Change of plan

It was indeed raining this morning with serious intent. Checking the rain radar forecast on the Met Office site showed that it planned on going on like that for most of the morning. Sheila did some thoughtful reviewing of the Nicholson guide and pointed out that we could stay put here for today, walking to Sainsbury's once it was dry this afternoon.

We will then boat to the Bird in Hand pub tomorrow, finally going on into Stourport on Friday. We'll need a pump out by then, so we'll go straight down into the basin, get the pump out and diesel from the boatyard and either stay on the visitor mooring there if it's free or come back up onto the York Street moorings.

It's a bit quieter in the basin as well as more romantic, but otherwise there's not a lot of difference. It's a longer walk to the Lidl, that's all.

The first part of this plan has been carried out successfully. It was mostly dry by one o'clock, so we kitted up and set off along the towpath. As yesterday, when we got to Wolverley Court lock, we transferred onto the bund which runs between the canal and the river. It's better walking, smooth and even, though a touch boggy here and there.

When we were opposite the winding hole, just before the new upmarket houses, we scrambled back down onto the towpath and followed it past that estate and the Royal Mail depot to Sainsbury's. It took 40 minutes to walk the two miles or so.

We only wanted to buy enough to see us through the next couple of days so it didn't take long. I also bought a couple of those compressed wood chip heatlogs for use on a chilly evening. At £2 a time they are not cheap, but make a quick and easy way to have a fire for a couple of hours in the evening without the hassle of laying and lighting a proper one.

Back we trogged, this time joining the bund as soon as we'd passed Limekiln Bridge. It led us round the other side of the estate and made a pleasant change from the towpath. I don't think it made much difference in terms of time or distance.

There have been quite a few hire boats going by again today, this time mainly Black Prince boats, presumably out of Stoke Prior at the foot of Tardebigge and doing the Stourport Ring. They might find the river a bit lively tomorrow after today's rain...