canalboat.co.uk Canal Boat November 2017 37
LIVEABOARD
snack (to be more precise: a cake).
I’d been anxious about finding a spot
because those moorings are the only
place you can stop until you reach
Droitwich itself.
The rest of the canal, which runs for six
miles or so, has edges that are covered in
reeds so voluminous it would take an
army of strimmers and a dredger to make
any headway into them.
It’s unusual. Most canals I’ve encountered
- which is by no means that many, I admit
- have the odd length where weeds and
overgrowth stop you tucking in sensibly,
but on the Droitwich Barge it just seems
unfeasible anywhere. That notion’s
credibility is bolstered by the printed sign
stuck on one of the locks’ landing stages
reminding boaters not to moor there
long-term, which suggests that people
are occasionally in need of somewhere
to park up.
With apologies to the Droitwich Canals
Trust, which I know did an astounding
amount of work in digging out and
renovating the route over many years, it is
a shame that more sections don’t have
some Armco and a decent bank to tie up
to. It may only be a short distance to
Netherwich basin and Vines Park but for
those of us who like mooring out of town
or don’t want to do the whole journey tothe spa town in one hit, additional
locations would be very welcome.
Perhaps, if ever I win a substantial
lottery jackpot, I shall commission some,
free for the use of all! Or – maybe more
likely – charge passing boaters a toll,
paid in cake.
The journey into town is very pleasant
albeit a little narrow in places – those
darned reeds! Pretty countryside, a
winding little route through fields, far from
any madding crowds.
A mere hour or so from the top lock
brings you into Droitwich itself, an
historic Spa town where brine was drawn
as far back as the Iron Age (there’s an
excellent Tourist Information Centre
which can provide loads of information
about the history as well as local
attractions).
Mooring – after you chug your way
through the peculiar metal pipe that
constitutes the tunnel below a railway line- is in Netherwich Basin, both a CRT
Huge locks on the SevernGoing through WorcesterNot the widest canal either...River traffic’s a bit bigger