July 2nd moored between Oldington and Bullock Lane bridges just outside Stourport 
                          on the Staffs & Worcs canal

                         169 miles, 168 locks, 3 swing bridges and 10 tunnels from Dunham Massey

                         Hoping the weather in July is going to change but no sign yet!

Monday 2nd July

Wet and grey start to the day so not moving, yet. Catching up on chores on very quiet mooring, watching boats come up out of Stourport, it is now mid day and none have gone into Stourport yet.  The 'Viking Afloat' hirers win the speed contest outright, it is a good job we are secured on the armco and not using mooring pins like the hire boat we had to rescue at Stourton Junction earlier this week.

Sunday 1st July.

Made an early start (9:45) on what looked like, and turned out to be, a better cruising day, if some what chilly.  We both kept putting coats on and taking them off again when the sun came out, which it did for longer periods in the afternoon.  Kept going for six miles (through 5 locks) until we arrived outside Tesco at Kidderminster when we moored up for lunch and then had a slightly major shop.  It pays to buy all the heavy stuff when you can actually moor outside a supermarket (bottles of gin and wine get quite heavy if you have to carry them far)!  Back on board about four pm we moved on through another two locks and passed Pratts Wharf where boats were once able to descend through a lock onto the adjacent River Stour. Found a suitable mooring shortly after and made camp for the night. 
Fell out with Bridie at Falling Sands Viaduct.  She was not keen to linger or let me look up train times so we slowly chugged along the canal, camera at the ready, just in case.  Then finally as we passed under the high arches a steam train whistled and chuffed across.  All we saw was a few curls of smoke! 

Saturday 30th June.

Got up and out reasonably early and walked up Stoney Lane out of Kinver with the dogs to visit Holy Austin
Rock and the Rock houses at Kinver Edge.  Had cup of tea at the new (1990 rebuild of the 1840 terrace) tea house

and then took it in turns to visit the rock houses (National Trust) as dogs are not allowed inside. A
lot of work has gone into saving them from the vandals and preserving them for future generations to see.
Well worth a visit.

We then took dogs up onto the edge to enjoy the views and watch grey rain clouds heading across into the Black Country (it was pretty black today any way). Looking the other way towards Wenlock the sun was more in evidence and the distant hills more visible. 

We were lucky and only had a spit of rain and were back in sunshine for the walk down the lanes and paths back into Kinver. Got back to the boat, had a late lunch and decided not to risk the weather, which didn't look too good and soon turned to rain.  Enjoyed (!) the noise of a frantic strimmer as a local boat owner tried to cut the grass on his mooring on the opposite bank of the canal before the rain got the better of him and peace reigned at last.

Friday 29th June.

Moved on today into Kinver, just 3 miles and 3 locks and a stop at the services on the way.  After luch we
went for a food shop, found the Vets and made an appointment to take Mabel.  Walked dogs back to the vets via Hyde lock and Hyde Lane.  Mabel was very good letting vet prod and poke without a murmer.  Came back to boat via the White Harte with eye and ear drops for Mabel.  Later walked back to White Harte for a meal (since the Vine Inn is not open). Managed all this walking without actually getting wet today.

Thursday 28th June

Woke to rumble of thunder and it was so dark we had to have the lights on to eat breakfast. Storm gradually passed over us with about two hours of fairly torrential rain and lots of thunder and lightning. (56000 bolts struck England today according to daily Mail).  Needless to say we stayed put and watched the weather from inside until it cleared up later on and we were able to take the dogs a towpath walk towards Kinver and back to see River Stour in spate.  Our neighbours on 'Rosie' kindly offered to bring back milk and paper as they were taking the bus to Stourport.