absolutely no experience of boating. The boat, called Emerald, was spotless and when the maintenance procedures had been explained to us we were ready to set sail. We decided to make our destination Stourport.

Leaving the wharf very slowly and heading gingerly towards the first bridge I, as skipper, was a little apprehensive. This apprehension turned to terror as just as we were about to negotiate the very first bridge. A boat appeared and completely filled the bridge hole. The tiller on our boat immediately turned from brass to rubber. My first thought was to apply the non existent brake. Fortunately the yard man who was to show us the first lock took over and pushed the Lister engine into reverse. By the time we got to the first lock I decided it would be better if I 'did' the locks and so I delegated the steering to my wife. This was in addition to the cooking, child minding, shopping, and ensuring the dog didn't fall overboard. Of course she also had to 'push off' when we ran aground. In 1970 you ran aground almost everytime you attempted to moor. Stopping at Otherton Lock on the first night the log that shows that we cruised 6 lock miles that day, which took us 3 hours and 15 minutes. Next day we had our very first slight mishap. We hit the bank outside the Anchor pub, unfortunately ( because it was a Sunday) much to the amusement of a very large crowd.

BumbleHole Lock and Bridge, Staffordshire & Worcester

Our second mishap followed quite quickly at Compton Lock. We had never negotiated a lock going down and we I managed to leave the paddle open on the top gate. This caused a rather spectacular waterfall some of which found its way onto the rear deck. Since that date I have always watched the boat as the lock is filling or emptying. Later that evening at Bratch Locks, which we viewed in those days with some apprehension, a man appeared, seemingly from nowhere, and helped us down what we thought was a formidable flight. We tipped him 4/- which we considered good value for money. Our second day had seen us cover 28 lock miles. On the Monday we set off at 8.0am, lunched at the Navigation Inn and "as the log says, we met a boat at Stewponey Wharf" things were not very hectic in 1970! At the end of the day we had another covered another 25 lock miles. Reaching Kidderminster on the Tuesday we couldn't see where the canal ran to after Kidderminster lock. It seemed to just disappear under a factory. I recall at that time the canal did indeed run in a 'canyon' formed by factories on either side. When we reached Caldwall lock there was a delay. The lock cottage had recently been demolished. The local children had tipped a good portion (most of the lock cottage) into the lock.

 

Hanging Rock Staffordshire and Worcester Canal

That evening we moored at Stourport after a modest 12 lock miles. We have it on record that we left Stourport just after dawn.(We were all very enthusiastic at that time).We often ran aground on this trip. The future of many canals was in doubt in that period and dredging was a little overdue. British Waterways were starved of money, and it was in this period metal balance beams began to appear on gates as an economy measure. We made Greensforge that evening after a record breaking run (to us) of 30 lock miles. We met some nice people and had a good meal, all faithfully recorded in the log. Some time was spent the next day looking for the Boat Inn at Compton. Unfortunately the 'Boat Inn' had been demolished several years previously. The penultimate day of our holiday saw us 'meeting a few boats' among which were two hotel boats. We stopped that evening just short of Penkridge at the unreconstructed Crosskeys pub. The kind of pub which is rapidly disappearing.
Saturday saw us running slowly, and very reluctantly back to Penkridge Wharf after completing 142 lock miles. A brilliant holiday.

Aldersley Junction Staffordshire and Worcester/BCN