Another quiet day

The meal at The Firs was good as was the Hook Norton beer. It seemed a popular place despite being out in the countryside some way from main roads, so apart from the canal they are unlikely to get passing trade. The moorings near the pub are excellent so this makes Dunhampstead a recommended place for boaters to stop.

Passing another boat on the Worcester & Birmingham

Beauty and the Beast - the canal passes beneath the M5

This morning started with rain so we didnt move until 9:40, a late start for us. The canal continues to be well isolated from the outside world (except for passing beneath the M5) and is slow to traverse being shallow and frequently too narrow to let two boats pass easily because of extensive reed beds along the margins. Nevertheless it is attractive because of the wide variety of wildflowers, the local rural scenery and distant views as far as the Malverns.

After 3.5 miles and 7 locks we were feeling hungry and tired so we stopped for the day at 12:30 near a lock just beyond the outskirts of Worcester.