July 8th moored on 5day mooring above Dimmingsdale Lock on Staffs & Worcs canal

         191 miles, 195 locks, 3 swing bridges and 12 tunnels from Dunham Massey

Sunday 8th July

Set off a bit later today (well it was Sunday).  Made steady progress in fairly good and sunny weather.  Never really queued but we were following another boat and had another following us. Much of the way, being Sunday, the towpath was lined with fishermen, so only a sedate pace was possible.  Arrived at Bratch and only had to wait a short time before a boat emerged from the bottom of the staircase and the lock keeper let us proceed as there was no one waiting to come down. Sun still shining we arrived about 4pm at Dimmingsdale Lock (15th of the day) and no one was moored on the offside 5day mooring we occupied on the way down so we called it a day and moored up with the intention of taking the dogs a walk after a cup of tea.  We did just that, but did not make it far, before it started to rain again.

Saturday 7th July

Made an early start after a last dog walk round the basin getting under way about 9:15.   First three locks into Kidderminster we kept dry and Bridie went off for a shop in Sainsbury's at which point it started to rain again.   On the move and approaching the next (Wolverley Court) lock the heavens really opened and we got wet (!)  So it continued through to Wolverley lock where we exchanged banter with six heavily tattooed comedians drinking outside the pub and trying to shelter from the downpour under the parasols. Evidence of flooding all along the Stour Valley but it did slowly clear and we finished a 13 mile cruise in sunshine.  We moored on the 5day mooring at Prestwood Bridge Stourton just before Gothersley roundhouse.  (Next time we will give this mooring a miss, looks very nice but the Alsations guarding Bridge House are too noisy).