Wonderful Worcester, 3rd July

From Upton we continued north on 30th June, starting off at the civilised hour of 11am.  We almost immediately had to hang back to allow a gravel barge to come by but then had an enjoyable cruise. The current didn't seem too fierce against us.

At one point we we caught up to a widebeam going on tickover, and overtook once the Edward Elgar hotel boat, had got out of the way.

We were expected at Diglis riverlock, 2 1/2 miles further on, which was ready for us. They asked about the other boat and decided not to wait for them.

We returned to our previous mooring spot between the railway and foot bridges, and reported our position to my cousin and his wife, who joined us for the evening. We shared a really good Indian takeaway: an excellent evening. Among other gossip,Nick told us about the nesting boxes set up for sand martins just by Diglis lock.

As riversides become developed, their preferred habitat - sandy banks that they can tunnel into to make their nest - are under pressure. We were happy to report that in the few seconds as we motored past we were able to see at least 4 nestholes in active use.

By now we had to sort out our various tanks, so next morning we turned back downriver to turn into the Worcester and Birmingham canal. There are two wide locks up to a basin where narrowboats would have transshipped cargos onto bigger Severn trows. 

We were off to the Lowesmoor arm, which houses a small marina.They gave us a really thorough pumpout and topped up our diesel. We also filled our water tank ready for our next adventure. Turning back down towards the river, Andrew stopped the boat beneath a laden bullace tree overhanging the canal, and gave the branches a good shake:

We had a lovely few days in the city, moored up close to The Commandery, which was the Royalist HQ in the last battle of the Civil War.

Our mooring, with the Cathedral peeping through the trees.

It would have been rude not to check The Commandery out, so we did, next morning:

and very interesting it was 

By then it was lunchtime. We meandered for a while, not sure what we fancied.. but a Mexican restaurant hit the spot 

Proper homemade guacamole, too. Before then going to the cinema, Again! This time to see Elvis. Tell you what, I'm glad not to be a rock star, seems like a lot of trouble. 

On Sunday 3rd, we decided to try out a new trail finder app called komoot, by going on one of its suggested walks around Worcester.  It started out really well, past the point where Cromwell crossed the river on a pontoon bridge and outflanked the Royalists, in a decisive move.

This is where the R. Teme joins the R. Severn, and where Cromwell wrong footed Charles. 

 ..but the route all fell apart at the roadworks improving the ring road. Footpaths closed and diverted, other paths blocked with barbed wire, temporary fences.. we spent ages trying one way after another to progress, and found ourselves checking alternatives on the OS and OpenCanal apps. When the works are done it will be great.. there were a couple of excellent foot and cycle bridges already open. This one over the R. Teme:

And R. Severn :

With its view of the lock and city beyond;

As soon as we got back, it was time to move the boat.. 2 day mooring, and another boat had come along, hoping to take over our spot. Happy to oblige. Andrew worked the lock, as Alison was not prepared to walk a step further at that point.

We came back to roost a hundred yards further on, just above the Diglis basin. 

Lovely spot, really quiet for the centre of a city.
Tomorrow we head back onto the river for the fairly newly restored Droitwich canal.