We visit Stourbridge

Densie at Stourbridge Wharf

One of the joys of canaling is mooring in unlikely places, places to where you would not think of driving, and discovering somewhere worth visiting. One such example must be Stourbridge, apparently just one of many industrial towns absorbed into the Birmingham conurbation.

That's where we went today. After a late rise we set off from Kinver, stopped to fill up with water and carried on to Stourton Junction where the Stourbridge canal joins the Staffs & Worcestershire. It provides a link into central Birmingham, and this is the route we chose.

Four locks took us up to the attractive main pound which ends at the Stourbridge flight of 16 locks. These locks are for tomorrow. Today we turned right at Wordesley Junction at the bottom of the locks onto the 1 mile long Stourbridge Arm which ends close to the centre of the town.

Here we were lucky to find moorings in a locked (as in key and lock) wharf owned by the Stourbridge Navigation Trust. This is a very boaty area with a canal chandlers next door, restored old canalside buildings, lots of moored boats and a dry dock where President, the historic steam boat we saw two years ago on the Great Ouse, was having its hull reblacked.

First job for us after lunch was another visit to the doctors. My leg, which had borne the full brunt of the attack by the bollard, was painful and appeared to have become infected. A phone call to a local GP provided us with the location of the nearest drop-in centre where I was seen by a very helpful and friendly nurse/practitioner. Yes, the leg was infected, a week's dose of antibiotic was prescribed and a tetanus booster administered. No, I shouldn't drink any alcohol whilst taking the antibiotic - that really was painful!

Back by bus to Stourbridge town centre as we only had provisions for one meal in the fridge. It is a really good shoppping centre - lots of small useful shops, only a few national chains. Best of all there is a 19Gales pie and veg shop. We know the one in Atherstone on the Coventry canal and are great fans of their produce. Nearly as good, there is also a Waitrose. A bit expensive perhaps for ordinary shopping but worthwhile for high quality more unusual items that are often not available in Tesco/Morrisons/Sainsburys.